Caring for your child’s teeth from the moment they appear is key to preventing problems as they grow older. To mark National Smile Month, we will be offering help and advice on how to care for your family’s oral health.

National Smile Month starts today (15 May) until 15 June and we’ve teamed up with Derbyshire County Council to get families to join the ‘Smile Squad’.

Oral health can have far-reaching effects on a child’s life, from their confidence and self-esteem to their education.Dr Robyn Dewis, Derby City Council’s Director for Public Health, said:

We know from our latest survey that more than one in five five-year-olds in Derby have decayed teeth. This causes pain and problems eating, sleeping, and concentrating at school.

Having teeth removed is the most common reason for primary school-aged children to go into hospital for an operation.

There are simple things that we can do to support our children to develop good habits, by cutting back on sugary foods and drinks, brushing teeth twice a day and visiting a dentist as soon as their first tooth comes through.

Nationally, one in four (25%) adults do not brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Almost one in three (31%) of adults have tooth decay and around three in four (74%) have had a tooth extracted.

By helping your child get into a simple oral health routine from the start, you can help them avoid most oral health problems.

Some of the best tooth and gum care tips are:

  • Brush teeth for at least two minutes, twice a day
  • Try to brush just before bed and at another time that fits in with your routine, such as first thing in the morning before breakfast
  • Use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste, the size of a grain of rice, for babies and toddlers up to three years old
  • For children aged three and over, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste
  • Supervise brushing your child's teeth until they are at least seven years old, or until they are able to do it properly themselves
  • Encourage your child to spit the toothpaste out afterwards but do not rinse out your child's mouth with water or mouthwash, as this will wash away the fluoride.

NHS dental treatment for children is free so aim to take your child for their first appointment as soon as their first baby tooth comes through.

For more information about how to keep teeth and gums healthy, visit the Derbyshire County Council website.