Helping your children and teenagers learn to care for their teeth

By keeping good habits going, building strong routines to help protect their teeth, boosting their confidence, you can set them up for a lifetime of healthy smiles.  

Toothbrushing: From toddlers to teenagers  

Toothbrushing needs change as your child grows, but one thing stays the same - it’s essential for good oral health.  

• Use fluoride toothpaste:  
  • Ages 3 - 6: use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste with 1,350–1,450ppm (parts per million) fluoride  
  • Ages 7 and over: children can use regular adult-strength fluoride toothpaste (1,450ppm)  

• Brush twice daily: Always brush before bed and once more during the day, for about two minutes each time.  

• Supervise brushing: Children up to age seven need help to clean effectively.  

• Spit, don’t rinse: Encourage them to spit out toothpaste and not rinse, to keep the protective fluoride on their teeth. Ideally let the toothpaste stay on their teeth all night so best to brush just before they jump into bed and then nothing more to eat or drink afterwards.  

• Use the right tools: Choose a small-headed children’s toothbrush with medium bristles.   

• Be thorough: Make sure all tooth surfaces are brushed, front, back and chewing surfaces.  

• If you need some help encouraging your younger child to brush, Cbeebies have toothbrushing songs in English and S4C have a Brush Your Teeth song in Welsh. 

•  There are also smartphone apps you could try like Brush DJ or Pokémon Smile.

• Star charts and rewards can help motivate your child. This brushing teeth chart is available in English and Welsh.  

• Mouthwash can be used after children turn eight, but they shouldn’t use it after brushing, you want the fluoride toothpaste to stay on their teeth. If they want to use it, it could be between meals or when they come in from school.  

Need more advice for younger children? See our webpage on Teething and tooth care: looking after your baby's first teeth.

Encouraging brushing in older children and teens  

As children grow, they want more independence which can sometimes lead to brushing battles. Here’s how to support them:  

• Keep brushing part of the routine, even when life gets busy.  

• Give them control: Let them pick their own brush, toothpaste flavour, use apps, timers or set phone reminders, and encourage them to track their own progress.  

• Explain the “why”: Understanding how poor oral hygiene leads to bad breath, toothache, and visible decay can be a real motivator, especially for image-conscious teens.  

• Help them link brushing with confidence: Clean teeth, fresh breath, and a bright smile can make a big difference to how they feel in social situations.​

Toothbrushing help for children with autism or special educational needs (SEN)  

Looking after your child’s teeth can be more challenging if they have autism or additional needs, especially if they experience sensory sensitivities or find changes in routine difficult. Having your teeth brushed and visiting the dental surgery can really challenge the senses. Whether it’s adjusting the routine, finding the right tools, or speaking to a supportive dentist, there are ways to make dental care work for your child in a way that feels safe and manageable.  

The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry are experts in looking after children’s oral health. They’ve published oral health advice for parents and carers of autistic children and young people. As well as information on supporting children with special educational needs (SEN).    

The NHS also have information on strategies to help children cope with the sensory challenges of toothbrushing.   

Braces and retainers   

If your child wears braces or a retainer:  

• Help them clean around brackets and wires thoroughly.  

• Use interdental brushes or floss picks designed for braces.  

• Encourage regular brushing after meals. 

Healthy eating and drinking for strong teeth  

As children grow, they start making more choices about what they eat and drink at home, school, and with friends. Teaching them how food and drink affect their teeth can help them make better decisions.   

Eating too much sugar can lead to tooth decay, as it feeds the bacteria in the mouth that produce acids which attack and weaken tooth enamel. Encourage your children to keep sugary food and drinks to mealtimes, as regular sugar consumption is more likely to lead to damaged teeth.  

Drink water between meals and avoid or limit sugary squash, fizzy drinks, energy drinks, and fruit juices. Flavoured milks and milkshakes can contain more sugar than a chocolate bar.  

Limit sugary snacks, especially between meals or before bed. Instead offer tooth-friendly snacks like:  

• Fresh fruit and veg.  

• Cheese.  

• Plain popcorn or rice cakes.  

• Hummus with breadsticks.  

Avoid dried fruits such as raisins or snacks like fruit winders as they can cause tooth decay.  

Remember: It’s not just how much sugar they eat, but how often. Frequent snacking increases the risk of tooth decay.  

Keep visiting the dentist  

Regular check-ups are essential, children under 18 (or under 19 and in full-time education) get free NHS dental are.  

If you don’t have an NHS dentist, and you live in:   

• England, you can search on the NHS website for a dentist. Alternatively, call NHS England's Customer Contact Centre on 0300 311 2233. This number will take you to general enquiries, who can help.   

• Northern Ireland, the Health and Social Care website lists dentists.

• Scotland, you can search on the NHS Inform Scotland page for a dentist.

• Wales, the 111 website lists dentists.

Good tooth care habits start early and last a lifetime  

Healthy habits don’t always happen overnight, but starting early and sticking with it gives your child the best chance of keeping their teeth strong for life. Whether it’s brushing, choosing healthier snacks, or skipping sugary drinks, every little bit counts. And even if they roll their eyes now, they’ll thank you later! 

All of the information on this page was created with practising health professionals. This page was reviewed in December 2025. We will next review the page in 2028.