Oral health for babies and toddlers (0 to 3 years)

• Use a small, soft toothbrush designed for young children.
• Sit your baby on your knee with their head against your chest to help you reach their teeth.
• For toddlers, try brushing while standing or sitting behind them and gently supporting their chin.
• Make brushing fun:
  • Sing toothbrushing songs
  • Listen to children’s brushing music
  • Watch brushing videos
  • Use a toothbrushing app for children
• Brush in small circles, covering all teeth and gums.
• Let your baby hold their toothbrush too so they get familiar with it.
• Brush your own teeth at the same time to show them it’s something everyone do

Useful resources

• CBeebies: Morning routines brushing teeth (fun videos for young children)
• BBC Tiny Happy People: Tips to help with toothbrushing and daily routines

Sugar can harm teeth, so it is important to limit sugary foods and drinks. Also try to limit how often sugar touches your child’s teeth.

Before 6 months

Your baby should have only:

• Breast milk
• Infant formula

From around 6 months (when starting solid foods)

• Avoid foods containing added sugar.
• Limit how often sugary foods or drinks touch your child’s teeth.

Important guidance

• Do not dip dummies in anything sweet.
• Babies under 12 months should not have honey (it contains sugar and may contain harmful bacteria).
• Bottles should only contain breast milk or formula.
• From 6 months, start moving your child to a free-flow, non‑valved cup instead of a bottle.
• If your child needs medicine, ask for a sugar-free option.

Visit the Healthier Food Swaps (NHS) page for simple, everyday food swap ideas.

• NHS dental care is free for all children under 18.
• Take your child to the dentist when their first tooth appears, or by 12 months old.
• You can also take them to your own dental appointments to help them get used to the sights and sounds of the dentist.

Why regular dental visits matter

Visiting the dentist from a young age helps because:

• children learn what happens at the dentist, which helps them feel less worried as they grow.
• dentists give helpful advice on brushing, fluoride, and caring for your child’s teeth.
• problems can be spotted early, including the first signs of tooth decay.
• preventing problems now reduces the chance of pain, infection, or treatment later on.

Making dentist visits a positive experience

Try to keep appointments calm and friendly.

• Bring your child to your own appointments if possible. Watching what happens helps children feel safer and more confident.

Tips to help children and young people feel comfortable

• Use positive, simple language when talking about the dentist.
• Play “dentist” at home using toys or teddies.
• Read books or watch child-friendly videos about dentist visits.
• Bring a comfort item like a teddy, blanket, or fidget toy.
• Give a small reward afterwards, such as a sticker or a visit to the park.

A gentle, child-friendly video showing what happens at the dentist.

Visit the find a dentist page.

• NHS: Looking after your baby’s teeth gives simple, trusted advice on teething, brushing your baby’s teeth, fluoride, toothbrushing tips, and when to take your baby to the dentist.
• West Yorkshire Healthier Together: Oral Health includes practical tips, videos, and guidance for parents and carers.
• Tooth Brushing Habit (songs, videos, and routines) has fun videos, songs, and games to help babies and toddlers enjoy toothbrushing. It supports parents to build good brushing routines in an engaging way.
• Autism Tooth Care (support for neurodivergent children) offers sensory‑friendly brushing ideas and practical advice for autistic children or children who find toothbrushing difficult. It includes visual supports, routines, and step‑by‑step strategies.