Brushing a one-year-old’s teeth means twice a day with a soft-bristled baby toothbrush and a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice. Most one-year-olds have between two and eight teeth, primarily the front incisors, so the job is quick. The challenge isn’t the technique so much as getting a squirmy, opinionated little person to hold still long enough to let you do it.
What You Need
Use a small, soft-bristled toothbrush designed for infants. The head should be small enough to fit comfortably behind your child’s front teeth. For toothpaste, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste as soon as teeth erupt. A “smear” means a thin film across the bristles, not a dollop. At this age, your child will swallow most of it, and that small amount of fluoride is safe.
How to Position Your Child
The biggest practical hurdle is getting a good view inside your child’s mouth while keeping them secure. A few positions work well:
- Lap hold: Sit on the floor or a chair and lay your child back in your lap so their head rests against your stomach or thighs. This gives you a clear view of their upper and lower teeth and frees both your hands.
- Knee-to-knee: Sit facing another adult with your knees touching. Your child sits on your lap facing you, then leans back so their head rests on the other adult’s lap. One of you holds the child’s hands while the other brushes. This is the same position pediatric dentists use for exams on infants.
- Standing cradle: If you’re alone and your child resists lying down, you can stand them on a step stool facing a mirror and tilt their chin up gently with one hand while brushing with the other.
Whichever position you choose, the goal is the same: you need to see the teeth clearly, and your child’s head needs to be stable.
The Brushing Technique
Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Use gentle, small circular motions rather than scrubbing back and forth. Back-and-forth strokes can irritate the gums over time and, as teeth grow in, wear down the surface near the gum line. Circular motions are gentler and more effective at loosening the thin film of bacteria that builds up throughout the day.
Brush the outer surfaces (facing the lips), the inner surfaces (facing the tongue), and the chewing surfaces of every tooth that’s come in. At one year old, your child likely has the upper and lower central incisors (the four front teeth), and possibly the upper lateral incisors. Some children also have lower lateral incisors starting to push through. First molars typically don’t arrive until 13 to 19 months, so for now you’re mostly working on flat front teeth.
Gently brush the tongue as well. A light pass across the surface helps remove bacteria. The whole process should take about two minutes, though at this age you may be working in shorter bursts depending on your child’s patience. Aim for twice a day, with one of those times being right before bed.
Why Bedtime Brushing Matters Most
Saliva production drops significantly during sleep, which means your child’s mouth loses its natural rinsing mechanism overnight. Any sugars left on the teeth sit there for hours, feeding the bacteria that cause decay. This is especially important if your child drinks milk or formula before bed. Both cow’s milk and formula contain natural sugars, and falling asleep with a bottle creates prolonged contact between those sugars and the teeth. Research from the University of Sydney has linked bottle-feeding toddlers to sleep with higher rates of dental decay. If your child takes a bottle at bedtime, brush afterward, or at least wipe the teeth with a damp cloth before they fall asleep.
When Your Child Fights the Toothbrush
Resistance is completely normal at this age. A one-year-old doesn’t understand why you’re putting something in their mouth, and the sensation can be unfamiliar or overwhelming. The key is making it predictable and, if possible, fun. Here are strategies that actually work:
Let them hold a toothbrush too. Give your child their own toothbrush to grip and chew on while you do the real brushing with a second one. Holding the brush close to the bristles gives them a sense of control over what’s happening.
Use a mirror. Place a mirror at their level so they can watch what’s happening. Being able to see the toothbrush going into their mouth, rather than just feeling it, can reduce anxiety significantly.
Sing a short song. A quick “brush your teeth” song gives the routine a predictable beginning and end. Your child learns that brushing lasts as long as the song, which makes the experience feel contained and safe.
Brush a toy’s teeth first. Let your child watch you “brush” a stuffed animal’s or doll’s teeth. This turns the toothbrush from a strange object into something familiar through play. At one year old, they’re just beginning to understand imitation, and seeing the toothbrush used on something they love can make it less threatening.
Try a different environment. If the bathroom is a battleground, try brushing in front of a favorite TV show or in a room where your child feels relaxed. You can always move the routine back to the bathroom later once the habit is established.
Use a timer or visual cue. Even for a one-year-old, a simple visual signal that brushing is about to end (like counting down from ten or turning over a small sand timer) adds predictability. Knowing the experience has a clear endpoint is reassuring.
On days when nothing works, do the best you can. A 30-second brush is better than no brush. Consistency matters more than perfection at this stage. You’re building a habit that will carry them through childhood.
Teeth to Expect Around Age One
Most children have their lower central incisors first, typically arriving between 6 and 10 months. The upper central incisors follow at 8 to 12 months. By the first birthday, many children have four to six teeth, though some have more and some have fewer. Upper lateral incisors usually appear between 9 and 13 months, and lower lateral incisors between 10 and 16 months. If your child has no teeth at 12 months, that’s still within the normal range, but it’s worth mentioning at their first dental visit.
Speaking of which, your child should see a dentist by their first birthday. This first visit is brief and mostly about checking that teeth are coming in normally, looking for early signs of decay, and giving you personalized guidance on brushing and fluoride.
Before Teeth Come In
If your child is around 12 months but teeth haven’t erupted yet, you can still clean their gums. Use a soft, damp washcloth or a silicone finger brush and gently wipe along the gum line after feedings. This removes bacteria and gets your child used to the sensation of having their mouth cleaned, which makes the transition to a toothbrush easier once teeth do appear. As soon as you see that first white edge poking through the gum, switch to a toothbrush with a smear of fluoride toothpaste.