Colgate 'Bright Smiles, Bright Future' Project

We recently had the opportunity to liaise with Colgate on their ‘Bright smiles, bright future‘ project to provide free tooth brushes and tooth paste for all the children from Nursery to Year 2.

Why Healthy Teeth Are Important

It is important that we as adults teach children how to take care of their teeth. Taking care of  teeth helps prevent plaque build up. Plaque  is a clear film of bacteria  that sticks to teeth.

After you eat, bacteria attack the sugar on your teeth. The bacteria break the sugar down into acids that eat away tooth enamel, causing holes called cavities. Plaque also causes gingivitis , which is gum disease that can make your gums red, swollen, and sore. Gums are the soft pink tissues in your mouth that hold your teeth in place.
If teeth are not taken care of, cavities and unhealthy gums will make your mouth very, very sore.

Keeping teeth healthy

To keep children’s teeth healthy, try the following things:

• Brush your child's teeth for about two minutes twice a day: once just before bedtime and at least one other time during the day.
• Encourage them to spit out excess toothpaste, but not to rinse with lots of water. Rinsing with water after tooth brushing will wash away the fluoride and make it less effective.
• Supervise tooth brushing until your child is seven or eight years old, either by brushing their teeth yourself or, if they brush their own teeth, by watching how they do it. From the age of seven or eight, they should be able to brush their own teeth, but it's still a good idea to watch them now and again to make sure they brush properly and for about two minutes.
• Guide your child's hand so they can feel the correct movement.
• Use a mirror to help your child see exactly where the brush is cleaning their teeth.
• Make tooth brushing as fun as possible by using an egg timer to time it for about two minutes.
• Don't let children run around with a toothbrush in their mouth, as they may have an accident and hurt themselves.
• NHS dental care for children is free.
• Take your child to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear. This is so they become familiar with the environment and get to know the dentist. The dentist can help prevent decay and identify any oral health problems at an early stage. Just opening up the child's mouth for the dentist to take a look at is useful practise for the future.
• When you visit the dentist, be positive about it and make the trip fun. This will stop your child worrying about future visits.
• Take your child for regular dental check-ups as advised by the dentist.