Looking after your baby's teeth

Your baby’s teeth begin to come through at around the age of six months, and many parents aren't aware that it's really important to start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears!

Children need healthy teeth, they help them eat, speak, and smile confidently. You can help them by teaching them good dental habits, such as regular brushing and not eating or drinking too much sugar.

• Brush last thing at night and at one other time during the day.
• Use a smear of toothpaste containing at least 1000 parts per million (ppm) fluoride. You can find this information on the packaging.
• Don't rinse with water as it washes away the fluoride.

At first you might not be able to brush much, and this is OK. The most important thing is to get your baby used to brushing their teeth as part of a daily routine.

According to the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry and the NHS:

• Breast feed if you can. This provides the best nutrition for babies.
• From six months of age use a free-flow cup
• From age one discourage feeding from a bottle.
• Once your baby is eating solid foods, keep sugary food and drinks to a minimum as sugar is the main cause of tooth decay.
• Avoid the use of dummies after 12 months of age. Dummies can cause an 'open bite' (the teeth move to make space for the dummy) and can affect speech and language development.

The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry have made this handy leaflet which has lots of useful information.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research have developed an oral health support package called toothPASTE, specifically for families with young autistic children.

It's a free, online resource developed with parents and professionals to support autistic children’s oral health but also relevant to many children with additional needs. It includes small, practical steps to help with toothbrushing, reducing sugary foods and drinks, and attending dental appointments.

The resources are autism-informed, non-judgemental, and easy to use.

You should take your child to visit the dentist as soon as their first teeth appear. Visiting the dentist early helps them to get used to the environment and get to know the dentist. 

NHS dental care is free for children.

Need to find a dentist?

Need help finding a dentist? Just enter your postcode into the NHS Find a Dentist tool and press 'search' for a list of dentists in your area. Click/tap on the name of each dentist to find out:

• Their ratings and reviews
• Whether they are currently taking on new NHS patients
• What their opening times are
• If they are accessible for wheelchair users and people who need step-free access
• If there is car parking available

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