As soon as your child begins to get teeth, you should be thinking about getting him or her a toothbrush. While you'll be taking care of the brushing duties for the first while, it's important to teach your child how to properly brush and empower him or her to do so once the child is old enough. Buying the right toothbrush can be integral in this process. Your child's pediatric dentist can give you some things to watch for when you shop for a children's toothbrush, and may even give your child a new brush at the end of each appointment. When you're shopping, here are three key attributes to consider.

Bristle Size

You definitely want to choose a toothbrush will smaller bristles than those that are on your own toothbrush. Proper children's toothbrushes are equipped with a smaller number of bristles that are also shorter. These will allow you and your child to brush his or her teeth with ease. Don't make the mistake of buying an adult-sized brush for your child. The size of the bristles can make it difficult to get the job done in a small mouth, and may even contribute to your child gagging — which isn't ideal because it makes the brushing experience unpleasant.

Fun Design

Don't underestimate the value of a fun design when you're shopping for a new toothbrush for your child. You'll see lots of low-price plain brushes, but plan to spend just a little bit more to find a brush with your child's favorite cartoon characters, superheroes, or something else that your child will favor. Something so simple can actually go a long way toward making the brushing process fun for your child. He or she may be more interested in brushing when the toothbrush design is fun.

Ergonomic Features

The best children's toothbrushes also have ergonomic features, so you'll want to buy a product that has these. This generally means that there's a comfortable rubber handle that is contoured to be easy to grip. Some children's toothbrushes even have a rubber oval in which to place the thumb for comfort. Ergonomic features are ideal because young children often lack coordination, and the presence of these features will make it much easier for your child to grip the toothbrush. A brush without such features is difficult for a child to hold, and he or she could not only do a poor job of brushing, but also get discouraged about the challenges of the task.