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Brushing Teeth

Information for Families

Helpful tips to promote toothbrushing at home

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  • Centres of religion
    Consider approaching local centres of religion/faith to reach a wider audience. An example of this is the project in Bradford. This project raised oral health awareness in mosques, introducing the Prophet Mohammed as a role model to encourage young children to look after their teeth and eat well.
  • Poster programmes
    Advertising information about the programme through public advertisement, such as banners on buses, at bus stops, and across available poster-stands. Also, in places where families and people who work with young children and families are likely to visit such as local library, swimming pool, children’s centres and supermarkets. Consider if you need to provide posters in additional languages to address potential language barriers
  • Health visiting teams
    Working with health visiting teams to coordinate information, raising awareness of toothbrushing programmes to new parents, and offering information to them.
  • Link with other campaigns
    Consider approaching other healthy lifestyle campaigns, to coordinate work and spread information more widely. An example of such a campaign is the GULP (Give Up Loving Pop) campaign which raises awareness on the negative impact sugar has on teeth and overall health.
  • School initiatives
    Consider finding existing health/oral health initiatives to help raise awareness of the Supervised Toothbrushing Programme. There are several initiatives already in place across different areas of the country, such as ‘Book, Brush, Bed’, which seek to instil healthy and regular routines.
  • Social media
    Being very active on social media about the programme. This raises awareness for parents, settings within a particular area, and perhaps possibilities for shared peer-to peer learning.
  • Local magazine or newspaper
    Consider raising awareness through your local magazine or newspaper. You can advertise the presence of the programme or engage the community through local competitions. One such example is where a provider liaised with the local council and local supermarket to advertise a summer colouring competition of toothbrushes and toothpaste. The local councillor decided the winner, and in collaboration with the supermarket, they were provided with a fruit hamper, toothbrushes and toothpaste as a prize.
  • Involve local library services
    If possible, provide local libraries with the funds to send local nurseries/schools a resource box and discuss the possibility of providing all 3-year-olds a book on toothbrushing.
  • Community building
    Liaise and build partnerships with family agencies supporting families such as charities, food banks, local farms, etc. Provide them with oral health training so everyone is giving consistent messaging.

Home Toothbrushing 

Even if your child has joined a supervised toothbrushing programme at their nursery/school, it is still important for your child to brush their teeth at home. Here are helpful tips on how to brush your child’s teeth at home:

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  • Brush all surfaces of the teeth and gumline in small circles for about 2 minutes, just before bedtime and another time that fits with your routine.

  • Children under 3 should use a smear of toothpaste containing no less than 1000ppm fluoride.

  • Children aged 3 and over should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing more than 1000ppm fluoride. Use a toothpaste containing 1350-1500ppm fluoride for maximum prevention.

  • Most ‘own brand’ supermarket toothpastes are suitable and more affordable.

  • Encourage your child to spit out the toothpaste. Do NOT rinse with water. Rinsing washes away the fluoride so it can’t do its job.​

  • The parent/carer should assist with brushing until their child is at least 7 years old.​

  • The parent/carer should sit their child on their knee or stand behind them and cradle their head while brushing.​

  • Allow babies to play with a toothbrush from an early age, they will get used to the feel of it in their mouth.​

  • Children with SEND (Special Educational Needs and/or Disability) may need opportunities to play and explore with a toothbrush to encourage them to use it as described. Allow your child to touch their face with it, use different tasting toothpaste to try and find one your child like. 

Resources for Families

Useful resources regarding children’s oral health, including BSPD resources that developed in different languages, are available by clicking the buttons below.​​​​​​​​

Children's Oral Health

Resources in Different Languages 

Children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)

NIHR ARC
NIHR ARC
University of Leeds
University of Sheffield
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