Brush for 2 minutes twice a day
You can make this more fun (and to make sure you do it for long enough!) by using a timer.
Use a toothpaste that has at least 1000 parts fluoride. We recommend that your whole family use Colgate Total Toothpaste. After brushing, spit out the extra toothpaste, but don’t rinse afterwards.
As a guide, until your child can write properly, they can’t brush their teeth properly, so they need you to help them to make sure their teeth are cleaned well.
Visiting the Dentist
- Bring your child regularly to see us to that we can make them happy to be here and so we can spot any problems early.
- We would like to see you with your child from birth upwards so we can give you good advice even before their first tooth has erupted.
Fluoride
Fluoride is not in the water in our area and supplements can help strengthen developing teeth.
- Your dentist can give your child a prescription for fluoride drops/tablets.
- It is important for your child to take these every day (we suggest you give them to your child after their evening meal).
- They will help to strengthen the teeth, and together with a good diet, they will help to prevent tooth decay.
Food
Sugar causes tooth decay. The most important thing is to limit the number of times your child has sugary snacks and drinks.
Try and keep sugary snacks to mealtimes only. Or better still, have none at all!
Good Snacks
Some good snacks are: Fresh fruit, cheese, raw vegetables, breadsticks, bread, crackers
Bad Snacks
Bad snacks include: Fizzy juice,flavoured water,lollipops,sweets, biscuits, jelly
Diet Drinks and fruit juices also decay teeth as these are very acidic.
The safest drinks are PLAIN WATER and PLAIN MILK
