Leaflets made in association with Public health England, Middlesbrough Borough Council, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and the NHS.
March 2020
Toothbrushing programme
Why are pre-schools and schools taking part in the toothbrushing programme?
Toothbrushing with a fluoridated toothpaste at least twice a day can help reduce high tooth decay rates in young children. Preschools and schools want to teach children how to keep their teeth healthy by cleaning them properly. Parents tell us, children love brushing their teeth at school with their friends and this makes it easier to clean their child’s teeth at home.
Does this replace toothbrushing at home?
No, children still need to brush twice a day at home.
Toothbrushing in pre-schools and schools should be in addition to brushing at home. Brushing last thing at night is the most important time.
How does the programme work?
- The whole class are supervised to brush their teeth on a daily basis
- Free toothbrushes and fluoride toothpaste are provided for each child and replaced regularly
- Each child has a toothbrush with its own symbol, so that it is easy to find, and does not get mixed up with another child’s brush
- All toothbrushes are stored in a holder to prevent them touching other brushes
The toothbrushing activity
- A small amount of fluoride toothpaste (either smear or pea depending on age) is applied to each brush separately
- Staff use a two minute timer or song whilst children are brushing to make sure children brush all their teeth
- Children are encouraged to spit out excess toothpaste
- At the end of the activity toothbrushes are rinsed separately and then put back in the holder
Tips for a healthy smile
- Eat less sugar, less often, and only at mealtimes
- Avoid sugary food and drinks before bedtime
- Sugary drinks have no place in a child’s daily diet
- Try sugar free, diet or no added sugar drinks instead
- Choose healthy snacks and drinks in between meals such as fresh fruit, cheese, milk and water
- Ask your dentist if your child would benefit from a higher strength fluoride toothpaste from the age of ten (2800ppm fluoride)
- Take your kids to the dentist as soon as their first tooth starts to come through
- Make regular trips to the dentist
Printable leaflet
Fluoride Toothpaste: The Facts
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a natural mineral which is found in some foods e.g. tea and fish. It is also added to toothpaste as it is proven to help protect teeth against decay. Fluoride is added to toothpaste in different amounts, it is measured in parts per million (ppm).
Choose the right toothpaste
- Toothpaste that contains 1350 to 1500ppm fluoride gives your child the best protection against tooth decay
- Check the ingredients list on the box or side of the tube, to see how much fluoride your toothpaste has
Use the right amount of toothpaste
- Kids under three years should use a smear of fluoride toothpaste on their brush (at least 1000ppm fluoride)
- Kids from the age of three years should use a pea sized amount of family fluoride
toothpaste on their brush. (1350-1500ppm fluoride) - Make sure kids do not eat or lick the toothpaste out of the tube
- Spit out toothpaste, do not rinse after toothbrushing. This helps the fluoride stay in the mouth longer and work harder to strengthen the teeth
Remember…
- Start brushing with fluoride toothpaste as soon as the first tooth appears at around six months
- Your kids need help brushing their teeth until they are at least seven years old, to make sure they are doing it properly
- Teeth should be brushed twice a day, once before bed and once at any other time that suits you
- Use a small headed toothbrush with soft bristles
- Replace the toothbrush every three months
Tips for a healthy smile
- Eat less sugar, less often, and only at mealtimes
- Avoid sugary food and drinks before bedtime
- Sugary drinks have no place in a child’s daily diet
- Try sugar free, diet or no added sugar drinks instead
- Choose healthy snacks and drinks in between meals such as fresh fruit, cheese, milk and water
- Ask your dentist if your child would benefit from a higher strength fluoride toothpaste from the age of ten (2800ppm fluoride)
- Take your kids to the dentist as soon as their first tooth starts to come through
- Make regular trips to the dentist
Printable leaflet
Sugars in foods: The Facts
A guide to sugars in food and drinks
All amounts listed are approximate and current at time of print. 1 level teaspoon of sugar is approximately 4 grams.
| Confectionary | Quantity | Teaspoons of sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Boiled sweets & jelly sweets (Haribo, Starmix, Jelly Babies) | 100g | 21 |
| Chocolate bar (e.g. Bounty, Lion Bars, Mars Bars, Double Decker, Galaxy) | 1 standard bar | 10 |
| Bubble gum | 1 packet | 10 |
| Dolly mixtures, liquorice allsorts | 1 small box | 25.5 |
| Kitkat (4 finger bar) | 1 bar | 5.5 |
| Polo mints | 1 tube | 9 |
| Toffees | 4oz | 25 |
| Biscuits/cakes/dessert | Quantity | Teaspoons of sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Plain biscuits (Ginger nut, shortcake, rich tea) | 1 biscuit | 2.5 |
| Chocolate digestive | 1 bisciut | 3 |
| Jaffa cakes | 1 biscuit | 2 |
| Low calorie chocolate mini roll | 1 roll | 4 |
| Jam tart | 1 tart | 5 |
| Doughnut (jam) | 1 | 9.5 |
| Flapjack | 1 | 5.5 |
| Scone (fruit) | 1 | 2 |
| Angel delight | 1 packet | 10 |
| Custard (tin) | 1 tin | 10.5 |
| Fruit (in syrup) | 1 small tin | 12.5 |
| Vanilla ice cream | 1 scoop | 1 |
| Jelly | 1 packet | 24 |
| Rice pudding (tin) | 1 tin | 9 |
| Yoghurt (fruit) | 1 pot | 6 |
| Fruit flakes | 1 packet (18g) | 3 |
| Drinks | Quantity | Teaspoons of sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Squash (orange or blackcurrant etc.) | 1 glass | 8-10 |
| Fizzy pop (cola, cherry, lemon etc) | 1 can | 9 |
| Lucozade | 1 bottle (300ml) | 14 |
| Fresh orange juice (sweetened) | 1 bottle (250ml) | 6 |
| Milkshakes (powdered) | 3 – 4 teaspoons | 5 |
| Fruit shoots | 1 bottle | 5-6 |
| Energy drinks | 1 bottle (500ml) | 20 |
| Flavoured water | 1 bottle (250ml) | 5 |
| Smoothie | 1 bottle (250ml) | 9 |
| Flavoured coffee | Large cup | 19 |
| Spreads and sauces | Quantity | Teaspoon of sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate spread/honey/jam/lemon curd/marmalade | 2 teaspoons | 2.5 |
| Salad cream | 15g | 1 |
| Tomato ketchup | 3 teaspoons | 3 |
| Tinned savoury goods | Quantity | Teaspoons of sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Baked beans | 1 medium tin | 5 |
| Spagetti | 1 medium tin | 4 |
| Soup | 1 medium tin | 7.5 |
| Noodle mug shot | Per sachet | 2.5 |
| Cereals | Quantity | Teaspoons of sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Wheat based biscuits | 2 biscuits | 6 |
| Puffed rice | 30g | 6 |
| Sugar coated cereals | 30g | 6 |
| Plain porridge | 30g | 5.6 |
| Breakfast bars | 1 bar | 4-6 |
Hidden sugars
Check your food label as the following are all forms of sugar:
- Sucrose
- Fructose
- Glucose
- Dextrose
- Honey
- Maltose
- Maltodextrin
- Treacle/Syrup
Sugar facts
- Sugary food and drinks cause bacteria on teeth to produce harmful acid that rots them. This can lead to painful toothache
- Sugar provides no useful nutrients only calories
- Sugar is not required for energy, starchy foods such as bread, pasta and cereals are a better source of energy
- Excess sugar, means excess energy, which can lead to weight gain
Be sugar smart
Swap sweets and chocolates for healthier options like fruit.
Do you know your daily sugar allowance?
4-6 year olds
Should not have more than five teaspoons* of sugar per day
7-10 year olds
Should not have more than six teaspoons* of sugar per day
11 year olds+
Should not have more than seven teaspoons* of sugar per day
*1 level teaspoon = 4 grams
Do you know…
The NHS Food Scanner app helps you check the amount of sugar in your food and drink.
Scan the barcode to find out exactly how much sugar there is before you buy. Download for free from the App Store.
Download for free from the App Store.
Tooth decay is the most common reason children aged 5-9 are admitted to hospital.
Be sugar smart
Limit sugary food and drinks to mealtimes. Choose sugar free snacks and drinks such as:
- Fresh fruit
- Raw vegetables
- Bread, toast or crumpets
- Cheese
- Plain water
- Plain lower fat milk
Avoid sugary drinks.
Avoid giving sweets as rewards, give treats like stickers, books, comics or swap cards instead.
Printable leaflet
Tooth Time: Information for parents and young children
Good oral health is important.
What do we need to know about toothbrushing?
As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, brush twice a day for two minutes, using a small, soft tooth brush and fluoride toothpaste. Always brush last thing at night before bed and on one other occasion. Fluoride is a mineral and can help prevent tooth decay, this is added to many brands of toothpaste.
Children under three should use a smear of fluoride toothpaste, which contains at least 1000ppm (PPM – parts per million, this is the measurement of fluoride strength). Children over three should use a pea size amount between 1350-1500ppm.
Brushing should be supervised until at least 7 years of age.
How much toothpaste should my child use?
- Under three: a smear sized amount
- Over 3: a pea sized amount
Spit out the toothpaste after toothbrushing, do not rinse after. This helps the fluoride stay in the mouth longer and work harder to strengthen the teeth.
Remember to change your toothbrush every three months.
What kind of foods can my child eat?
Choose sugar free snacks in between meals such as fresh fruits and vegetables.
Plain milk and water are the only safe drinks for teeth.
If you choose to give your child other drinks, well-diluted fruit juice or squash should be limited to meal times.
How else can I protect my child’s teeth?
Avoid putting juice or sugar/sweetened drinks in feeding bottles as this causes tooth decay.
Bottle use should end by their first birthday. Encourage your child to drink from a free flow cup as soon as they can hold one, as early as 4-6 months of age.
Non spill cups continue the sucking action just like bottles. Move to an open cup when your child can safely handle one.
Exclusive breast-feeding is recommended for the first 6 months. From six months, introduce nutritionally safe (solid) foods together with breast-feeding up until two years of age.
Dummies should only be used as a comforter for a short time, once the child is settled it should be removed.
Take your child to see a dentist regularly.