Better oral health for children : Advice

As soon as your children’s teeth appear you need to start looking after them.







General advice for all children:

• Choose a small headed toothbrush.
• Brush twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste, last thing at night and at one other time during the day, making sure to clean all tooth surfaces.
• Spit out after brushing and DO NOT RINSE. This helps to keep the fluoride in contact with the teeth for longer, giving greater protection against dental decay.
• Sugary foods and drinks should be kept to mealtimes.
• If your child needs a medicine ask your doctor or pharmacist for SUGAR FREE.
• DO NOT let your child eat or lick toothpaste.

Ask your dentist about the benefits of fluoride varnish for children aged 3 to 16 years.

Advice for children aged 0-3 years

• Breast feeding provides the best nutrition for babies.
• Introduce your baby to drinking from a cup from 6 months of age.
• Aim to have your baby off the bottle by their first birthday.
• Sugar should not be added to weaning foods.
• As soon as the teeth come through, brush them twice daily, using a smear of toothpaste containing at least 1000 parts per million fluoride (ppm F).
• Parents should brush their children’s teeth.

 Advice for children aged 3-6 years

• Tooth brushing should be supervised by an adult.
• Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing at least 1350 - 1500 (ppm F).
• Try offering a wide range of fresh fruit and raw vegetables as a snack.
• Encourage semi-skimmed milk or water as a drink between meals.

Advice for children aged 7 and over

• Use slightly larger than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing 1350 (ppm F) or above.
• Continue to offer fresh fruit, raw vegetables, semi-skimmed milk, and water between meals as a snack.

Fluoride Content of toothpaste
To check the fluoride content of toothpaste look under the list of ingredients on the toothpaste tube or outer box; e.g. 1350ppm F. This means the toothpaste contains 1350 parts per million of fluoride. Some toothpastes contain low levels or NO fluoride and are NOT RECOMMENDED, because they will not give the protection needed against dental decay.

Advice for children at greater risk of developing dental decay
(e.g. children who have had dental decay before, those who are undergoing orthodontic treatment or those with special needs).

• For those children who take sugary, dietary supplements, please give at mealtimes when possible (unless your doctor or health professional advises you otherwise).
• Children aged 7 and over may need to:
• use a fluoride mouthrinse daily
• use a powered toothbrush that rotates/vibrates.

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