NHS Dental

Top 5 Dental Tips for Kids

Brushing

As soon as teeth appear in the mouth(this is usually around 6 months but can be sooner or much later) brush them twice daily with a fluoridated toothpaste.

Brushing should be carried out by a parent/carer until around 7-8 years old, until a child has enough co-ordination to be able to tie their own shoelaces they will not have enough co-ordination to be able to do a good job at toothbrushing

Brush last thing at night and on one other occasion

There are some brilliant toothbrushing apps that can help make sure we are brushing for at least 2 minutes

Sugar

The frequency and amount of sugary food and drinks should be reduced.

We recommend sugar-free medicines.

Does this mean they should never have fizzy drinks or sweets?

These can be occasional treats – perhaps once a week.  All other sweet food and drinks should be consumed at mealtimes only.

Toothpaste

Children aged 0-6 years – Use fluoridated toothpaste containing 1,000 ppm fluoride

7 years upwards and young adults – Use fluoridated toothpaste (1,350 – 1,500 ppm fluoride)

• Spit out after brushing and do not rinse, to maintain fluoride concentration levels

Snacking

Eating sugary or acidic food and drink produces acid attacks on our teeth, causing minerals to be lost from the enamel. Restrict these foods and drinks to mealtimes only. This allows the salvia to put minerals back into the teeth between meals.

What sort of damage do snacks cause?

There are two problems

  • Tooth decay – caused by the sugary foods combining with bacteria in the mouth and making holes in the teeth.
  • Acid erosion – the frequent consumption of fizzy drinks, fruit juices and squash causes the enamel on the teeth to be dissolved.

Sparkling water of any kind is also very acidic.

Smoothies and dried fruit should be avoided between meals as they are high in sugar and acid.

Visiting the dentist

If you have any concerns or questions about your child’s dental health please let us know as soon as possible.

We recommend routine examinations – Your dentist will recommend how often you attend for these appointments.

If your child has a dental emergency please contact the practice as soon as possible especially in the case of a dental trauma or swelling