Toothbrushing

Toothbrushing at home

Fluoride toothpaste helps to keep teeth strong

• Children can use a fluoride-containing (1000 -1450ppm F) toothpaste
• Brush your child’s teeth twice a day, especially last thing at night before bed
• For children under 3 years, use only a smear of toothpaste
• For children over 3 years, use a pea-sized amount

For children under 3 years                                                   For children over 3 years

• Children under 8 years need help with brushing 
• Don’t let them rinse afterwards, just get your child to spit out the toothpaste
• SPIT DON’T RINSE is the most effective way to use fluoride toothpaste
• Remember to take your child’s brush and paste with you when you visit family and friends and when you go on holiday
• Even if your child joins a nursery/school toothbrushing programme, it is still important that they also brush their teeth at home twice a day, especially last thing before bed!

For advice on what to do if your child won’t allow you to brush their teeth, visit here. 

Toothbrushing at Nursery and School

Designed to Smile supports supervised toothbrushing for children in some nurseries and infant schools in Wales. This is not instead of brushing at home twice a day, but as well brushing at home.

Each nursery or school programme is organised in a safe and effective way. There is a lead person who is responsible for the toothbrushing programme.

Staff are given a detailed training programme and checks are carried out at least once a term against national standards of best practice.

A ‘family’ fluoride toothpaste containing 1350-1500 parts per million (ppm) fluoride is used in the programme for over 3’s.  A small pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste is used.

A toothpaste containing 1000 ppm fluoride is used for under 3’s.  A small smear of fluoride toothpaste is used.

The toothpaste manufacturer used by Designed to Smile has confirmed that the products are free from any animal derivatives and suitable for use by vegetarians.