This special time in your child’s life is a time for learning and should be the start of a pattern of good habits to be carried into adult life.

With so much new happening, dental care sometimes gets pushed into the background.

Healthy teeth and gums are important and these simple guidelines will help your child have better teeth.

Sugar causes decay

Sugary food and drinks can make holes in milk teeth very quickly. Ask the school what your child may take for play-time. Fruit is best; avoid biscuits and sweets. If your child takes a packed lunch, try to limit the amount of sugar it contains. It is quite easy to have interesting and varied packed lunches that are almost sugar-free. See over the page for more suggestions. Try to resist visiting the sweet shop on the way home from school.

Tooth brushing

However busy the day has been, never neglect brushing teeth at bedtime. Brush teeth and gums in a circular motion, using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Tooth brushing can be difficult for young children; let them do it first and then you can give them a brush too. Do not forget to brush every morning as well, either before breakfast or half an hour afterwards.

Routine dental checks

By now your child has probably already visited a dentist. Even if you cannot see anything wrong, routine visits can show if there are any minor problems before they get too bad. Waiting until your child is in pain with toothache could be too late and may result in the loss of a tooth.

If you need to register with an NHS dentist, please visit www.nhs.uk/dentist to find one in your area.

If you are not registered with a dentist and need an emergency appointment, please call our dental helpdesk on 0300 123 4412.

Packed lunches

It can be a real headache trying to think of different ideas for a packed lunch every day.

It’s all too easy to fall into bad habits; a jam sandwich, a chocolate biscuit and a sweet drink. These are all high in sugar and can cause tooth decay, especially when eaten at a time when teeth cannot be cleaned.

Use this leaflet to help make some healthier choices.

Make a list of your child’s favourite sugar-free foods and pin up in the kitchen.

Drinks

Try a small plastic bottle of water or milk. Avoid sugary and fizzy drinks.

Sandwiches

Vary the bread; wholemeal, multigrain, rolls, pitta or tortilla wraps. For variety, add salad (tomato, cucumber etc.) to some of these fillings:

• cold meat (ham, chicken)
• egg
• cottage cheese
• tuna
• marmite
• paté
• banana.

Avoid jam, chocolate spread or other processed fillers with added sugar.

Fruit

Any fresh fruit is better than sweet biscuits or cakes. Remember – five-a-day.

Nibbles

Try some of these to make a change:

• raw carrot sticks
• tomatoes
• chicken drumsticks
• pizza portion
• pieces of cucumber
  or celery
• cheese chunks
• plain crisps (occasionally)
• dried fruit
• plain yoghurt or
  fromage frais*.

*Low fat does not mean low sugar. Some varieties have up to five teaspoons of sugar in each pot.

Buy plain and add finely chopped or pureed fruit.

If your child has an allergy, make appropriate choices. To keep food fresh use a cool pack.