A helpful parent guide to oral health

From brushing their first tooth to their first trip to the dentist, here’s how to take care of your children’s teeth.


A regular teeth-cleaning routine is essential for good dental health. Follow these tips and you can help keep your kids’ teeth decay-free.


Toothbrushing tips
It’s important to use a fluoride toothpaste, as this helps prevent and control tooth decay.

Toothbrushes
Toothbrushes should have a small head size (the toothbrush needs to be small enough to reach behind the back teeth and brush them easily). The bristles should be medium/soft so that they do not hurt the gums. Toothbrushes should be replaced at least every 3 months, or sooner if required. Toothbrushes should be individually identifiable for each child

Children aged up to 3 years
 Start brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as the first milk tooth breaks through (usually at around 6 months, but it can be earlier or later).
 Parents or carers should brush or supervise toothbrushing.
 Brush teeth twice daily for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
 Brush last thing at night before bed and on 1 other occasion.
 Use children’s fluoride toothpaste containing no less than 1,000ppm of fluoride (check label) or family toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm fluoride.
 Use only a smear of toothpaste.
 Make sure children don’t eat or lick toothpaste from the tube.

Children aged 3 to 6 years
 Brush at least twice daily for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
 Brush last thing at night before bed and at least on 1 other occasion.
 Brushing should be supervised by a parent or carer.
 Use children’s fluoride toothpaste containing no less than 1,000ppm of fluoride (check label) or family toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm fluoride.
 Use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
 Spit out after brushing and don’t rinse – if you rinse, the fluoride won’t work as well.

Children aged 7 and over
 Brush at least twice daily for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
 Brush last thing at night before bed and at least on 1 other occasion.
 Use fluoride toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm of fluoride (check label).
 Spit out after brushing and don’t rinse – if you rinse, the fluoride won’t work as well.
Children aged 7 and over should be able to brush their own teeth, but it’s still a good idea to watch
them to make sure they brush properly and for about 2 minutes.

How to help children brush their teeth properly
 Guide your child’s hand so they can feel the correct movement.
 Use a mirror to help your child see exactly where the brush is cleaning their teeth.
 Make tooth brushing as fun as possible by using an egg timer to time it for about 2 minutes.
 Don’t let children run around with a toothbrush in their mouth, as they may have an accident and hurt themselves.

Taking your child to the dentist
 NHS dental care for children is free.
 Take your child to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear. This is so they become familiar with the environment and get to know the dentist. The dentist can advise you on how to prevent decay and identify any oral health problems at an early stage. Just opening up the child’s mouth for the dentist to take a look at is useful practise for the future.
 When you visit the dentist, be positive about it and make the trip fun. This will stop your child worrying about future visits.
 Take your child for regular dental check-ups as advised by the dentist.

Fluoride varnish and fissure sealants
 Fissure sealants can be done once your child’s permanent back teeth have started to come through (usually at the age of about 6 or 7) to protect them against decay. This is where the chewing surfaces of the back teeth are covered with a special thin plastic coating to keep germs and food particles out of the grooves. The sealant can last for as long as 5 to 10 years.
 Fluoride varnish can be applied to both baby teeth and adult teeth. It involves painting a varnish that contains high levels of fluoride onto the surface of the tooth every 6 months to prevent decay. Some children may need this more often. It works by strengthening tooth enamel, making it more resistant to decay.
 From the age of 3, children should be offered fluoride varnish application at least twice a year. Younger children may also be offered this treatment if your dentist thinks they need it. Ask your dentist about fluoride varnish or fissure sealing.

Between meal snacks
 Avoid sugary and acidic food / drinks between meals and an hour before bedtime
 Honey, smoothies, fruit juice and dried fruit are not tooth-friendly snack
 Milk is a tooth friendly drink during the day, water is tooth friendly at any time
 From 6 months onwards encourage the use of open top cups, discourage bottle use after the age of one year
 Remember to ask for sugar-free medicines whenever possible
 If you need help finding a dentist please telephone: NHS Helpline: 111 or visit their website: ww.nhs.uk

How to brush
Place the head of the toothbrush against the teeth, then tilt the bristle tips to a 45 degree angle against the gum line. Move the brush in small circular movements, sever-al times, on all the surfaces of every tooth
Brush the outer surfaces of each tooth, upper and lower, keeping the bristles angled against the gum line.
Do this again, but on the inside surfaces of all your teeth. To clean the inside surfaces of your front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several small, circular strokes with the front part of the brush.
Brush the biting surfaces of your teeth.
Spit out after brushing and do not rinse, so that the fluoride stays on the teeth longer.

Song to sing to your child
Brush, brush, brush your teeth
(Tune ‘Row, row, row your boat’)


Brush, brush, brush your teeth
Brush them every day
We put toothpaste on our brush
To help stop tooth decay

Clean, clean, clean your teeth
Clean them every day
Your teeth will sparkle for years to come
In the most beautiful way

Brush, brush, brush your teeth
Brush them every day
Happy, healthy teeth you’ll have
If it’s done this way