Top tips on how to encourage your child to brush their teeth

  • children
Try to make brushing your teeth fun to encourage children. Credit: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/DPA/Press Association Images

With the news today that one in eight children aged three suffers from tooth decay, we look at ways you can encourage your children to brush their teeth.

The NHS recommends that you start brushing children's teeth twice a day as soon as just one milk tooth comes through, usually at around 6 months.

You can use 'a smear' of family toothpaste from the age of three which should contain at least 1,000ppm (parts per million) of fluoride to help protect the new teeth.

Try to make brushing your teeth fun to encourage children. Credit: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/DPA/Press Association Images

Between the ages of three and six children can use a pea sized amount of toothpaste with 1,350- 1,500ppm of fluoride. Although you should make sure you child is not eating or licking toothpaste from the tube.

You should encourage your child to brush their teeth for two minutes and they will need to be supervised until they are seven or eight.

Show children how much fun brushing their teeth can be. Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

Tips for your reluctant brusher

  • Encouragement

It may sound basic but a lot of positive reinforcement can help encourage your child to want to brush their teeth. As well as praising them when they brush well, try brushing your teeth with them or making a lot of noise when you do brush their teeth so they think it is something fun.

  • Warning

Give your child plenty of notice before it is time to brush their teeth so they know what is expected of them.

Talk to them about why they have to brush their teeth and who else has to brush their teeth.

  • Sing and play

There are now plenty of tooth brushing games available to download as well as songs to help ensure your child is brushing properly and for long enough, try not to make it a chore but fun before bed and in the morning.

  • Get a fun toothbrush

Almost all children's brushes are colourful but you can also get lots of character brushes, with a favourite face on it your child might be more inclined to use their toothbrush. Most of these are designed for young teeth but check that it is soft enough and replace your child's brush every three or four months, or earlier if it is worn.

You can find more information on the NHS website.