13 September 2021
Childrens oral health top tips
HOW TO IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN YOUR CHILD’S ORAL HEALTH.
- Use a fluoridated toothpaste.
- Brush last thing at night and at least on one other occasion.
- Brushing should be supervised by a parent/ career.
- Use fluoridated paste containing 1,350- 1,500ppm (ADULT VERSION- has higher concentration).
- It is good practice to use only a smear or pea size amount.
- Spit out after brushing and do not rinse, to maintain fluoride concentration levels.
- The frequency and amount of sugary food and drinks should be reduced and monitored.
- Sugar free medications to be used to minimise cariogenic effects.
- If drinking anything with sugar, ensure use of a straw.
- Adopt good dietary practice in line with the Eatwell guide.
This information can be found as follows:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/the-eatwell-guide/
- Do not exceed 19grams sugar (5 sugar cubes) a day between ages 4-6. (Ages 6-10= 24 grams= 6 cubes; Ages 11+= 30 grams= 7 cubes).
- There is a “sugar smart” app which can be downloaded to help monitor amounts of sugar in foods with ‘hidden sugars’ such as tomato ketchup and a recent scheme by the government on colour coding will show ‘red’ on the sugar part of food labels on many food items in the supermarkets which are ‘high’ in sugar.
The Eatwell Guide – NHS – The NHS website – NHS
The Eatwell Guide shows how much of what we eat overall should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet. You do not need to achieve this balance with every meal, but try to get the balance right over a day or even a week.
www.nhs.uk
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