healthscotland.com

Give teeth a chance

Toothbrushing

Why is brushing important?

• In early years fluoride in toothpaste helps prevent cavities - toothdecay.
• In later years regular brushing helps prevent gum disease.

When should brushing start?

• Just after your child?s first teeth come through.

How should the teeth be brushed?

• Use a small headed brush with a smear of fluoride toothpaste.
• Brush gently on the outside, inside and biting sides of the teeth using agentle scrubbing action.
• Once a full set of baby teeth are through it?s important to make sure youclean the teeth right at the back.
• It?s a good idea to help children brush their teeth up to the age of six orseven.
• Standing behind your child with their head tucked into you may makecleaning their teeth easier.

When should the teeth be brushed?

• Children?s teeth should be brushed twice a day, after breakfast and lastthing at night.
• Encourage your children with novelty toothbrushes, children?s fluoridetoothpaste (which is milder tasting), and by letting them see the rest of thefamily brushing their teeth.

Drinks and snacks

• Sugars in food and drink cause tooth decay.
• Bacteria in our mouths convert sugar into acid which rots teeth.
• It?s not just the amount of sugar consumed that is important but how oftensugary foods and drinks are consumed.
• Scottish children consume a lot of sweets, sugary foods and sweet fizzydrinks and have poor teeth as a result.

Visiting your dentist

• The earlier you take your child to the dentist the better as they will getused to going.
• Many dentists will sign children on at birth and your child shoulddefinitely see a dentist once their first teeth appear.
• Waiting until there is a problem is not a good introduction to thedentist.
• Remember, dental services for children are free, either from a familydentist (general dental practitioner) or the community dental service.
• The local library and health board will have lists of family dentists.

What can you do?

• Cut down on the number of times a day your child has sugary foods anddrinks.
• Check food and drink labels for added sugar. Sugar is also called sucrose,dextrose, glucose, fructose, maltose and syrup eg: fruit syrup, on labels.
• Check food and drink labels for added sugar. Sugar is also called sucrose,dextrose, glucose, fructose, maltose and syrup eg: fruit syrup, on labels.
• Ask your doctor to prescribe sugar-free medicines and also ask forsugar-free if you?re buying medicine over the counter at the pharmacy.
• Don?t give sweetened drinks in baby bottles. This can lead to decayed frontteeth. Only give milk or water in a bottle.
• Juice should be well diluted and given in a feeder cup or beaker,preferably at mealtimes.
• It is best to give sweet things at mealtimes when saliva flowing inthemouth helps protect teeth.
• Try to give healthy snacks such as fruit, pizza, sandwiches, breadsticks orcheese between meals.

And finally

• Cut down on the number of times a day your child has sugary foods anddrinks, especially between meals.
• Take your child to the dentist.
• Brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, especially lastthing at night.

In the beginning

Teeth are important for eating and talking and good teeth also help a childto have an attractive confident smile.

Good dental habits, started early, can help children keep their teeth forlife.

A baby?s first teeth are forming before birth. They begin to appear around 6months, often in the lower jaw at the front. A few babies are born with teethand others may still be waiting for teeth on their first birthday. Wheneverthey appear, that?s when you need to start looking after them.