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Looking after your teeth

Encouraging good dental habits from an early age will have lifelong benefits for health and should help your child keep their teeth for longer, if not for life.

So what can you do as a parent / carer?

Try to encourage healthy eating habits from an early age. Tooth decay is caused by sugary foods, which cause acid to form that attacks tooth enamel. If possible, foods and drinks containing sugar should be consumed in one sitting, and preferably only at mealtimes.

Take your child along with you when you visit the dentist, so they can get used to the surroundings from an early age. The dentist can also offer advice and discuss worries you may have about your child’s teeth.

Some top tips for a healthy mouth

• Offer your child only water or milk to drink between meals.
• If fruit juices are given, dilute them 1 part juice to 10 parts water and give in a free flow feeder cup or a normal cup.
• Choose snacks such as fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, toast or bread sticks. If sweets, cakes and biscuits are offered, they should be part of a main meal and not as snacks.
• Clean your child's teeth as soon as you see the first tooth. Use a soft small-headed toothbrush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste if aged under two years, or a pea-size amount for older children. After brushing, encourage your child to spit the toothpaste out, not rinse. You will need to help your child brush their teeth until they are at least eight years old.
• Plaque (a sticky film of bacteria) will start to form on your child's teeth as they appear in the mouth. It is important to get your child into the routine of brushing their teeth morning and night from an early age, and hopefully the brushing routine will continue throughout their life.

For further information about looking after your child’s teeth contact:

• Name:
• Kathryn Halstead, Oral Health Promotion Officer
• E-mail:
• kathryn.halstead@ckcdc.nhs.uk
• Telephone:
• 01422 305547.

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