Looking after yours and your child’s teeth is one of the most important things you can do to ensure you keep your mouth and gums healthy.
In theory, tooth care should be quite simple - don’t allow babies or children to have sugary things too often and make sure their teeth are brushed well twice a day for two minutes. In practice, it’s not that easy, the way sugary products are advertised and promoted can make it difficult to limit them.
Although it’s not always easy, you should get your child into good habits at an early age.
Here are the four most effective ways to improve oral health:
- Healthy eating and drinking
- Regular toothbrushing
- Adopting a healthier lifestyle
- Visiting a dentist regularly
Visit the dentist early
It is advised you should take your child to the dentist before they reach the age of one, to familiarise them with the environment and surroundings. Children under 18 should then be seen by a dentist at least once a year.
Brush those teeth for 2 minutes!
As soon as teeth appear in the mouth, parents should brush their baby’s teeth in the morning and last thing before bed. All children should be supervised with brushing, until parents are confident that they can brush effectively alone.
For children under 3, use a fluoride toothpaste that has levels of at least 1000 parts per million (ppm) fluoride. For children over 3 this can be increased up to 1450 ppm fluoride (family toothpaste) – this should be a smear between ages 3 and 6 and pea sized for 6 years plus. Always check the tube for more information.
All adults and children should spit and not rinse after brushing - this gives the toothpaste time to work to protect teeth.
The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry has lined up a great team to help make toothbrushing fun for families. Meet Dr Ranj, Hey Duggee, CBeebies and Brush DJ. Choose a video and be inspired to look after your teeth!
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