When Can I Use Toothpaste For My Child?

Dental care for young children

When should I start my child's oral care?

One thing that genuinely surprises most new parents: oral care for your baby should begin before a single tooth has appeared.

Cleaning a newborn’s gums after feeds removes bacteria from the mouth and — just as importantly — starts building the foundation for lifelong brushing habits before any teeth even arrive.

Oral Health Before Teething

Keeping your baby's mouth clean

After each feed, you can clean your baby’s mouth using the following method:

Take a clean piece of soft cloth or gauze.
Dampen it with clean water.
Gently wipe across your baby’s gums.
Aim to do this twice a day.

No toothbrush. No toothpaste. Before the first tooth comes through, neither is necessary. A damp cloth or gauze is all you need.

Baby Teeth: Your Child's First Teeth

The first baby tooth typically appears at around six months of age, though some children cut their first tooth as early as three to four months, while others don’t see one until their first birthday. There is a wide normal range — none of these timings is a cause for concern.

By the time most children reach three years old, they have a full set of twenty primary teeth. These baby teeth are worth looking after carefully — they are not just for chewing. They hold space in the jaw for the adult teeth that will follow, guiding proper dental and facial development along the way.

Adult Teeth or Permanent Teeth

The transition to permanent teeth begins at around age six, and most children complete the process by the time they turn twenty — ending up with thirty-two adult teeth in total. One footnote worth knowing: approximately 30% of people never develop wisdom teeth at all.

Tooth Decay

A child’s teeth are vulnerable to decay from the very first tooth — which is precisely why paediatric dental guidelines emphasise starting plaque removal early rather than waiting until problems emerge.

A widespread misconception about children's dental care:

Many parents assume that dental care can wait until their child’s adult teeth arrive. Some put off the first dental visit entirely until all permanent teeth have come through. This thinking is both common and harmful. It significantly raises a child’s risk of tooth decay, alignment problems, and unnecessary pain. The recommendation is clear: a child’s first dental visit should happen by their first birthday — ideally as soon as the first tooth erupts.

Key facts about tooth decay in children:

Tooth decay is the gradual breakdown of tooth enamel caused by bacterial acid.
It begins when plaque — the sticky bacterial film that forms on teeth after eating — is not removed consistently.
Plaque must be disrupted twice daily through proper brushing.
Decay can affect both baby teeth and permanent teeth.
The enamel on primary teeth is thinner and less mineralised than adult enamel, making them more susceptible to decay from the start.
Frequent exposure to sugary foods and drinks without adequate brushing dramatically elevates decay risk.
White spots near the gum line on front teeth are often the earliest visible sign of decay beginning.

Protecting children from decay involves three things working together: limiting sugary foods and drinks, establishing a consistent daily brushing and flossing routine, and attending regular dental check-ups.

Oral Health After Teething

Dental care tips to look after baby teeth

Once your child’s first tooth breaks through, it is time to book their initial visit with a children’s dentist. This appointment is as much about guidance for the parents as it is about examining the child — you will come away with brushing tips, dietary advice, and a clear plan for protecting those early teeth.

How to brush your baby's teeth

Follow these steps to brush your child’s teeth effectively and gently:

Choose a soft-bristled toothbrush specifically designed for infants or young children — the head should be small enough to fit comfortably in your child’s mouth.
Apply only a tiny smear of age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste. (See the age-by-age fluoride guide below for the correct amount and type.)
Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to the tooth surface and use small, gentle circular motions.
Cover all surfaces — the outer faces, the inner faces, and the chewing surfaces of each tooth.
You can also gently brush the tongue.
Children should be supervised during brushing until they are seven or eight years old — their fine motor coordination is not yet reliable enough to do an effective job independently before this age.
“A tiny smear” means the size of a grain of rice — not a stripe along the brush.
Replace your child’s toothbrush every three months to ensure the bristles are still doing the job properly.
If using an electric toothbrush, hold the brush head gently against each tooth surface for a few seconds rather than moving it in circles.
If your child cannot yet spit reliably, offering a small sippy cup of water after brushing helps rinse away excess toothpaste.

When can I use toothpaste for my baby?

This question generates plenty of conflicting advice online, but Australian dental guidelines provide clear, evidence-based direction — and the specifics matter because the appropriate type and amount of fluoride changes as your child grows. If your child is assessed as being at high risk of decay, your dentist may recommend introducing fluoride toothpaste earlier than the general guidelines suggest. Always consult your child’s dentist if you are uncertain.

The following guidelines are drawn from the Australian Dental Journal’s Guidelines for the use of fluorides in Australia: Update 2019:

From birth to 17 months — water only

Begin brushing as soon as the first tooth appears, using an extra-soft infant toothbrush and plain water. No toothpaste of any kind is recommended during this stage.

From 18 months to 5 years — low-fluoride toothpaste

From eighteen months, introduce a low-fluoride children’s toothpaste containing 0.5–0.55 mg/g fluoride. Apply a pea-sized amount to a child-sized soft brush.

After brushing, make sure your child spits out the excess toothpaste — they should not swallow it, and they should not rinse with water afterwards. Leaving a small residual film of fluoride on the teeth extends its protective effect.

It is important to supervise closely and ensure your child is not using more toothpaste than recommended. Excessive fluoride ingestion during the first eight years of life can cause dental fluorosis — a condition where faint white streaks or lines appear on the developing teeth. While fluorosis is largely cosmetic, it is preventable by sticking to the appropriate amounts.

From 6 years onwards — standard fluoride toothpaste

At age six, children’s fluoride needs increase. Switch from low-fluoride toothpaste to a standard fluoride toothpaste containing 1–1.5 mg/g fluoride. Continue ensuring your child spits out excess toothpaste rather than swallowing or rinsing.

What is fluoride?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found throughout the environment — in soil, water, and many foods. In dentistry, its value lies in its ability to strengthen tooth enamel and make it more resistant to the acid attacks that cause decay. Applied consistently from early childhood, fluoride is one of the most effective and well-researched tools available for preventing cavities.

Children receive fluoride through several sources: fluoridated tap water, age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste, and certain foods and drinks. Some parents prefer to avoid fluoride and opt for fluoride-free alternatives — if this applies to you, speak with your child’s dentist to understand the potential implications and discuss suitable alternatives for your child’s level of decay risk.

Dental Nook

Have questions about your child’s dental care or unsure which products to use? The team at Dental Nook is happy to help. Contact us to book an appointment or to discuss any concerns about your child’s oral health.