When is it safe to let your child brush their teeth? i've seen the labels on children's toothpaste that says children under six shouldn't use it. does that mean children under that age shouldn't use the toothpaste, or is that the age where i can let them

The : The toothpastes are not made for consumption. Can your child brush and understand to spit out the toothpaste when they are finished? You did not mention which toothpaste had such a label. Monitor your child when they brush their teeth until you feel comfortable that they will not swallow the toothpaste.

The : The warning label is placed there for a reason. Children under six years of age may be tempted to eat the tooth paste due to its good taste. Ingestion of large amounts of toothpaste can lead to stomach and intestinal disease of some great significance. Ask you pediatric dentist what he recommends.

The : The most important thing for a young child is to help them establish good oral hygiene habits. That means encouraging them the eat healthy and avoid foods that are sticky, starchy and sugary. They mimic adults, especially their parents, so set good eating and brushing habits for them. The sooner they begin to brush (and floss for themselves), the better. I believe that you should show them and help them brush, and even floss at an early age. However, make it fun and not a chore. You should monitor their brushing and get them into the habit of showing you how they can do it, until they can do it well and properly on their own. The main danger of not having very young children use toothpaste is that they may ingest too much, although it is not dangerous in small quantities. Actually, most children and adults can do a fairly good job of brushing even without toothpaste.

All ages: Let your child brush their teeth, and then brush for them! the truth is most kids don't have the patience or dexterity to brush properly, and need assistance. The concern with some toothpastes is the fouride content. A child ideally should be able to spit the majority of the toothpaste out before using fluoridated toothpaste(swallowing small quantities is not a concern). Toddler paste is fine.