The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) HAS launched a new Start for Life children’s oral health campaign, to raise awareness and provide instruction for good oral hygiene in children and pregnant women, with a particular focus on children aged 0-2.
The campaign works to address the impact of poor dental health and will feature new content with tips and advice on the Start for Life website.
How to take care of your baby or toddler’s teeth
Good oral health saves kids from painful toothache and gives them the confidence to keep smiling. So it’s important you start brushing and show them good dental hygiene as soon as that first milk tooth breaks through.
It’s important for your child to have healthy teeth. They help them eat, speak, and smile confidently. Milk teeth also help to align and space their permanent teeth.
You can help your little one maintain a lifetime of healthy smiles by teaching them good dental habits, such as regular brushing and not eating or drinking too much sugar.
Brush twice a day
A child’s teeth should be brushed Once before bed and once at any other time from the moment their first tooth appears until they’re at least 7 years old.
Be sugar smart
Make healthier food and drink choices by swapping out sugar. Did you know sugary drinks can cause tooth decay in babies? Avoid sweet drinks like squash, fizzy pop, milkshakes and fruit juice during weaning, to prevent tooth decay. Even baby and toddler drinks can contain sugar. Visit Start for Life for more tips and advice.
Download the free NHS Food Scanner app. With a speedy scan of your family’s favourite foods, you can find healthier swaps for next time you shop. The app aims to encourage parents to improve their children’s dietary intake by promoting healthier food choices. Users can scan the barcode of packaged products and receive feedback about the nutritional content of the item (e.g., through traffic light nutritional labels or sugar cubes, salt sachets or fat slabs to describe quantity).
Click on the link below to Download the App now.
The sugar in medicines can also be just as tough on teeth as your child’s favourite treats. Choose sugar-free medicines where possible to help prevent tooth decay.
No need to rinse
Don’t rinse with water after brushing as it washes away the protective layer of fluoride. As children get older teach them to spit instead. However, do remember that whilst Fluoride is great for our teeth, little mouths need less of it. For kids under three, use just a smear. For ages three – six, a pea-sized amount will do.
Visit the dentist regularly
Visiting the dentist is important, so take your kids regularly. And don’t forget it’s free for pregnant women and everyone up to 18 (19 if in full-time education).
Say goodbye to the bottle
Babies are ready to start drinking from a free flow cup (beaker) or an open top cup from six months old, some even earlier! By introducing this to them at six months, they have time to get used to their new cup, allowing you to say ‘bye-bye’ to the bottle completely.
Replace the bottle time that is your child’s least favourite with a cup or beaker instead and offer sips of water with meals. The bottle time that is most important to you and your baby should be the last one to go. Often this is in the morning or at bedtime. Be consistent with offering a cup instead of a bottle to help your child transition more easily. Using an open cup or a free-flow cup without a valve will help your baby learn to sip and is better for your baby’s teeth.
Pregnant Women
During pregnancy, you’re more vulnerable to gum disease.
Remember, your dental check-ups and treatments are FREE up to a year after your baby’s birth.
For more useful information and support please visit the Start for Life website below.