{"id":16111,"date":"2026-05-21T07:38:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T07:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/?p=16111"},"modified":"2026-08-07T17:47:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T16:47:43","slug":"baby-toothbrush","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/blog\/brosse-a-dents-bebe\/","title":{"rendered":"Baby toothbrush: at what age to start and how to choose?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Many parents ask themselves this question: <strong>at what age should you start brushing a baby's teeth<\/strong> From the very first tooth? Even before? And which toothbrush should you choose for a toddler? This guide gives you all the answers to look after baby's oral health right from the start. \ud83e\uddb7<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcc5 At what age should you start brushing a baby's teeth?<\/h2>\n<p>The response from the WHO and paediatric dentists is unanimous: <strong>from the first tooth<\/strong>, generally between 6 and 12 months. Some professionals even recommend starting before the teeth appear, by cleaning the gums with a damp compress or a silicone finger cot.<\/p>\n<p>Why so early? Because the <strong>milk teeth are not insignificant<\/strong> they are used for chewing, speaking, and above all, maintaining space for the permanent teeth. A cavity in a milk tooth can affect the permanent tooth developing underneath it.<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83e\udea5 How to choose a baby's toothbrush?<\/h2>\n<h3>Before 12 months: finger brush or soft toothbrush<\/h3>\n<p>A soft silicone finger cot on the parent's finger, or a toothbrush with a very small head and ultra-soft bristles. The goal is not yet vigorous brushing, but a gradual introduction to contact on the teeth and gums.<\/p>\n<h3>From 12 months to 3 years: the 360\u00b0 toothbrush<\/h3>\n<p>There <strong>360-degree toothbrush<\/strong> is particularly well suited for toddlers: its bristles surround the entire tooth 360 degrees, which allows for effective cleaning even when the child's brushing is still imprecise. No need for a perfect technique \u2014 the brush does the work.<\/p>\n<p>It is also safer: the rounded head reduces the risk of gum injury if the child wriggles. To make brushing fun right from the start, choose bright colours and an ergonomic handle suited to little hands. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/product\/childrens-360-degree-toothbrush\/\">children's 360\u00b0 toothbrush<\/a> is designed for exactly that \u2014 soft bristles, playful design, loved by children aged 1 to 6.<\/p>\n<h3>From 3-4 years: manual or electric toothbrush<\/h3>\n<p>The child can gradually learn to hold the brush on their own. Electric toothbrushes with a built-in timer are very effective for ensuring the recommended 2 minutes of brushing \u2014 and children often love the \u00abgadget\u00bb aspect.<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83e\uddf4 Toothpaste: which one and how much?<\/h2>\n<p>The guidelines have changed in recent years:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>From 6 months to 3 years<\/strong> fluoridated toothpaste containing a minimum of 1000 ppm, amount the size of a grain of rice<\/li>\n<li><strong>From 3 to 6 years old<\/strong> 1,000 to 1,450 ppm fluoride toothpaste, pea-sized amount<\/li>\n<li><strong>After 6 years<\/strong> adult toothpaste, normal amount<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Fluoride is essential for preventing tooth decay \u2014 do not choose a \u00abfluoride-free\u00bb toothpaste for a baby under the pretext that it is natural. Fluoride-free toothpastes do not protect against tooth decay.<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83d\udd50 The brushing routine: how to establish good habits<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>twice a day<\/strong> morning after breakfast, evening after the last meal and before bedtime<\/li>\n<li><strong>2 minutes<\/strong> minimum \u2014 use an egg timer or a song to make the duration fun<\/li>\n<li><strong>Parents first, child second<\/strong> until the age of 7 or 8, parents must finish the brushing to make sure that all surfaces are reached<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bedtime brushing<\/strong> for babies: lay baby on your knees to see better and reach all the teeth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For <a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/blog\/12-month-baby-developmental-toy\/\">support baby's development<\/a> at each step, remember to integrate tooth brushing into the evening routine from the very first months.<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83d\ude2c Milk teeth: schedule and pain<\/h2>\n<p>The first teeth generally appear between 6 and 12 months, often in this order:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lower central incisors (6-10 months)<\/li>\n<li>Upper central incisors (8-12 months)<\/li>\n<li>Lateral incisors (9-13 months)<\/li>\n<li>First molars (13-19 months)<\/li>\n<li>Canines (16-22 months)<\/li>\n<li>Second molars (25-33 months)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Teething can cause pain, irritation, and night waking. Refrigerated teething rings, mesh feeders and soothing gels without lidocaine can provide relief.<\/p>\n<h2>\u2753 FAQ \u2014 Baby toothbrush<\/h2>\n<h3>My baby refuses to let me brush their teeth \u2014 what should I do?<\/h3>\n<p>Turn this into a game: let him hold his own toothbrush while you brush with another, sing a song, use a toothbrush featuring a character he likes. Never force it \u2014 but don't give up either: oral hygiene is too important.<\/p>\n<h3>Should you rinse after brushing?<\/h3>\n<p>No, or very little for young children. Spitting without rinsing allows the fluoride to stay on the teeth for longer. Gradually teach the child to spit without swallowing.<\/p>\n<h3>When should I see the dentist for the first time?<\/h3>\n<p>Ideally as soon as the first tooth appears, or before the age of one. This first visit is often exploratory \u2014 so that the child gets used to the dental surgery without stress. In France, a consultation is fully covered at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 years of age as part of the M\u2019T Dents scheme.<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83d\udecd\ufe0f Children\u2019s toothbrushes at PetitMaxou<\/h2>\n<p>Our 360\u00b0 toothbrush is designed to make brushing easy and effective from the very first teeth. Ultra-soft bristles, rounded protective head, colourful ergonomic handle. Free delivery throughout the EU.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/product\/childrens-360-degree-toothbrush\/\">\u2192 See the 360\u00b0 PetitMaxou children\u2019s toothbrush<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>\ud83e\uddb7 Child-friendly oral care products<\/h2>\n<p>Beyond the toothbrush, other products can complement your child's oral hygiene:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Children's dental floss<\/strong> : as soon as teeth touch (around 2-3 years of age), brushing alone no longer cleans the interdental spaces. Children's flossers make this step accessible from 4-5 years of age.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The plaque disclosing tablet<\/strong> disclosing tablets that reveal residual dental plaque after brushing \u2014 an excellent educational tool for teaching children where they are not brushing properly.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The children's mouthwash<\/strong> from 6 years of age only, for children who can spit out without swallowing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Dental health is part of a holistic approach to well-being. Discover our tips on as well <a href=\"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/blog\/baby-weaning\/\">baby weaning<\/a> - a balanced diet right from the start also protects teeth.<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83d\ude04 Making teeth brushing fun: 5 ideas<\/h2>\n<p>Brushing teeth can quickly become a daily battle. Here are a few tips to turn it into a fun moment: let the child choose their own toothbrush from two proposed options \u2014 the feeling of control reduces resistance. Use a 2-minute sand timer with coloured sand \u2014 children love watching the time tick away. Create a personalised brushing song using the child's first name. Make the teeth \u00abtalk\u00bb like characters asking to be cleaned. And above all, brush your own teeth at the same time \u2014 imitation remains the best way to learn.<\/p>\n<h2>\ud83c\udfe5 Role of the paediatrician and the dentist in baby's dental health<\/h2>\n<p>A baby\u2019s oral health is a topic in its own right during paediatric consultations. Don\u2019t hesitate to ask your paediatrician questions as soon as your baby\u2019s first teeth appear: about brushing techniques, fluoride supplements if necessary depending on your tap water, and foods to limit to protect the enamel. In France, the \u2018M\u2019T Dents\u2019 check-up is offered at the age of 3 \u2014 this is the first dental appointment fully covered by the French National Health Insurance scheme. Make the most of it: it\u2019s the ideal time for an initial check-up and to get your child used to the dental surgery without any anxiety.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Beaucoup de parents se posent la question : \u00e0 quel \u00e2ge commencer \u00e0 brosser les dents de b\u00e9b\u00e9 ? D\u00e8s la premi\u00e8re dent ? Avant m\u00eame ? Et quelle brosse \u00e0 dents choisir pour un tout-petit ? Ce guide vous donne toutes les r\u00e9ponses pour prendre soin de la sant\u00e9 bucco-dentaire de b\u00e9b\u00e9 d\u00e8s le [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16110,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[228],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conseils"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16111","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16111"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16111\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petitmaxou.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}