Oral Health

Oral health means looking after your child’s mouth, so it stays clean, healthy, and free from problems like tooth decay, pain, or infection. When their teeth and gums are healthy, they can eat, talk, and smile with confidence. Good oral care now also helps set them up for strong, healthy teeth as they grow, making sure their adult teeth come through in the right way.

Click below to find out more:

Looking after your child’s teeth is really important for their overall health. Healthy teeth and gums help them eat, talk, and smile comfortably. If teeth aren’t cared for, problems like tooth decay can cause pain, infections, sleepless nights, and even time off nursery or school. It can also mean parents need time off work too!

Sometimes, young children need a general anaesthetic to have badly decayed teeth removed, which can be stressful and carries some risk.

Baby teeth are just as important as adult teeth. They help guide adult teeth into the right position. If baby teeth are lost too early, adult teeth might come through crooked.

When do baby teeth come through?
Your baby’s first teeth usually appear between 5–7 months. The bottom front teeth (incisors) come first, then the top front teeth, followed by other incisors, molars, and canines. By about 2½ years old, most children have 20 baby teeth.

Sometimes teeth come through without any fuss, but you might notice signs like:

  • Red, sore gums
  • One flushed cheek
  • Ear rubbing
  • Extra dribbling
  • Chewing on things a lot
  • Being more unsettled than usual

Teething doesn’t cause fever or diarrhoea, so if your baby seems unwell, see a doctor.

To help soothe them, offer something safe to chew, like a teething ring. Teething gels don’t usually help, but if you use one, make sure it’s baby-safe and sugar-free. If needed, sugar-free paracetamol or ibuprofen can be given for babies over 3 months.

👉 Click here to find out more about teething and some top tips on how to help your little one as their tiny teeth emerge!

Start brushing as soon as your baby’s first tooth appears.

Use a small toothbrush and sit your baby on your knee with their head resting against your chest – this makes it easier.

Brush their teeth for about 2 minutes, last thing at night and at least one other time during the day. Try to make brushing part of your daily routine, like after breakfast and before bed.

Use fluoride toothpaste (check the label for at least 1450ppm fluoride). Most supermarket brands are fine and affordable.

  • Under 3 years: just a tiny smear of toothpaste.
  • Ages 3–6: a pea-sized amount.

Parents should brush or supervise until children are at least 7 years old.
Choose a small-headed brush with soft to medium bristles. Make sure you clean all the teeth and along the gumline.

After brushing, spit, don’t rinse – rinsing washes away the fluoride that protects teeth.

👉 Click here to find out more about tooth care for you baby and toddler and for some great ideas to make tooth brushing fun!

Sugar and Tooth Decay
Sugar can harm your child’s teeth. When sugar stays in the mouth, it feeds bacteria that make acid, which causes holes (tooth decay).

Here are some easy tips to help:

  • Keep sugary foods and drinks to a minimum and only give sweet treats at mealtimes.
  • Don’t add sugar to baby food or drinks, and never put sugary drinks in bottles.
  • Avoid giving bottles as a sleep aid – milk sitting on teeth for too long can cause decay.
  • Milk and water are the best drinks for teeth. Juices, squashes, smoothies, and milkshakes are high in sugar.
  • Try to choose sugar-free medicines when possible.
  • At bedtime, avoid any food or drink with sugar.

Sugar can be hidden under names like glucose, fructose, syrup, honey, or even “organic sugar” – it’s all harmful to teeth.

It’s okay to give your baby a dummy, but try to stop using it after they turn 1.
Using a dummy or thumb-sucking for too long can affect how your child’s teeth grow and may even cause a gap between the top and bottom teeth. It can also slow down speech development.

Try to avoid letting your child run around, talk, or make sounds with a dummy or thumb in their mouth. And never dip dummies in anything sweet like sugar or jam – this can lead to tooth decay!

👉 Click here to learn more about how dummies can help your baby, what to watch out for if they’re used for too long and help to wean them off it!

It’s important to register your child with a dentist early. Children should start going for check-ups as soon as their first tooth appears, and definitely before their first birthday. This helps them get used to the dentist and makes visits easier later on.

The dentist can give advice on brushing, diet, and even apply a special fluoride varnish to protect teeth. Babies and toddlers usually sit on your lap during the check-up, so it’s quick and easy.

Good to know:

  • NHS dental care is free for children, pregnant mums, and for 12 months after birth. It’s also free for some families on certain benefits.
  • Adults should have a check-up at least every 2 years, and children at least once a year.

To find a dentist near you, just pop your postcode into the NHS website.

If your child has toothache or swelling:

  • Call your dentist first.
  • If you can’t get an appointment, call NHS 111 or go online for urgent dental care. This is for problems that need treatment within 24 hours, like pain that won’t go away or an infection.

For serious emergencies:
Go straight to A&E if there’s heavy bleeding that won’t stop, a rapidly growing swelling near the throat or eye, or an injury to the mouth or face.

👉 Click here to find out more about accessing dental services