As soon as the first tooth has come through, start a cleaning routine twice a day. This will be the foundation of dental hygiene for the rest of your baby's life. A soft baby toothbrush can be used, or if you find it easier, wrap a clean piece of flannel or gauze round your finger to clean your baby's teeth.

Regular brushing should remove plaque build-up. Plaque is the sticky, colourless, transparent film which builds up on the teeth. This contains food debris, bacteria and saliva. The bacteria in the plaque convert sugar into acid which causes tooth decay.

When you brush your child's, you should use a sugar-free children's toothpaste. Children's toothpastes do not contain fluoride because very young children find it very hard to spit, and consequently swallow a lot of toothpaste during brushing. Fluoride in the form of tablets or drops, should only be given to children if the local water supply is low in fluoride.

When your baby is six months old, you should take him or her to the dentist for the first time. Check-ups should then occur every 4 to 6 months. However, if there is any sign of a problem, you should arrange an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible.

By the age of two and a half, your toddler should be able to brush his or her own teeth under your supervision. However, you should continue to supervise your child's brushing technique until the age of six or seven.