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Dental health

Having a healthy mouth is essential for yours and your family’s health and wellbeing.

The World Health Organisation describes good mouth and dental health as a state of being free from:

  • mouth and facial pain
  • dental and throat cancer
  • oral infection and sores
  • gum disease
  • tooth decay and tooth loss
  • other diseases and disorders that limit your ability to bite, chew, smile, speak, and can affect your wellbeing

Most dental problems are preventable and can be treated in their early stages by following a good dental health routine.

Advice for babies, toddlers and young children

Tooth decay is the most common dental disease affecting toddlers, children and young people in England. Every child who has teeth is at risk of tooth decay.

Here are some top tips to help keep your children’s teeth healthy.

For babies and toddlers' teeth (from approximately 5 months to 3 years):

  • try to visit the dentist with your baby before they turn one year old
  • brush your child's teeth as soon as they start to appear in their mouth (from around 5 months of age)
  • brush your child’s teeth twice a day - this should be the last thing before bed and at one other time during the day
  • use a small brush with soft bristles to clean your child’s teeth
  • use only a smear of toothpaste on their brush - toothpaste should contain between 1350 and 1500ppm of fluoride
  • after brushing, children should spit the toothpaste out but not rinse their mouth
  • introduce your child to drinking from a free flow cup from 6 months and aim to stop bottle feeding by 1 year
  • milk and water are the best drinks for your child and their teeth
  • provide a healthy balanced diet for your child (from 6 months old and limit sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes
  • do not add sugar or honey to your children’s drinks or food
  • always ask for sugar-free medicines

For children’s teeth (3 to 6 years):

  • adults should supervise children under 7 years old when cleaning their teeth
  • brush teeth 2 times every day. This should be the last thing before bed and at one other time during the day
  • use a pea sized amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush - toothpaste should contain between 1350 and 1500ppm of fluoride
  • brush teeth for 2 minutes
  • after brushing, children should spit the toothpaste out but not rinse their mouth
  • provide a healthy balanced diet for your child and limit sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes

Download the free Brush DJ App – The app plays two minutes of music to time brushing and sets reminders for brushing and visiting the dentist.

Download a toothbrushing diary for your child.

Advice for older children and adults

For children aged 7+ years and adults:

  • brush teeth 2 times every day - this should be the last thing before bed and at one other time during the day
  • brush teeth for 2 minutes with a toothpaste containing between 1,350 and 1,500ppm of fluoride
  • use a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on the toothbrush
  • after brushing, spit out the toothpaste but do not rinse mouth with water
  • eat a healthy balanced diet and limit sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes only
  • using dental floss or interdental brushes is recommended from 12 years of age

If you have dentures (false teeth):

  • it is important to look after your mouth even if you wear dentures
  • use toothpaste (containing between 1,350 and 1,500ppm of fluoride) to clean any remaining teeth, mouth and gums twice a day
  • find out more information about dentures

Useful resources

Find out more about:

The Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) Oral Health Improvement Team has made an oral health guide for children and parents.

The Northamptonshire Strong Start Early Years Team made a video about how to look after babies’ and children’s teeth.

Visiting the dentist

NHS dental care is free for all pregnant mothers and for 12 months after birth. Take children to see the dentist as soon as the first baby tooth shows in the mouth. Take your child to the dentist regularly, not just when in pain.

NHS dental treatment is free for children and adults under 19, in qualifying full-time education.

Ask your dentist to brush on fluoride varnish for added protection against tooth decay (for children aged 3 and above) - it's free.

There are some reasons that might allow you to get free dental care. Find out more about getting help with health costs.

How to find a dentist

To find your local NHS dentist visit the NHS website.

If you think you need urgent care, contact your usual dentist as some offer emergency dental slots and will provide care if necessary.

You can also contact NHS 111, who can put you in touch with an urgent dental service.

If, after contacting several dentists, you still cannot find one that will see you, call NHS England's Customer Contact Centre on 0300 311 2233.

Your local Healthwatch may be able to give you information about services in your area or raise a concern if you have one.

Find out more about:

Special needs

NHFT have a specialist service for children and adults who are unable to access the general dentist.

For example, those who may have special needs, learning disabilities, significant health problems or other issues. You can contact them on 03000 274 836.

Other support available

Oral cancer is the ninth most common cancer in the UK and accounts for 2% of all cancers diagnosed. Known risk factors include smoking, chewing tobacco, drinking alcohol and infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV).

Find out more about support to stop smoking, and drug and alcohol.

Last updated 09 January 2024