Oral health for children

Healthy teeth are an important part of children’s health. Good brushing habits and regular dental care can help avoid pain and problems later on.

Dental problems can affect a child’s comfort and wellbeing, so it’s important to look after teeth from an early age. Healthy teeth and gums help children:

• eat a wide range of foods
• avoid pain or infection
• sleep and concentrate better
• build good habits for life

Building good habits early

Regular tooth‑brushing is one of the best ways to protect your child’s teeth.

You can help by:

• brushing teeth twice a day, including before bed
• using fluoride toothpaste
• encouraging spitting, not rinsing, to keep fluoride on teeth
• choosing sugar-free medicines when possible
• making brushing fun with songs, timers, or apps
• helping or supervising brushing until your child can brush well independently

Starting these habits early and creating a good oral heath routine, helps protect teeth as children grow.

Parents and carers play a key role in helping children learn how to care for their teeth and make brushing part of everyday life.

Tooth decay is common in children. It can cause pain and discomfort, but it can often be prevented and treated.

Tooth decay happens when sugary food and drinks, together with bacteria in the mouth, damage teeth over time if they are not cleaned properly.

Bottles, dummies and cups

Decay can affect baby teeth as well as adult teeth. Even though baby teeth fall out, keeping them healthy is still important. Some daily habits can affect teeth if they go on for too long.

To help protect your baby's teeth:

• avoid dipping dummies in anything sweet
• from around 6 months, introduce an open cup or free‑flow cup
• reduce bottle use as your child grows

These steps can help lower the risk of tooth decay.

Find more information on how to take care of your baby or toddler's teeth.

When to see a dentist

Some dental problems are not easy to spot at first. Signs of tooth decay or other dental problems can include:

• toothache or pain
• dark marks or holes on teeth
• swelling of the gums or face
• trouble eating or drinking

If your child has any of these signs, it’s important to see a dentist. Getting help early can prevent problems from becoming more serious.

Free NHS dental care for children

NHS dental care is free for all children.

Seeing a dentist regularly is part of keeping teeth healthy. Children should see a dentist even if there are no problems.

You can find an NHS dentist using the NHS service search.

Why regular check‑ups matter

Dental check‑ups allow problems to be identified early. This can:

• prevent tooth decay from getting worse
• reduce pain and discomfort
• support your child’s long‑term oral health

Regular visits also give you a chance to ask questions and get advice.

What children eat and drink affects their teeth.

Sugary food and drinks can damage teeth over time, especially if they are had often.

Making small changes to everyday eating and drinking habits can help protect your child’s teeth.

How sugar affects teeth

Sugar feeds the bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria produce acid, which can damage teeth and lead to tooth decay.

Tooth decay can develop even if children brush their teeth, particularly when sugary foods and drinks are eaten or drunk often during the day.

Sugary foods and drinks

Families can help protect children’s teeth by:

• keeping sugary snacks and drinks to a minimum
• saving sugary foods for mealtimes only
• avoiding sugary drinks in bottles or sippy cups

Sugary drinks taken frequently between meals increase the risk of tooth decay. Instead, offering water or milk as the main drinks can help protect teeth.

Support and next steps

Diet is one part of keeping teeth healthy. Brushing and regular dental visits also play an important role. Find out more about dental check‑ups and seeing a dentist.

There is free support in Brent to help children keep their teeth healthy.

This includes NHS services, local programmes and activities for families.

Support is available for parents and carers, early years settings and schools.

Oral health advice and information

Families in Brent can access trusted information and advice about children’s oral health, including:

• how to look after children’s teeth at home
• brushing and fluoride advice
• support for parents of babies and young children

You can also find national information for parents on the NHS Best Start in Life website.

Brent oral health promotion team

The Brent Oral Health Promotion Team provides free support for families in the borough.

This includes:

• oral health workshops
• information sessions for parents and carers
• support for early years settings and schools

These sessions help families build confidence in looking after children’s teeth.

Local oral health initiatives

Brent runs oral health activities during the year to help children develop good brushing habits.

This page brings together videos and trusted information to help you look after your child’s teeth at home.

Videos: looking after children’s teeth

For advice on how to brush your child's teeth or information on how oral care changes as children grow, you might find below short videos helpful:

• Oral Health Promotion Alien
• Brushing your teeth with Sally
• How to care for the teeth of children aged 0 to 3
• How to care for the teeth of children aged 3 to 6
• How to care for the teeth of children aged 7 and over

These videos are designed to be child‑friendly and easy to follow.

Practical guidance for parents and carers

Trusted national information is available to support parents, particularly during the early years. You can find guidance on:

• caring for babies’ and toddlers’ teeth
• brushing and fluoride use
• building good routines at home

This information is provided by the NHS Best Start in Life programme.