Taking care of children's teeth
Learn more about taking care of children's oral health.
Looking after children's teeth
Teeth should be brushed for 2 minutes, twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. Brushing should be supervised by an adult.
To protect teeth, sugary food and drinks should be limited.
From 6 months infants should be introduced to drinking from a free-flow cup. After 1 year, feeding from a bottle should be discouraged.
Children should visit the dentist regularly, as often as the dentist recommends.
Learn more about taking care of children's teeth on the NHS website.
The impact of poor oral health on children
Poor oral health impacts children's and families’ well-being. It can lead to school absences and parents needing to take time off work to take children to the dentist.
Oral health is an integral part of overall health. When children are not healthy it affects their ability to learn, thrive and develop. Good oral health can also contribute to school readiness.
Poor oral health may be indicative of dental neglect and wider safeguarding issues.
The risk factors for poor oral health include a frequent and high-sugar diet, which is also common to diabetes and obesity. Topical fluoride such as in toothpastes, varnishes and mouth rinses helps to prevent tooth decay.
Find a dentist
- Find a dentist
Get dental treatment to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy and free of pain.
Dental treatment for children with special medical or dental needs
Read more about dental treatment for people with special needs on the NHS website.
Get support from the Children's Dentistry Service
- Children's Dentistry Service website
The Children's Dentistry Service provides advice and treatment for children with special medical or dental needs. They are located at the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital located within the grounds of the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, East Sussex.
Get support from the Special Dental Care Service
- Special Care Dental Service website
The Special Care Dental Service is a referral-only community dental service for children and adults with additional needs who are unable to have treatment at a general dental practice.
Dental costs for children and young people
You do not have to pay for NHS dental services if you're:
- under 18
- under 19 and in full-time education
National guidance for professionals
Child Dental Health from Public Health England’s Health Matters sets out clear guidance on how to prevent tooth decay in children under 5.
Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention is an evidence-based toolkit to support dental teams in improving their patient’s oral and general health.
Improving oral health: supervised toothbrushing programme toolkit is a toolkit to support the commissioning of supervised toothbrushing programmes in early years settings and schools.
Dental emergencies and out-of-hours care
If you think you need urgent care, contact your usual dentist, if you have one, as some surgeries offer emergency dental appointments and will provide care if clinically necessary.
You can also contact NHS 111, who can put you in touch with an urgent dental service.
Do not contact a GP, as they cannot offer urgent or emergency dental care.
When to contact NHS 111
You can get help from NHS 111 or NHS 111 online if you have:
- severe pain
- heavy bleeding
- swelling of your mouth, throat, neck or eye
Phone 111 or use NHS 111 online.
When to go to A&E
Only visit A&E in serious circumstances, such as:
- injuries to the face, mouth or teeth
- severe or increasing swelling in your mouth, throat or neck, making it difficult to breathe, swallow or speak
If you're not sure whether you should go to A&E, contact NHS 111 online.