With World Oral Health Day coming up on 20 March, The GP Care Group is encouraging parents to follow some top tips to look after your children’s oral health. The Institute of Health Visiting has put together some useful information to support families to adopt healthier diets and effective brushing to help reduce the high risks of tooth decay.
Tip #1 – Make sure your child has a dental health check before their first birth
The ‘Dental Check by One’ – as called for by the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry, gives children the opportunity to develop a positive lifelong relationship with a dental team, who can support families and carers with oral health advice, address any concerns, and nurture a whole range of healthy behaviours. Regular dental attendance and ongoing preventive care delivered by the dental team will contribute to a child’s best start in life.
Tip #2 – Speak to your Health Visitor for simple evidence-based oral health advice
Our Health Visitors' key role is to promote the best start in life for every child, and oral health is very much part of this. Health visitors can support families and carers with simple effective oral health advice, including information on toothbrushing, feeding, weaning, diet, and signposting to dental services.
Tip #3 – Seek supportive resources created especially for parents and carers
A variety of free resources for families and carers, including Apps, websites and downloadable materials, are available to reinforce oral health advice and support families adopting healthier diets and effective toothbrushing.
Tip #4 – Ask yourself, does my child have a higher risk to tooth decay?
Children whose siblings have a history of tooth decay may also be more likely to develop poor oral health. Your health visitor can help you consider if you need a referral or assistance to access general, community or specialist dental services, or local oral health programmes.
