Below are some oral health promotion resources we have found useful for parents, adults, carers and professionals.
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Resources
Healthy teeth tips for your child:
- Your baby will probably get their first tooth some time during their first year. Visit Kent Baby for more information and support on teething and taking care of an infant's teeth.
- Brush your child’s teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste containing no less than 1000ppm fluoride. Brushing should be supervised by a parent or carer.
- The best times to brush teeth are last thing at night and in the morning.
- Spit out after brushing – do not rinse with water
- Try to avoid sugary or fizzy drinks. Plain milk and water are the best drinks for teeth.
- Try to limit the amount of sugary foods offered to your child. Choose healthier snacks such as fresh fruit.
- Visit a dentist for a dental check by age one or when the first tooth erupts.
- Choose sugar free medicines where possible.
- The Start for Life children’s oral health website provides information (with videos) for good
oral health in babies and toddlers.
Watch
TV doctor and Strictly Come Dancing star Dr Ranj is working to get UK kids brushing their teeth – strictly correctly.
YouTube playlist of all three videos
YouTube individual videos:
Dr Ranj has also made a YouTube video about taking your baby to the dentist before their first birthday, recommended by the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry
HENRY is a charity that provides support for the entire family to make positive lifestyle changes which starts with the early years. They have created this Growing up with healthy teeth | HENRY video, which provides information and interviews with parents and their experience on all aspects of oral health care.
An animated video with advice on oral care for under 5s, and here is the same video in Bengali.
Read
For your baby’s teeth - Looking after your baby's teeth is available on the NHS.uk website.
Many nurseries take part in our toothfriendy nursery scheme. Read our Toothfriendly nursery scheme leaflet for more information, including top tips to look after young children's teeth.
For all children, read this guide from the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry: A practical guide to childrens teeth (bspd.co.uk). This guide is available in a number of different languages and can also be printed off.
Find easy ways to eat well and move more at the Change for Life website. Get access to healthy recipes, learn about nutrition and discover clever lunch box swaps.
Our Starting school with a smile
Download apps
Brush DJ - A free, multi-award winning App with a 2-minute timer to your child’s favourite music to make brushing fun and engaging!
Foodscanner - This Change for Life App brings food labels to life and helps you make healthier choices.
Brushing and maintaining your child’s oral health care needs can be challenging if your child has special needs; below are some resources and helpful tips to manage these needs more easily.
A very useful booklet produced by Manchester Primary Care Trust gives advice and information for parents and carers of children with special needs.
toothPASTE is a resource that offers advice and support for families of young autistic children to care for their teeth. Created with families,
The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry also offers additional resources for parents of children with autism.
- BSPD advice for parents of children with autism
- BSPD questionnaire you can complete for your dentist before your child's dental
appointment
What to expect at the dentist if your child has special educational needs or a disability.
Before your child’s first dental visit:
- Make sure the practice staff know in advance that your child has special needs.
- Try to arrange quick “hello” visits beforehand so that your child can get used to the journey to the surgery, to the environment and the people there.
- Ask to take photos to make a picture story of the dental appointment and what will happen.
- Ask for a visit at the beginning of the day when the waiting room is quiet and your child will not have to wait long before being seen.
- Take anything with you which helps your child feel less anxious eg. toys, iPad, blankets.
- Visit a dentist for a dental check by age one or when the first tooth erupts.
- Ask your practice for a dentist with a special interest in children with special needs.
Watch our oral health for young people with a learning disability video
- A quick guide to a healthy mouth in adults (PHE) (printable)
A quick guide to a healthy mouth in adults
This factsheet provides a summary of the simple steps that adults can take every day to protect and improve their oral health. The evidence based advice is from Delivering better oral health.
Looking after your mouth
- brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste containing 1350 – 1500 parts per million fluoride (ppm) fluoride. Brush last thing at night, so that the fluoride continues to protect the teeth while you sleep, and on at least on one other occasion
- your dentist may prescribe toothpaste with a higher fluoride level if you are at particular risk of tooth decay
- brush all surfaces of each tooth carefully and the gum line
- spit out after brushing but do not rinse away the toothpaste as this reduces the effectiveness of the fluoride – spit don’t rinse
- choose a toothbrush with a small head and medium-textured bristles, you can use either a manual or electric toothbrush
- if you need support to brush your teeth, toothbrush adaptations are available
- replace your toothbrush regularly, every one to three months or when the bristles are worn
- reduce the amount and number of times you have foods and drinks that contain added sugars
- reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume, such as fizzy and soft drinks and squash
- avoid sugary foods and drinks just before bedtime as the saliva flow in the mouth slows down when you sleep, and can increase the risk of tooth decay.
In addition
- as part of a daily oral health routine in addition to brushing, it is important to clean between the teeth using interdental brushes. Some people may not have large enough spaces in between their teeth to use an interdental brush so flossing can be a useful alternative
- the dental team will show you how best to clean between your teeth.
Looking after your gums
The following risk factors may increase the possibility of developing gum disease or complicate its treatment:
- smoking this increases the risk of gum disease and affects the response to treatment. It can increase the chance of losing your teeth. If you would like help to stop smoking, ask your dental team, they can refer you to the local stop smoking service
- if you have diabetes and have poor sugar control this increases your risk of gum disease, and makes treatment less effective
- some medications can affect gum health and can cause dry mouth or enlarged gums. Always let your dentist know if you are on medication.
Mouth cancer: how to reduce your risk
The main risk factors for mouth cancer are tobacco and alcohol:
- the combined effect of drinking alcohol and using tobacco multiplies your risk of developing mouth cancer
- do not smoke, or use smokeless tobacco (such as paan, chewing tobacco and gutkha). If you would like help to stop ask your dentist to refer you to the local stop smoking service
- the Chief Medical Officer for England has recommended that you are safest not to drink regularly more than 14 units per week, to keep health risks from drinking alcohol to a low level
- increase your intake of non-starchy vegetables and fruit.
Looking after dental implants
The soft tissue (gums) and bone around dental implants are at the same risk of inflammation and gum disease as those around natural teeth. If you have implants you should look after them just like natural teeth:
- clean between and around implants carefully using cleaning aids and toothbrushes as advised by the dental team
- attend the dentist regularly, as advised for checks of the health of gum and bone around implants.
Visiting the dentist
- you should see a dentist regularly for check-ups even if you have no teeth, or are free from any apparent problems with your mouth or teeth, as this helps you and your dentist to keep your mouth, teeth and gums in good health. Your dentist will advise you how often you need a check-up
- NHS dental treatment is free for children under 18 or under 19 and in qualifying full-time education
- women are entitled to free NHS dental treatment during pregnancy and any treatment commenced before their child’s first birthday
- NHS Choices provides information on who is entitled to free dental care.
Find out more
For lifestyle tips for healthy teeth, visit NHS.uk.
The Eatwell Guide shows the proportions of different types of foods which are needed to have a well-balanced and healthy diet.
For information on who is entitled to free dental care or help with dental costs.
Many disability organisations and other groups have web-based information on oral and dental care.
“Oral care and people with learning disabilities” has been produced by Public Health England as guidance for dental teams and family carers and paid supporters that help someone with their daily oral care and in accessing dental service. The resource section provides further links to additional advice, including easy read and accessible information and resources.
Oral care and people with learning disabilities (www.gov.uk)
Dental care for people with special needs | Oral Health Foundation (dentalhealth.org) for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
Oral health leaflet (scot.nhs.uk) provides guidelines to help maintain a good standard of oral hygiene.
The National Autistic Society has produced a resource page for oral health: Dentists (autism.org.uk).
Team Smile aims to raise awareness and promote a positive dental experience so that everyone, including adults and children with learning
“Delivering Better Oral Health” is an evidenced based toolkit to support dental teams in improving their patient’s general and oral health. The following summary guidance gives the key recommendations including advice to parents, carers and patients:
This guide is part of Gov.uk ‘All Our Health’, a resource which helps health and care professionals prevent ill health and promote wellbeing as part of their everyday practice. The information below will help front-line health and care staff use their trusted relationships with patients, families and communities to promote the benefits of good oral health for children.
This Gov.uk resource outlines how health professionals can help prevent tooth decay in children under 5:
Making Every Contact Count
Making Every Contact Count
For key oral health information and suggested open questions using the Ask, Assist, Act model.
Health visitors
Health visitors have an important role in providing advice and support as part of the healthy child programme. The Institute of Health Visiting has an Oral Health resource page.
Pharmacists
The HEE Dental and Pharmacy teams across LaSE have therefore collaborated to produce a series of dental factsheets for community pharmacy.
For those working with the Charedi community who do not access the internet, we have produced an appropriate resource that you can print off - Healthy teeth happy family leaflet.
e-Learning:
Health Education England elearning for healthcare (HEE elfh) has created two oral healthcare learning modules:
- Child oral health e-learning training programme for staff and parents: Children’s oral health advice
- This module is aimed at both health and care professionals as well as parents. It provides an overview of child oral health – including cause and consequence of tooth decay, preventing decay through diet, and basic management of an avulsed tooth.
- Health and care professionals training programme: All Our Health: Child oral health
- This module directed at health and care professionals shares key evidence, data and signposting to trusted resources to help prevent illness, protect health and promote wellbeing.
Health Education England has worked in partnership with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (formerly Public Health England) to develop an interactive townscape on child oral health.
The townscape takes a place-based approach and features an animated town where health and social care professionals can click on various buildings, such as the town hall, dental surgery and school, to access information and evidence-based resources to inform action to address the poor oral health of the children they come into contact with.
The townscape also signposts the learner to other sources of support such as the NHS website, NHS Start for Life, HENRY’s videos and Change 4 Life top tips for teeth.
Oral Health Foundation and Oral-B are on a mission to improve the oral health of individuals with special healthcare needs. They have created the following modules to help
They are supplemented with videos, infographics, patient case studies, and a list of peer-reviewed research articles. Upon completion, you will receive a downloadable certificate.
The two courses are:
Find out about promoting oral health as part of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), and why oral health is included in the EYFS framework: Oral health - Help for early years providers (Gov.uk).
Early Start Nutrition have have created a video covering ways that you can promote oral health in your setting: Supporting oral health in your early years setting video.
If you are taking part in our toothfriendly nursery scheme, our Toothfriendly nursery scheme leaflet can be given to parents and carers. It contains information about the scheme and top tips for looking after young children's teeth. If you would like more information about the scheme or would like to join, please contact us.
This tooth brushing toolkit was developed to bring together new and existing resources to help support the implementation of supervised
NHS London has developed resources for carers of Looked after Children and for Looked After Children Teams.
These resources include an overview of dental health of children looked-after, the importance of maintaining good dental health in children looked-after,
Can your school take action to reduce sugar overconsumption?
Partners across London have come together to encourage all schools to become water only, to help tackle obesity as well as tooth decay.
This water only toolkit will support your school on the journey to becoming a water only school.
Does your school take part in a School Fluoride Varnish Programme? We have created a School Fluoride Varnish Programme video that explains to parents why we are providing this
Lesson plans
It is important for teachers to incorporate good oral hygiene and diet practices to promote oral and general health. These lessons can include presentations as well as hands on learning. The following school based oral health programmes can be used to teach children more about their teeth, how to clean them and the effect of sugar on their teeth.
- Public Health England’s School Zone Healthy Eating programme (Healthy eating - PHE School Zone) – this resource includes dental lesson plans, activities, recipes, and take home packets for all primary school pupils. The teaching resources are all free to download from the School Zone.
- The Oral Health Foundation has created Dental Buddy (DentalBuddy.org) – sign up and get presentations, lesson plans and activity ideas for Early Years, Key Stage One and Key Stage Two.
- The PSHE Association has created KS3 lesson plans for older children.
Books
- Tusk Trouble by Jane Clarke and Cecilia Johansson
- Maisy, Charley and the Wobbly Tooth by Lucy Cousins
- My wobbly tooth must never fall out by Lauren Child
- Open wide…What’s inside? by Alex and Helen Rushworth
Games
This dental version of snakes and ladders has been adapted from "Toothbrushes and Rock" – a children’s game featured in the book, "Practical Dental Health Education".
Public Health England have produced an oral health toolkit for adults in care homes which includes training materials, templates and links to further resources and publications. There are also links to oral health information for care home residents and their families, friends and carers.
Stay Smiling is an e-learning programme designed to provide oral health training and empower and support care teams in delivering mouthcare, so that care home residents can Stay Smiling for longer.
NHS England have produced this safe denture care leaflet.
They have also developed guidelines for Preventing and managing denture loss in hospitals and community residential settings (NHS England).
Watch
We have made this Oral health training video which will support care home staff to:
- Perform an oral health assessment
- Manage difficult patients
- Look for common oral pathology in older special needs adults such as dry mouth
- Care for dentures.
Health Education England have produced two YouTube videos for:
Local NHS dentists can be found on the NHS website.
Referrals into Kent CHFT (including North East London) Paediatric and Adult Special Dental Care Service:
We offer a referral only dental care service for adults or children who would not be able to accept dental care from a high street NHS dentist, please see Dental Care Pathway for Children with SEND in North East London section below.
Parents cannot self-refer unless their child attends a special needs school.
For all other referrals, any health, educational, or social services professional can make the referral.
Please be advised that a referral may not be accepted if the patient is assessed as being able to obtain dental care from a high street NHS dentist. Normal NHS fees and exemptions apply.
To refer into the Kent Paediatric and Adult Special Dental Care Service:
Please contact our Referral Management Centre if you have any further questions on 0330 1239 438 or email us: kcht.communitydentalservice@nhs.net.
To refer into the North East London Paediatric and Adult Special Dental Care Service:
Please contact our Referral Management Centre if you have any further questions on 0330 1239 438 or email us: kcht.communitydentalservice@nhs.net.
Domiciliary dental care
Domiciliary dental care is available for patients who cannot reach an NHS Dental Care Service. Patients, carers or care homes can make this referral. Decisions on which treatment option is most appropriate will be made after consultation at an assessment appointment. Please fill out a Dental Service Domiciliary referral form.
Please contact our Referral Management Centre if you have any further questions on 0330 1239 438 or email us: kcht.communitydentalservice@nhs.net.
Dental Care Pathway for Children with SEND in North East London
Our Paediatric and Adult Special Dental Care Services provide dental care for children and adults in North East London who would not be able to access or accept care from high street dentists. This could be because of social, behavioural, psychological, medical or physical issues.
If a child attends a mainstream school, we accept referrals into our service from any health, education or social service professionals, for example, the SENCo.
If a child attends a SEND school, in this case parents can refer directly into our service themselves.
Not all children with SEND require our services. An assessment appointment is booked to establish whether the child meets the criteria for acceptance into our service, and we may plan for a 'shared care' approach with a high street dentist. We may also refer onwards to a hospital paediatric dental department if general anaesthetic is required for treatment.
How to make a referral into our service
Make a referral into our paediatric dental service using our online referral form.