Looking after your teeth and seeing a Dentist
Taking care of your child’s teeth is really important, tooth decay is the leading cause of admission to hospital for 5-9 year old's (Oral Health Survey, gov.uk, 2019), but this is preventable.
The best way to take care of teeth is to brush them for 2 minutes, twice a day, this could be before bed and at one other time of the day. Spit out toothpaste but do not rinse after brushing. Regularly visit a dentist.
Limiting sugary drinks and sweets to mealtimes only is also really important to keep teeth healthy. Avoid unhealthy snacks, milk and water are the only recommended drinks. Use open cups without lids.
What you can do to help
- Start brushing teeth as soon as they appear in your baby’s mouth, this helps your child get used to tooth brushing and sets good habits.
- Use a toothpaste that contains the right amount of fluoride for your child’s age, a guide to this is available on the NHS website at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fluoride/
- Register with a dentist as soon as possible and go to regular check-up appointments as advised by your dental practice.
- Cut down on sugar. Sugar is known to cause tooth decay, which can lead to tooth damage (black, grey or brown spots which can eventually turn into holes), sensitivity to temperature, bad breath, a nasty taste in the mouth, pain or even tooth loss.
- Avoid or limit sugary/fizzy drinks and try not to have sweet snacks.
- Help your child with tooth brushing. Up to age 8 they might need quite a lot of supervision until they get good at it. Using a fun toothbrush, reward charts or animated songs can help.
- Support your child to brush their teeth twice a day, especially just before bed.
- Young people can start to use dental floss or intra-dental brushes, from age 12+ after demonstration from dental health professional. Chewing sugar free gum can also lower the acid in saliva and promote a healthy mouth.
Who can help?
If you’re worried about your oral health, a health professional in our team will be able to offer advice and support. You can Call Us on 0300 029 50 50 or Text Us on 07520 649887 to start a conversation. **Monday to Friday 9.30am - 4.30pm excluding bank holidays**
Animations for younger children:
For young people:
Advice on limiting sugar for children:
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