Oral health

Here you will find practical guidance, tips, and resources to help you look after children’s teeth from the very first tooth.

There are also useful materials for professionals and early years settings wanting to promote good oral health in their communities.

Reminder: Families can access an educational children’s rhyming book about visiting the dentist which is available to loan from libraries.

Together, let’s improve children’s oral hygiene habits, reduce tooth decay, and support a lifetime of happy, healthy smiles.

Once your baby’s first milk tooth breaks through, it’s time to start focusing on good dental hygiene. Healthy teeth help children eat, speak and smile confidently, and milk teeth also guide the correct alignment of future adult teeth.

Developing a daily brushing routine and limiting sugary foods and drinks can help prevent tooth decay and other problems later on. For further information, read the full guidance from the NHS Start for Life page.

When to start brushing your child’s teeth

Babies and toddlers up to 3 years

• Begin brushing as soon as the first tooth appears.
• Brush at bedtime and on one other occasion each day.
• Use a smear of toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice) with at least 1,000 ppm fluoride.
• Don’t worry if you can’t brush much at first - getting them used to brushing is the key.

Children aged 3 to 6 years

• Help them brush last thing at night and on one other occasion until they are at least 7.
• Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing at least 1,000 ppm fluoride.

Top tips

• Make brushing twice a day part of the daily routine.
• Encourage children to spit out toothpaste rather than rinsing, so the fluoride can protect their teeth.
• Replace toothbrushes every three months or sooner.
• The whole family can use the same fluoride toothpaste, it’s just the amount you use that changes.
• Avoid letting children lick or eat toothpaste directly from the tube.

Food and drink for healthy teeth

• Keep sugary food and drinks to mealtimes: Frequent snacking on sugary treats can lead to tooth decay.
• Fizzy or sugary drinks: These can harm teeth - water or unflavoured milk are healthier choices.
  Transition Away from Bottles by 1 Year: Water also helps rinse away sugar that would otherwise cling to teeth.
• Avoid adding sugar: Do not add sugar to food or drinks for babies and toddlers.
  For more tips on healthier meals and drinks for children, visit: Food facts – Healthier Families – NHS

When should I take my child to a dentist?

• Register them early: Taking your child along to your own dental appointments helps them get used to the surroundings.
• You don't need to pay: NHS Dental Care is free for under 18s (or under 19s in full-time education), and for those who are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months.
• Worried About Tooth Decay? Book an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible.

As you become more independent, it's important to take responsibility for looking after your teeth and gums. Good oral health can help keep your smile healthy, boost your confidence and reduce the risk of dental problems later in life. Small daily habits can make a big difference.

Keep your smile healthy

• Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day, using a fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean between your teeth once a day using floss or interdental brushes.
• Spit out your toothpaste after brushing rather than rinsing, so the fluoride continues to protect your teeth.
• Visit your dentist regularly, even if your teeth feel fine.

Food and drink choices

• Limit sugary snacks and drinks, especially between meals.
• Choose water or unflavoured milk instead of fizzy or energy drinks where possible.
• Acidic drinks, such as fruit juices, sports drinks and fizzy drinks, can wear away tooth enamel over time.

Lifestyle matters

• Smoking, vaping, alcohol and drugs can all affect your oral health, increasing the risk of stained teeth, bad breath, gum disease, tooth decay and mouth cancer.
• Mouth and tongue piercings can increase the risk of infection and chipped or damaged teeth.

Want to improve your smile?

If you're thinking about treatments such as braces or tooth whitening, always speak to your dentist first. Tooth whitening should only be carried out by a qualified dental professional and is only suitable for adults aged 18 and over. Avoid cheap or unregulated treatments that could permanently damage your teeth.

For more advice on looking after your teeth as a teenager, visit the Oral Health Foundation's Teens' Teeth webpage.

Find NHS dental services near you: Find a dentist – NHS

Urgent Sussex Dental Helpline

• If your regular dentist is unable to see you or you do not have a regular one and need urgent dental help, call the Sussex Dental Helpline on 0300 123 1663 (between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday) or email: kcht.dentalhelpdesk@nhs.net for more information.
• The helpline team have access to the latest information on available care and can book patients directly into appointments.
• For more information visit the webpage here.

Special Dentist checks for children

Early dental check ups help prevent problems before they start. NHS Sussex is offering dedicated NHS appointments for 0–5s at selected high street practices.

What's included:

NHS check-ups for 0-5s

• Gentle, child-friendly appointments to support early oral health.

Oral health champion support

• Personalised guidance on:
  
  - Brushing routines
  - Diet and snacking
  - Bottle and cup use
  - Preventing dental decay

Free prevention packs

• Includes toothbrush, toothpaste and a twist and seal cup.
• No registration needed - families can book directly.

Participating practices

MyDentist - Bognor Regis
Address: 51-53 Queensway, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 1QN
Phone: 01243 861770
Website: MyDentist - Bognor Regis

Bupa Dental Care - Bognor Regis
Address: The White House Dental Surgery, Belmont Street, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 1LG
Phone: 01243 823880
Website: Bupa Dental Care - Bognor Regis

Crabtree Dental Practice – Crawley
Address: 25 Crabtree Road, Crawley RH11 7HL
Phone: 01293 526481
Website: Crabtree Dental (Crabtree Road Dental Practice - Crawley

MyDentist - Chichester (Richmond House Dental)
Address: 47 South Street, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1DS
Phone: 01243 783141
Website: MyDentist - Chichester (Richmond House Dental)

Henfield Dental Surgery Partnership
Address: Highdene, High Street, Henfield, West Sussex, BN5 9DA
Phone: 01273 492228
Website: Henfield Dental Surgery Partnership

Worthing Dental Centre (Silva B)
Address: 20 Liverpool Gardens, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1RY
Phone: 01903 962878
Website: Worthing Dental Centre

Grand Avenue Dental - Worthing
Address: 104 Grand Avenue, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 5BH
Phone: 01903 503841
Website: Grand Avenue Dental - Worthing

Ball Tree Dental - Lancing (Sompting)
Address: 43 Busticle Lane, Sompting, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 0DJ
Phone: 01903 754224
Website: Ball Tree Dental - Lancing (Sompting)

West Green Dental Practice
Peglar Court, Peglar Way, Crawley, RH11 7GU
Phone: 01293 512158
Website: West Green Dental Practice

Join us in promoting healthier smiles

By working together - parents, carers, professionals, and communities—we can ensure every child in West Sussex has the best start in life. Check back for updated resources, campaign news, and more advice on helping children maintain bright, healthy smiles.

Promoting oral health

If you are working with children or supporting families, these resources will help you share consistent oral health messages:

• Oral hygiene lesson plans
• British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) kids videos
• Department for Education Help for Early Years Providers: Oral Health
• The BRUSH Toolkit

Professional training and resources

• E-learning for Healthcare: free 30-minute online modules on children’s oral health.
• Best Start in Life - Children's Oral Health: download promotional materials

Brightbites

BrightBites is a free UK-wide programme that can be delivered in schools, nurseries, holiday clubs, and childcare organisations. Volunteers provide fun, interactive talks on toothbrushing, the names of teeth, sugar awareness, dental check-ups, and the importance of looking after our teeth.

Sessions last around 30 minutes and toothbrushes and toothpaste are given to the children. To register your setting for a free visit please go to BrightBites - Dentaid.

Free supervised toothbrushing schemes for early years settings

Early years settings can access free supervised toothbrushing schemes, which are an excellent way to promote positive oral health routines. 

Preventing tooth decay by:

• Teaching children how to brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste 
• Encouraging toothbrushing routines at home by developing positive behaviours in young children

The scheme is fully funded so there is no cost to your setting. Each child will receive a toothbrush each term to use at school, toothpaste and storage racks to hygienically to store brushes. Plus a take home pack of toothbrush and paste twice a year.

Daily toothbrushing in your early years setting is especially important for those children who may not regularly brush their teeth at home.

In supervised toothbrushing schemes, children are encouraged to brush their own teeth as a group activity in your early years setting. You do not brush children’s teeth for them. Supervised toothbrushing is intended to be an enjoyable child-led activity. Here is a video showing a scheme in action.

Contact the Oral Health Promotion Team, Special Care Dental Service to get started.

SC-TR.oralhealthpromotionteam@nhs.net  01273 267345