Destiny 2 Brush Your Teeth

From brushing their first tooth to their get-go trip to the dentist, here's how to take care of your children'due south teeth.

A regular teeth-cleaning routine is essential for good dental wellness. Follow these tips and you tin can help proceed your kids' teeth decay-gratis.

Toothbrushing tips

Information technology's important to use a fluoride toothpaste, every bit this helps prevent and control tooth disuse.

Children anile up to 3 years

Start brushing your baby's teeth as soon equally the first milk tooth breaks through (usually at around 6 months, only it can be earlier or later).
Parents or carers should brush or supervise toothbrushing.
Castor teeth twice daily for about two minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
Brush concluding thing at night before bed and on 1 other occasion.
Use children's fluoride toothpaste containing no less than i,000ppm of fluoride (check characterization) or family unit toothpaste containing betwixt i,350ppm and one,500ppm fluoride.
Utilize only a smear of toothpaste.
Make sure children don't eat or lick toothpaste from the tube.

photograph of a child's blue toothbrush with a smear of toothpaste next to a 2cm scale — Smear of toothpaste

Children aged 3 to half dozen years

Castor at least twice daily for nearly 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
Brush last thing at dark before bed and at least on 1 other occasion.
Brushing should be supervised by a parent or carer.
Apply children's fluoride toothpaste containing no less than one,000ppm of fluoride (cheque label) or family toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm fluoride.
Use merely a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
Spit out after brushing and don't rinse – if you rinse, the fluoride won't work likewise.

photograph of a child's blue toothbrush with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste next to a 2cm scale — Pea-sized blob of toothpaste

Children aged 7 and over

Brush at least twice daily for near 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
Brush terminal affair at nighttime before bed and at least on one other occasion.
Use fluoride toothpaste containing betwixt 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm of fluoride (check characterization).
Spit out afterward brushing and don't rinse – if yous rinse, the fluoride won't piece of work as well.

Children anile 7 and over should exist able to brush their own teeth, but it'southward notwithstanding a good idea to watch them to brand sure they brush properly and for well-nigh 2 minutes.

How to help children brush their teeth properly

Guide your child's hand then they can feel the right movement.
Use a mirror to assist your kid come across exactly where the brush is cleaning their teeth.
Make tooth brushing as fun equally possible by using an egg timer to time it for about 2 minutes.
Don't let children run around with a toothbrush in their mouth, as they may take an accident and hurt themselves.

Taking your kid to the dentist

NHS dental intendance for children is costless.
Take your kid to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear. This is and then they go familiar with the surround and get to know the dentist. The dentist tin can advise you on how to forestall decay and identify any oral health issues at an early on stage. Just opening up the child'south oral fissure for the dentist to accept a await at is useful practice for the hereafter.
When y'all visit the dentist, exist positive about it and brand the trip fun. This will stop your child worrying nigh future visits.
Take your child for regular dental check-ups as brash past the dentist.

Find your nearest dentist

Fluoride varnish and cleft sealants

Fissure sealants can exist done once your kid's permanent back teeth have started to come through (usually at the age of about 6 or 7) to protect them against decay. This is where the chewing surfaces of the back teeth are covered with a special thin plastic coating to keep germs and nutrient particles out of the grooves. The sealant can last for as long as 5 to ten years.
Fluoride varnish can exist practical to both babe teeth and developed teeth. It involves painting a varnish that contains high levels of fluoride onto the surface of the tooth every 6 months to forestall decay. Some children may demand this more than oft. It works by strengthening tooth enamel, making it more resistant to disuse.
From the age of iii, children should be offered fluoride varnish application at to the lowest degree twice a twelvemonth. Younger children may also exist offered this treatment if your dentist thinks they need it.

Ask your dentist about fluoride varnish or fissure sealing.

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