Most of the products in your bathroom should be kept safely out of the reach of children. Mouthwash is totally forbidden for children, mainly because it contains alcohol. Hence, you should keep it somewhere, where children can’t even see it, because they may find the color and the smell attractive and like to try it out.

In fact there are several toothpastes which should not be used by children at all, because they contain abrasives. Adults use such toothpastes sometimes to clean teeth stains, but they can even remove your tooth enamel, which cannot be replaced. But not all toothpastes contain abrasives, and it is advisable for adults and children to use the same toothpaste, so that the child sees that he is sharing the same toothpaste as his parents.

Fluoride is present in most of the toothpastes, which is generally good for the teeth. Normally, the mild toothpastes are mouth friendly and fluoride helps in preventing cavities. But small children cannot often spit out the toothpaste, and if they keep swallowing it, it can be harmful for them. It is better to use fluoride free toothpaste for a child below six years of age.

The use of an electric toothbrush is also too early and till you are sure that the child can handle the toothbrush on his own, it is not advisable to hold an electric toothbrush in front of him and brush his teeth. If the parents are using them every day, the child may be in a position to understand it as a machine and not be frightened if it comes near him.

But that doesn’t mean that you don’t keep the toothbrush and toothpaste handy, that is, within the child’s reach, so that he can reach out to it on his own, apply the toothpaste and get brushing. Habits of brushing teeth should be inculcated from a very young age, and once it becomes a part of a child’s life, the good habit stays with him forever.