Improving your child’s oral health
A good oral health consists of a clean teeth, fresh breath and healthy gums. Children from 12months should be discouraged from using dummies as it can cause an open bite and also affect the child’s speech development.
Toothbrushing tips
- • Start brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as the first milk tooth breaks.
• Brush teeth twice daily for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste as this helps prevent and control tooth decay.
• Use children’s fluoride toothpaste containing no less than 1,000ppm of fluoride, unless a dentist advises family toothpaste.
• Children should not eat or lick toothpaste from the tube.
• Use only a pea-sized amount for older children and a smear of toothpaste for younger ones.
• Guide your child’s hand in a circular movement when brushing.
• Use a mirror to help your child see their teeth.
• Make it fun by singing the toothbrushing song or using a 2 minutes egg timer.
• Spit out after brushing and don’t rinse the fluoride
• NHS dental care for children is free so take your child to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear.
• From the age of 3, children may be offered fluoride varnish application at least twice a year.
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