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Brushing baby teeth

These useful tips on brushing baby teeth have been provided by Blooming Marvellous. Please send in your experience on the subject using the form below.

when to start brushing

You can begin brushing your baby's teeth with an infant toothbrush, using water but no toothpaste. You can start to teach your child to use a toothbrush and toothpaste when they are about two or three years old - but don't forget you will probably need to help them until they are old enough to brush properly by themselves.

To make brushing fun, have your child select his or her own toothbrush with cool designs or fun characters. And special toothbrush timers help to make sure they have brushed long enough!

Your child's teeth should be brushed twice each day - once after breakfast and again before going to bed at night. Remember to replace toothbrushes regularly as children sometimes bite or chew on their bristles. Most children's toothbrushes have smaller heads than adult models, as well as rounded, softer bristles. Manufacturers usually label their toothbrushes according to age to help you. It is not necessary to use toothpaste until your child is at least two years old, and then make sure only a pea-sized amount is used and teach your child to avoid swallowing it.

By age four, most kids should be able to brush their teeth on their own - but they will probably still need a bit of extra help and reminding! Keep in mind that children are great emulators. If they see mum or dad brushing regularly, they are likely to follow.

Please also visit these relevant pages:

• Baby teething explained
• Signs of teething
• Relief during teething
• Milk teeth
• Brushing baby teeth

About the author:- This article is written and published by Blooming Marvellous. Please feel free to syndicate the content, but if you do this footer note must be included (unchanged) with all the links present and active. Blooming Marvellous publish articles like this on a monthly basis in our email newsletter called Baby Matters which you can sign up for here.

Blooming Marvellous provide maternity wear, baby clothes and nursery equipment.

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