Oral Health
It is all too easy to neglect dental health, but as with most things in life – prevention is better than cure. Teeth help us to consume food, chew, and aid in communication. So, it's best for children and adults to avoid oral health problems.
Healthy teeth tips for your child:
• Your baby will probably get their first tooth some time during their first year. Visit Kent Baby for more information and support on teething and taking care of an infant's teeth.
• Brush your child’s teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste containing no less than 1000ppm fluoride. Brushing should be supervised by a parent or carer.
• The best times to brush teeth are last thing at night and in the morning.
• Spit out after brushing – do not rinse with water
• Try to avoid sugary or fizzy drinks. Plain milk and water are the best drinks for teeth.
• Try to limit the amount of sugary foods offered to your child. Choose healthier snacks such as fresh fruit.
• Visit a dentist for a dental check by age one or when the first tooth erupts.
• Choose sugar free medicines where possible.
• Best Start for Life provides information and videos for good oral health in babies and toddlers.
SEND Child – Tips before your child’s first dental visit:
• Make sure the practice staff know in advance that your child has special needs.
• Try to arrange quick “hello” visits beforehand so that your child can get used to the journey to the surgery, to the environment and the people there.
• Ask to take photos to make a picture story of the dental appointment and what will happen.
• Ask for a visit at the beginning of the day when the waiting room is quiet and your child will not have to wait long before being seen.
• Take anything with you which helps your child feel less anxious eg. toys, iPad, blankets.
• Visit a dentist for a dental check by age one or when the first tooth erupts.
• Ask your practice for a dentist with a special interest in children with special needs.
More oral health ideas for parents, children, adults, carers and professionals. They include 'Healthy teeth tips for your child’, Supporting your Child’s teeth for parents of children with SEND and ideas for providers to promote oral health in the Early Years Provision. Download the Supporting your child's teeth for parents of Children with SEND (PDF)
Oral health promotion resources | Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Sing along with The Toothbrush Song from Hey Duggee: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/watch/tooth-brushing-badge-song
Listen to our Early Years podcast with Kim Chambers – Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust - discussing supporting your children with tooth brushing with a focus on SEND. See below: