How to Brush a Toddler's Teeth (When They Won't Let You)

Brush a toddler's teeth twice a day with a soft toothbrush and a small, pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. healthdirect advises that children aged 18 months to 5 years should spit the toothpaste out rather than swallow, rinse, lick or eat it. When they resist, short, playful sessions and taking turns are a practical place to start.

Brushing has turned into a daily fight? We can help at a check-up.
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Quick facts: Berala Dental is a general dental practice at 184 Woodburn Road, Berala NSW 2141, established in 2002, where dentists and oral health therapists see children from teething onwards. A children's check-up, clean and X-rays at Berala Dental is $150 for children under 10 and $250 from age 10. Berala Dental is a Bupa Members First Platinum provider and a nib First Choice provider, with all major health funds accepted via HICAPS. A child's first visit is never treatment: it is show, tell, do. There is no specialist on site, and Berala Dental refers when a child's care needs one.

Page information current as of November 2026 · Berala Dental, 184 Woodburn Road, Berala NSW 2141 · (02) 9649 6468

How much toothpaste does a toddler need?

A small, pea-sized amount. healthdirect's guidance for children aged 18 months to 5 years is to use a small pea-sized amount of toothpaste, with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, brushed twice a day. Put the amount on the brush rather than on the teeth, so your toddler can see how much is there.

Because the toothpaste is meant to be spat out, a small amount matters for habit as much as for taste. It makes spitting easier to learn, and it stops the toddler treating toothpaste as something to eat.

Why should a toddler spit instead of rinse?

healthdirect advises that a toddler should spit out their toothpaste. They should not swallow, rinse, lick or eat it. Spitting is one of the first brushing habits to build, and it is easiest to learn when the toothpaste amount is small.

If your toddler swallows some toothpaste now and then, do not panic. Keep the amount small, encourage spitting at each session, and raise any concern with your dentist or doctor if it keeps happening.

Why do toddler teeth need brushing even when they are small?

Because decay can start the moment a tooth appears. That is why Berala Dental sees children from teething onwards, and why healthdirect advises that teeth should be brushed twice a day. healthdirect also lists a diet high in sugary foods and drinks as a cause of tooth damage.

Night feeds are the part many parents overlook. healthdirect advises against giving a child a bottle at night with milk or sugary drinks. The pattern is explained in toddler bottle decay: catching it before the front teeth go, and the teething timeline is in teething: what helps and what doesn't.

How do you brush a toddler who won't let you?

Start with routine and keep each session short. These six approaches are simple to try at home:

• Brush at the same time each day, after the bath or before the story, so it becomes part of the routine rather than a negotiation.
• Take turns. Let your toddler brush your teeth first, or hold their own brush while you guide yours.
• Position them safely, with their head resting against your lap or chest, so you can see the front teeth and the back teeth on each side.
• Keep the session short and calm. Stop before the fight, and try again the next day rather than pushing on.
• Offer a choice, such as which toothbrush or which song, so your toddler has some say in the routine.
• Use the same words the dentist uses. At Berala Dental, the suction is a "funny straw", the brush is a "tickle brush", and plaque is "sugar bugs".

Not sure if your toddler's brushing is on track? Ask us.
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What if your toddler wants to brush alone?

Many toddlers want to do it themselves, and that impulse is worth using. Let them hold the brush first, then guide it from behind with your hand over theirs. Hand over more of the job in small stages, and keep the last few strokes on the back teeth with you in charge. Show spitting as part of the routine, so your toddler sees the toothpaste go in the basin rather than down their throat.

Can brushing become a game?

Yes. Play makes a routine easier to accept. Brush a soft toy's teeth first, let your child count each side as you go, or sing the same short song every time. Once your toddler is settled, move on to their own teeth.

Keep the game going only while your child stays comfortable. If the game stops working, go back to a shorter session the next day rather than forcing the same routine. A familiar song or a favourite toy often makes the second attempt easier than the first.

What happens at a toddler's first dental visit?

A child's first visit at Berala Dental is never treatment. It is show, tell, do. The mirror comes first, the words are playful, and there is a toy at the start or the end. The clinician talks with the parent about brushing, bottles, dummies and diet, looks at the teeth and gums, and explains each step before doing it.

The steps are set out in your child's first dental visit, and tips for a nervous child are in first visit without tears.

When should you ask the dentist to look sooner?

Bring your toddler in sooner if you notice dark or brown spots on the teeth, white chalky patches along the gumline, or gums that bleed when brushed. Bleeding gums are not normal, even in children, and Berala Dental treats every call from a parent worried about pain as a priority.

Brushing that is refused every day is also worth raising at a visit, because the clinician can check the teeth and show a technique that suits your child. A children's check-up, clean and X-rays at Berala Dental is $150 under 10 and $250 from age 10, and all fees are on the fees page.

Quick answers

How much toothpaste should a toddler use?

healthdirect advises a small, pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste for children aged 18 months to 5 years, brushed twice a day with a soft toothbrush.

Should a toddler rinse after brushing?

No. healthdirect advises that a toddler should spit out their toothpaste and should not swallow, rinse, lick or eat it.

What if my toddler refuses to brush?

Keep sessions short and calm, take turns, and keep a set time of day. If it continues, mention it at the next check-up, and the clinical team at Berala Dental can show a technique that suits your child.

Is a first dental visit treatment for a toddler?

No. At Berala Dental, a child's first visit is never treatment. It is show, tell, do, with the mirror first and a toy at the start or the end.

Ready to book a visit that starts with show, tell, do? Start here.
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Berala Dental is at 184 Woodburn Road, Berala NSW 2141, with street parking available, and sees children and families from Berala and nearby suburbs including Lidcombe and Auburn. Routine check-ups are described on the general dentistry page. English, Arabic and Urdu are spoken at our clinic.

This article is general information only and is not a substitute for personalised dental advice. Please see a dentist to discuss what's right for you.

Sources: healthdirect — Looking after your baby or child's teeth · healthdirect — Tooth decay