You’ve done everything right. You understand the importance of brushing little ones’ teeth. You’ve bought a child-size toothbrush and child-friendly fluoride toothpaste. But you may be wondering, when is the best time of day for brushing young children’s teeth?
When to brush children’s teeth is not important. However, experts agree: Parents should always brush their children’s teeth in the evening at bedtime. No rinsing needed, and no eating or drinking after. That’s because the mouth makes less saliva during sleep, which increases the risk for tooth decay. Making sure that safe and healthy fluoride toothpaste is the last thing in the mouth at night reduces the chance of painful cavities.
The most important thing you can do for your child’s good oral health is to set a daily brushing routine using the right amount of fluoride toothpaste:
*a smear the size of a grain of rice for children up to age 3
*a pea for me by age 3
When in doubt, remember what the American Dental Association recommends: For good teeth health, brush 2 times a day for 2 minutes!
