Most children can use an electric toothbrush from about three, and for many it does a slightly better job than a manual brush because the head supplies the movement a small hand cannot. It will not, however, replace a parent's help. A five-year-old with the most expensive brush on the shelf still misses the back teeth and the gumline unless an adult checks.
So the choice of brush is worth a few minutes' thought, but the bigger gains for a young child come from who is holding it and how often.
The evidence favours powered brushes, modestly
Systematic reviews, including a Cochrane review led by Yaacob and published in 2014, found that powered toothbrushes reduce plaque and gum inflammation a little more than manual brushes, with the most evidence for brushes with an oscillating and rotating round head. Most of the studies involved adults. Reviews of studies in children have found a small advantage for plaque removal, although an effect on gum inflammation is less clear.
That makes sense. A manual brush depends entirely on the movement of the person using it. An electric brush keeps moving even when a child just holds it in place, which covers some of the gaps in their technique.
None of this means a manual brush is a poor choice. Used carefully for two minutes, twice a day, with a parent finishing off, a manual brush keeps children's teeth healthy too.
Starting around three
Brushes sold for children aged three and up have small heads, soft bristles and lower power. By this age most children can tolerate the buzzing sensation and the noise, though some find it strange at first. Letting your child hold the brush while it is switched on, before it goes in their mouth, often helps. Some children take a few weeks to get used to it.
For babies and toddlers under three, a small soft manual brush in a parent's hand is usually the simplest tool. Our guide to cleaning baby and toddler teeth covers that stage.
Features that matter, and ones that do not
A small, soft head sized for your child's age matters most, because it needs to reach behind the last molars without gagging them. A gentle or sensitive mode helps children who dislike the vibration. A built-in two-minute timer, or one that pulses every 30 seconds to signal moving to the next part of the mouth, helps build the habit.
Rechargeable or battery, character designs and app connections are matters of preference. If a favourite cartoon character gets your child to the bathroom without a fuss, it has earned its place, but it does not clean any better. Whatever you choose, replace the head about every three months, or sooner if the bristles splay. For a broader comparison of brush types, see our article on electric versus manual toothbrushes.
Letting the brush do the work
Children used to manual brushing tend to scrub with an electric brush, which is unnecessary and can be uncomfortable. Show them to place the head against one tooth at a time, angled slightly towards the gum, hold it for a moment and then glide to the next tooth. Work around the outside surfaces, the inside surfaces and the chewing surfaces in the same order each time so nothing is skipped.
Australian Dental Association guidance (teeth.org.au) is no toothpaste before 18 months unless a dentist advises it, then a smear of low-fluoride children's toothpaste from 18 months to 6 years, and a pea-sized amount of standard fluoride toothpaste from 6. Spitting out rather than rinsing with water lets the fluoride keep working.
Adult help until about eight
Children generally lack the fine hand control to clean all their teeth properly until around seven or eight. Until then, a good pattern is to let your child brush first and then take over and go around again yourself. After that, keep checking from time to time, particularly the back teeth and the inside surfaces of the lower front teeth, where plaque tends to build up.
Brushing is one part of protecting a child's teeth. Once teeth touch, cleaning between them becomes important, and our article on when children should start flossing explains how. Fissure sealants on the grooved chewing surfaces of molars add another layer of protection for some children, as described in our guide to dental sealants.
Common questions
Can an electric brush hurt my child's gums?
Not when it is a soft, child-sized head used gently. Pressing hard is the usual cause of soreness, and some brushes have a light or buzz that warns when too much pressure is used.
Should siblings share a handle?
Sharing a handle with separate, clearly marked heads is fine for many families. Heads themselves should never be shared, as that passes on bacteria.
My child refuses the electric brush. Should I persist?
Not if it turns brushing into a fight. Go back to a manual brush for now and try again in a few months. Consistent brushing matters more than the type of brush.
Brushing advice at your child's check-up
At a check-up, our dentists and oral health therapists can show you where plaque is being missed and suggest the right brush and toothpaste for your child's age. You can learn more about our children's dental care, or see what is currently available for new families on the current deals page and book with us in Melrose Park.
This article is general information and not a substitute for personal advice from a dentist.
