When Can Kids Brush Their Teeth Alone? The 7-Year Rule Explained

This blog is part of a collab series on oral hygiene with Kimberley Howard from Creativity & Beyond Occupational Therapy and Mel, Founder of The Face Place.

A lot of parents ask, “When can my child brush their teeth on their own?” While some kids are eager to take charge, most children need help brushing and flossing until they’re around seven to eight years old.

Toothbrushing requires fine motor skills, coordination, and wrist mobility. These are skills that young children are still developing. That’s why parental supervision and assistance remain so important during these early years.

Why Brushing Requires More Than Effort

It’s not just about making sure they do it. It’s about making sure they do it well. Effective oral hygiene means holding and manipulating the toothbrush at many different angles. The movements that need to be performed by the hand and wrist include:

• Stable but not overly firm grasp of the toothbrush

• Rotation of the wrist and forearm

• In-hand manipulation of the toothbrush

• Adjusting pressure and angles of the wrist and hand while brushing

For these movements to be possible, children need to meet these hand and wrist development milestones:

• Integrated palmar grasp reflex

• Carpal bone ossification (wrist bone density)

• Strength and coordination of smaller hand muscles

• Strength of the whole arm

• Range of motion in the wrist and forearm

• Lots of opportunity to practice

It's a lot of high-level movements all while tolerating sensations in the mouth. Until they master these movements, children need hands-on help to ensure a thorough clean.

How to Help Your Child Brush Better

Encouraging independence is great, but young children still need help. Try:

🦷 Letting them start, then you finish – A “your turn, my turn” approach ensures a thorough clean.
🦷 Splitting responsibilities – They brush in the morning; you brush at night.
🦷 Breaking it down – Focus on one tricky part at a time, like reaching back teeth or using the right pressure.
🦷 Practicing fine motor skills – Activities like zipping jackets, using cutlery, or playing with small objects help build the coordination needed for brushing.

Is Your Child Ready to Brush Solo?

Age is just one factor. Look for signs like:

✔️ Can button shirts or zip jackets without trouble
✔️ Handles small objects easily (think beads or coins)
✔️ Remembers all the steps of brushing and flossing without reminders
✔️ Gets good feedback at dental check-ups
✔️ Uses cutlery confidently at meals

Oral Hygiene is a Team Effort

Brushing and flossing are lifelong habits. Getting them right early matters. It’s important to let your children practise, but hands-on support ensures they’re teeth are cleaned effectively.

For some children, especially those who are neurodivergent, brushing can come with extra layers of challenge. Differences in motor skills, sensory processing, or routines can all affect how oral care feels and functions day to day. If that sounds familiar, you might like our post on Oral Hygiene for Neurodivergent Children. It dives deeper into the “why” behind these struggles and simple ways to make brushing more manageable.

Mel 🦷✨

About The Face Place
The Face Place supports families with early intervention care for children’s oral function and dental health. Led by Oral Health Therapist Melanie Van Schelven, our approach blends clinical insight with family-centered education, helping parents understand why something’s happening and what to do next.

Visit thefaceplaceofm.com.au for more free guides and evidence-based support.