Tooth brushing 101

Establishing good oral hygiene from an early age is key to long-term dental health, but  knowing when and how to start brushing your baby’s teeth can be a little puzzling - especially when their first teeth begin emerging. Keep reading for a brushing 101 for your baby and toddler’s teeth, and how to make it a positive part of their daily routine.

First steps

As soon as the first tooth begins to emerge, it’s time to start brushing! Start gently, with a soft bristles brush like our Matchstick Monkey Finger Toothbrush or our Giraffe Training Toothbrush, to get them used to the feel and movement.

Time to upgrade their toothbrush

Once more teeth appear, your little one might start showing signs that they want to hold their toothbrush themselves. Our Matchstick Monkey Training Toothbrush with Stopper is perfect for this stage - it’s soft silicone handle is easy for little hands to hold, and the gentle silicone bristles are kind on sore gums and new teeth.

Plus, our Matchstick Monkey Baby Electric Sonic Toothbrush is a great next step for your little one when you're ready to introduce gentle vibrations for an even deeper clean—making brushing fun and encouraging independent brushing.

Technique Tips

-  Use small circular motions

- Gently brush all sides of the tooth (front, back, and biting surface)

- If you’re little one doesn’t like it, brush while they’re on your lap or distracted

Fun routines

Not every child will be receptive to brushing, and that is completely normal!  Here are some fun ways to make brushing more fun:

-  Play their favourite song, or make one up specifically for brushing time.

-  Create a sticker chart, so they look forward to getting a new sticker every time they brush their teeth.

-  Brush your teeth alongside them, this can encourage them to copy you.

-  Use a mirror. If they can see their teeth being brushed, it may make it a more fun activity for them and less scary.

 

Happy brushing!