Dental Health for the Whole Family: Prevention and When to See a Dentist

Good dental health starts early and lasts a lifetime. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between your teeth, cutting back on sugary food and drinks, and seeing a dentist regularly are the foundations for the whole family. Toothache, swollen gums or a dental infection should be checked by a dentist, and some dental infections need urgent care.

Why dental health matters

Tooth decay and gum disease are common, and largely preventable. Untreated decay can cause pain, infection and tooth loss, and can make it harder to eat, sleep, speak and concentrate. Gum disease has also been linked with other health conditions, such as diabetes. Looking after your teeth is part of looking after your overall health.

Babies and toddlers

According to healthdirect:

• Before teeth appear, you can gently wipe your baby’s gums with a clean, damp cloth or gauze.
• When the first tooth appears, start brushing with a soft, small toothbrush.
• Up to 17 months, brush with water only, unless your dentist advises otherwise.
• From 18 months to 5 years, use a small pea-sized amount of low-fluoride children’s toothpaste twice a day. Encourage your child to spit it out rather than swallow it, and not to rinse.
• Book a first dental visit by the time the first tooth appears or by your child’s first birthday.
• Avoid bottles in bed. Don’t let your baby fall asleep with a bottle of milk, formula, juice or any sweet drink, as this can cause decay in the front teeth.
• Introduce a cup from around 6 months, and aim to move away from bottles by about 12 months.

Teething can make babies grizzly and dribbly, and they may want to chew on things. A clean, chilled teething ring can help. Teething doesn’t cause high fever or diarrhoea, so if your baby has these symptoms, look for another cause. Our guide to common health issues in babies may help.

Children

• Help your child brush twice a day until they can do it well themselves. Healthdirect notes that by about 9 years, children should be able to brush and floss on their own.
• Ask your dentist when your child should move from children’s toothpaste to a standard-strength fluoride toothpaste.
• Start flossing once two teeth touch each other.
• Keep sweet foods and drinks to mealtimes, rather than grazing through the day. Water is the best drink.
• Ask your dentist about fissure sealants, which can protect the grooves in back teeth.
• Use a mouthguard for contact sports.

Families may be eligible for help with the cost of basic dental care for children through the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. Check eligibility with Services Australia. Many states and territories also run public dental services for children.

Teenagers and adults

• Brush twice a day for about 2 minutes with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Spit, don’t rinse, so the fluoride keeps working.
• Clean between your teeth every day with floss or interdental brushes.
• Replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months, or sooner if the bristles are worn.
• Limit sugary and acidic food and drinks, including soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks and fruit juice.
• Drink tap water. Most Australian tap water contains fluoride, which helps strengthen teeth.
• Don’t smoke or vape. Smoking increases the risk of gum disease and mouth cancer. Our page on quitting smoking has support options.
• Limit alcohol.
• If you grind or clench your teeth, especially at night, ask your dentist whether a night guard would help.

Pregnancy

Hormone changes in pregnancy can make gums more prone to swelling and bleeding, and vomiting or reflux can expose teeth to acid. If you vomit, rinse your mouth with water and wait about an hour before brushing, to protect the softened enamel. Keep brushing and flossing, and let your dentist know you’re pregnant. Dental check-ups and most treatment are safe during pregnancy. You can talk to a GP about other pregnancy concerns through our pregnancy consultations.

Older adults

• Some medicines can cause a dry mouth, which increases the risk of decay. Sip water often and ask your doctor, pharmacist or dentist for advice.
• Receding gums can expose the roots of teeth, which are more prone to decay and sensitivity.
• Clean dentures daily, take them out overnight, and have them checked regularly by your dentist.

Common dental problems

Tooth decay

Decay happens when bacteria in plaque feed on sugars and produce acid that damages tooth enamel. Early decay may cause no symptoms, which is why regular check-ups matter. Later, it can cause sensitivity, pain and holes in the teeth. Read more about tooth decay on healthdirect.

Gum disease

Gingivitis causes red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush. It can usually be reversed with good brushing, flossing and a professional clean. Without treatment, it can progress to periodontitis, which damages the bone that supports the teeth and can lead to tooth loss.

Mouth ulcers

Most ulcers heal on their own within 1 to 2 weeks. See a dentist or doctor about any ulcer, lump or patch in the mouth that hasn’t healed within 2 weeks.

When to see a dentist

Have regular dental check-ups, as often as your dentist recommends for your needs. See a dentist soon if you have:

• toothache, or pain when biting or chewing
• sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers
• bleeding, swollen or receding gums
• a chipped, cracked, broken or loose tooth
• persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
• a mouth ulcer, lump or patch that hasn’t healed in 2 weeks
• a knocked-out adult tooth (see a dentist immediately; healthdirect’s dental injury page explains what to do on the way)

Pain relief can make toothache easier while you wait, but it won’t fix the cause. A tooth abscess needs dental treatment: as healthdirect notes, antibiotics alone aren’t enough to treat it.

When to get urgent help

A dental infection can spread and become serious. Go to your nearest emergency department, or call 000, if you have:

• swelling of the face, jaw, neck or under the tongue, especially if it’s spreading
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• trouble opening your mouth
• a fever with tooth pain or facial swelling, or you feel very unwell
• swelling near the eye
• heavy bleeding from the mouth that won’t stop, or a serious injury to the face or jaw

If you can’t get in to see your dentist for a painful or swollen tooth, contact your local public dental service or an emergency dentist.

How Teldoc can help

Teldoc is a GP telehealth service, so our doctors can’t examine your teeth, diagnose dental problems or provide dental treatment. For toothache, broken teeth or gum problems, please see a dentist. Our AHPRA-registered GPs can help with related health questions by phone or video, 7 days a week from 9 am to 7 pm (Sydney time). For example, a GP can:

• help you decide how urgently you need to be seen, and where to go
• discuss general health issues that affect the mouth, such as dry mouth from medicines, mouth ulcers, diabetes or quitting smoking
• provide a medical certificate if you’re too unwell to work

General consultations are $55 on weekdays and $75 on weekends and public holidays. See our fees page for details, and read what telehealth can and can’t do.

Frequently asked questions

When should my child first see a dentist?

Healthdirect recommends a first dental visit by the time your child’s first tooth appears or by their first birthday.

When should children start using toothpaste?

Brush with water only until 17 months, unless your dentist advises otherwise. From 18 months to 5 years, use a small pea-sized amount of low-fluoride children’s toothpaste twice a day.

Can antibiotics fix a tooth infection?

Not on their own. A tooth abscess needs treatment from a dentist to remove the source of infection. Get urgent help if you have facial swelling, fever, or trouble breathing, swallowing or opening your mouth.

Can a telehealth doctor treat toothache?

A GP can’t examine or treat teeth, so toothache needs to be seen by a dentist. A GP can help you decide how urgently you need care and where to go.

This article is general health information and isn’t a substitute for advice from your own doctor. If you’re worried about your health, speak to a GP. In an emergency, call 000.

Medically reviewed by Dr Vafa Derakshan (MBBS, FRACGP), September 2026