Do you have children under five? Keep their teeth healthy with these top tips

Establishing good oral hygiene habits early is crucial for your child’s dental health. Here are essential tips to follow:

1. Start early: Schedule a dental visit as soon as your baby’s first tooth appears for guidance.
2. Daily brushing: Brush your child’s teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste—once before bedtime. Remember to spit, don’t rinse.
3. Limit sugary foods and drinks: Avoid putting sugary drinks or fruit juice in baby bottles to prevent decay.
4. Choose the right toothpaste: For children aged 0-3 years, use a smear of fluoride toothpaste; for ages 3-6 years, use a pea-sized amount.
5. Supervised brushing: Parents should brush or supervise their child’s brushing until they are at least 7 years old.
6. NHS benefits: Take advantage of free NHS dental treatment available for all children, pregnant women, and mothers who have given birth in the last 12 months.

By incorporating these practices, you can help your child achieve a healthy smile and foster lifelong oral care habits.

You can download and print off this poster for your fridge as a reminder of the best practices. 

Download poster

This poster also links to videos available in English and Bengali that teach young children about oral health.