The toothbrush accomplishes most of the cleaning. For very young children under the age of 2, toothpaste is not always necessary. Many children do not like the taste, and we want to get them in the habit of brushing.  About 3 years of age we recommend fluoridated toothpaste, but only if they can spit.  Keynote: before age 6 just use a small pea size amount of tooth paste on the brush.

Electric toothbrushes are not necessary but sometimes with children a little variety helps make a dull chore a little more interesting.  We feel that it is best to invest in a good electric toothbrush like the newer Oral B Braun 2 speeds with a 2-minute timer. As you brush your child’s teeth with an electric brush, you will find that you are able to brush much more consistently and remove the plaque more effectively.
Many young children do not have the ability to do an adequate job by themselves, but they should be encouraged to establish good habits early. Get them used to brushing by allowing them to brush as often as they like, but you should go over their mouth too. 

Flossing is a wonderful habit to start early, if we train our children to brush and floss. It will become a habit that they will do automatically since you started it so early.  However, for them to manipulate their big hands into their tiny mouths can be very discouraging. We recommend that you get a floss aid that helps them to floss with ease instead of wrapping it around their fingers.  Flossing once a day will help prevent cavities and keep the gums healthy.

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