Children's toothpaste: how much and when
The right fluoride, the right amount, at the right age.
Overview
Australian guidelines are refreshingly simple. From when the first tooth appears until around 18 months, clean the teeth with a soft brush and water — no paste needed. From 18 months to five years, use a pea-sized smear of low-fluoride children's toothpaste. From six years, children can move to standard fluoride toothpaste, still pea-sized.
Two habits matter as much as the paste: an adult should brush or supervise until around age seven or eight (children simply don't have the dexterity earlier), and everyone — adults included — should spit out the paste but not rinse, so a little fluoride stays working on the teeth.
Children who love the taste and eat toothpaste should be supervised and given only a smear; swallowing large amounts regularly while adult teeth are forming is what causes fluorosis flecks.
What to know
- First tooth to ~18 months: just a soft brush and water
- 18 months to 5 years: a smear of low-fluoride children's paste
- From 6 years: standard fluoride toothpaste, pea-sized
- Adults should brush or supervise until about age 7–8
- Spit, don't rinse — for kids and adults alike
Common questions
Why not use adult toothpaste from the start?
My child hates brushing — any tricks?
Is fluoride-free 'natural' toothpaste okay for kids?
When can my child brush unsupervised?
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