 [ Symptoms ] should i be stimulating my baby is gums with those finger tools when should i start brushing her teeth [ Disease ] the sooner the better at birth start cleaning your child is gums with a soft infant toothbrush or a cloth and water as soon as the teeth begin to appear start brushing twice daily using fluoridated toothpaste and a soft age appropriate sized toothbrush use only a small smear of toothpaste to brush the teeth of a child less than 2 years old for the 2 5 year olds dispense a pea sized amount of toothpaste and perform or assist your child is tooth brushing remember that young children do not have the ability to brush their teeth effectively