Taking care of your childs teeth

• Brush at least twice daily for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste – set a timer or use an App to support your child’s tooth brushing.
• Brush last thing at night before bed and at least on 1 other occasion. This doesn’t have to be the mornings, especially if they can be a bit rushed for some families.
• Supervise your child when they are brushing their teeth.
• If needed, guide your child's hand so they can feel the correct movement and can copy this themselves.
• Make sure they clean their back teeth thoroughly as these tend to be the teeth children miss.
• Use children's fluoride toothpaste containing no less than 1,000ppm of fluoride (check label) or family toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm fluoride.
• Only give your child a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and encourage them to spit out any excess paste after brushing.
• Encourage your child to spit out the remaining paste after brushing and don't rinse. This is because if they rinse, then the fluoride in their toothpaste won't work as well.
• Some children may need more encouragement than others to brush their teeth. You could try using a rewards chart with a non-food related reward.
• Teeth do not need to be cleaned in the bathroom; keeping a toothbrush in the kitchen so they can be done before heading out in the morning might be helpful.

If your child’s protein substitute is consumed as part of a balanced diet and at regular mealtimes and good dental hygiene is practiced, you will not need to take any extra measures to protect your child’s teeth.

The best snacks to give children for good dental health are raw vegetables and fruits. Some examples include cucumber, tangerines, banana and carrot sticks. Have a look at the NSPKU dietary information booklet and talk to your dietitian for more ideas.

Most children enjoy sweets, but make sure they only have a small amount occasionally.

Making sure your child has regular dental check-ups, as advised by your dentist, will mean they are familiar with the environment and will get to know their dentist.

From the age of 3, children should be offered fluoride varnish application at least twice a year. Younger children may also be offered this treatment if your dentist thinks they need it. Ask your dentist about fluoride varnish or fissure sealing.

Here are some top tips for visiting the dentist:

• Make sure you are taking your child to the dentist for routine check-ups. NHS dental care for children is free in the UK.
• Make it a fun outing and let them see you having your teeth checked first. This will show them that they have nothing to be worried about.
• If your child is showing severe signs of distress about attending the dentist, some dental practices will have a dentist who specialises in dealing with this.