HETTY Preschool

Healthy Teeth

Healthy Teeth and Oral Health

At HETTY, we understand that good oral health is an important part of children’s overall health, wellbeing and development. Healthy baby teeth help children to eat, speak clearly, smile confidently and make space for their adult teeth.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requires early years providers to promote the good health, including the oral health, of the children who attend their setting. Our approach is guided by the EYFS statutory framework, current government guidance and NHS advice.

Promoting Good Oral Health at HETTY

We help children develop a positive understanding of teeth and oral health through enjoyable, age-appropriate experiences. These may include:

  • Sharing stories, songs and rhymes about teeth and visiting the dentist
  • Using toothbrushes and dental equipment in imaginative and role play
  • Talking about which foods and drinks help to keep our bodies and teeth healthy
  • Learning why and how we brush our teeth
  • Exploring the importance of visiting a dentist
  • Supporting children to develop healthy self-care routines
  • Providing fresh drinking water throughout the day
  • Encouraging independence while giving children the help they need
  • Working in partnership with parents and carers to promote consistent messages

Oral health can be explored across the EYFS, particularly through Physical Development, Communication and Language, Personal, Social and Emotional Development and Understanding the World.

Activities are adapted to reflect children’s ages, stages of development, individual needs and communication styles. We use visual prompts, modelling, simple language and repetition where these will help a child to understand and participate.

Looking After Your Child’s Teeth at Home

Parents and carers play the most important role in establishing healthy routines. The NHS recommends:

  • Begin brushing as soon as your child’s first tooth appears.
  • Brush teeth twice each day for around two minutes.
  • Brushing just before bedtime is particularly important.
  • Brush on one other occasion during the day.
  • Use fluoride toothpaste and check the fluoride level on the packaging.
  • Children under three should use only a small smear of toothpaste containing at least 1,000ppm fluoride.
  • Children aged three to six should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing at least 1,000ppm fluoride.
  • Encourage your child to spit out the toothpaste but not rinse with water, as rinsing washes away the protective fluoride.
  • An adult should brush or closely supervise children’s brushing until they are at least seven years old.
  • Replace toothbrushes regularly, particularly when the bristles become worn or spread out.

Read the NHS guidance: Taking care of children’s teeth and Baby and toddler tooth care.

Food, Drinks and Healthy Teeth

How often children have sugary food and drinks can affect their risk of tooth decay. To help protect children’s teeth:

  • Offer plain water or milk as the usual drinks.
  • Keep sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes rather than offering them frequently throughout the day.
  • Avoid fizzy drinks, juice drinks and sugary squash.
  • Remember that smoothies, fruit juice, dried fruit, honey, syrups and some children’s snacks can contain high levels of sugar.
  • Avoid putting juice, squash or other sugary drinks in a bottle.
  • From around six months, support children to begin using an open cup or a free-flowing cup.
  • Never dip a dummy in sugar, syrup or honey.
  • Ask a pharmacist or GP whether sugar-free medicine is available when your child needs medication.

Further information is available from the NHS: Sugar and tooth decay.

Visiting the Dentist

Children should begin visiting a dentist when their first teeth appear and attend regular check-ups as advised by their dentist. Early visits help children become familiar with the experience and allow any concerns to be identified promptly.

NHS dental treatment is free for children under 18, or under 19 when they are in qualifying full-time education.

Parents can use the NHS website to find an NHS dentist.

Please speak to a dentist if your child has:

  • Toothache or ongoing pain
  • Swollen, sore or bleeding gums
  • White, brown or black marks on a tooth
  • A chipped, broken or damaged tooth
  • Pain when eating or drinking
  • Swelling of the face or mouth

For urgent dental advice when a dentist is unavailable, contact NHS 111.

Working in Partnership with Families

Please tell your child’s key person if your child:

  • Is experiencing toothache or dental discomfort
  • Has injured a tooth or their mouth
  • Is receiving dental treatment
  • Has sensory needs or anxiety connected with toothbrushing or visiting the dentist
  • Requires individual support with eating, drinking or oral care

We will work sensitively with families and other professionals where additional support is needed. We recognise that some children may find the sensations, sounds or routines associated with toothbrushing and dental visits difficult. Children will be supported without shame, pressure or comparison with others.

The Department for Education provides further guidance for early years settings: Oral health – Help for early years providers.

A Positive Start for Healthy Smiles

By sharing clear and consistent messages between HETTY and home, we can help children develop positive oral-health habits that support their health, confidence and wellbeing now and in the future.