Keep sweet things to mealtimes
Frequent sugary snacks and sips give teeth repeated acid attacks. Keep sugary foods and drinks with meals rather than grazing through the day.
Little smiles clubReady, steady,
Ready, steady,
brush!
Grab your toothbrush and a grown-up.
Let’s look after your smile together!
How old are you?
1
Morning + bedtime
Brush in the morning and last thing before bed. Take at least two minutes to reach every tooth.
2
No tooth left out!
Outside, inside and the bumpy tops. Use gentle little movements along your teeth and gums. Find the back teeth too!
3
Spit, don’t rinse
Spit out the extra toothpaste when you can. No rinsing afterwards – let the fluoride keep helping your teeth. Toothpaste is not for eating.
Teamwork makes a happy smile. Grown-ups: brush for younger children and keep helping until they can clean thoroughly on their own. Ask us to show you how.
Give teeth a break between meals
It’s not just how much sugar we have. How often we have it matters too.
Choose water between meals
Water and plain milk are tooth-friendly choices. Juice, smoothies and squash can contain sugar or acids, even when they sound healthy.
Keep snacks simple
Try fresh vegetables, cheese or fresh fruit in age-appropriate pieces. Keep dried fruit and sweet sticky snacks to mealtimes.
After bedtime brushing, water is best
Keep sugary drinks out of bedtime bottles. If you need advice about night feeds or bottles, ask us for help that fits your child’s age and needs.
Your visit, at your pace
We’re here to help
You can ask questions, bring a favourite comfort toy and tell us if something feels tricky.
- We’ll talk about your teeth and how you look after them.
- We’ll look inside your mouth with a little mirror.
- We can show you how to reach those hard-to-clean spots.
- We’ll explain what happens next. You can ask us to pause.
For your grown-up
Bring your child when their first tooth appears, or by their first birthday. Early visits help us get to know them and offer advice.
Tell us about worries, sensitivities or communication needs before the visit. Let us know if brushing is uncomfortable.
Your dentist will recommend when to come back based on your child’s needs.
Call receptionA little more information
Open a topic together with your dental team. We’ll explain what is relevant to your child.
What if brushing is difficult?
Try a small, soft brush and a calm, predictable routine. Let your child choose between two suitable brushes, use a mirror or brush together. A grown-up still needs to help clean thoroughly. If texture, flavour, gagging or sensitivity is a barrier, ask us about alternatives with the right fluoride content.
Pain is a reason to ask for help, not to brush harder.
Fluoride varnish and fissure sealants
Fluoride varnish is painted onto teeth to help protect against decay. Your dental team will recommend when it is needed. Fissure sealants cover grooves in back teeth that can be difficult to clean. Your dentist will explain whether these would help.
Hall crowns: a little silver cap
A Hall crown protects a suitable decayed baby back tooth by sealing it. It is fitted without drilling or removing decay. Sometimes little elastic spacers are needed first. Your dentist will check suitability and discuss the other options.
The silver cap usually stays until the baby tooth falls out. Contact us if it loosens, or if your child has pain or swelling.
Read our Hall crowns guide (PDF)Patchy or sensitive adult teeth (MIH)
Some teeth develop enamel that is less strong than usual. This is called molar incisor hypomineralisation, or MIH. Teeth may have white, cream, yellow or brown patches and can feel sensitive or chip. It is a developmental condition, not simply a sign of poor brushing.
Please tell us if brushing or eating hurts. We can help with sensitivity, protect affected teeth and plan any treatment needed.
Baby teeth, new teeth and growing smiles
Baby teeth help with eating, speaking and making space for adult teeth. The first adult back teeth often arrive around age 6, behind the baby teeth, without a baby tooth falling out first. Help your child reach them when brushing.
At check-ups, we also follow how adult teeth are coming through. If a tooth is late or seems to be coming through in an unusual place, ask us to check it. Timing and any need for an X-ray or orthodontic advice depend on the individual child.
Toothache or swelling? Call reception on 01872 241955 for advice. If we’re closed and your child needs urgent dental help, follow our recorded instructions or contact NHS 111. For swelling affecting breathing or swallowing, call 999.
Advice based on SDCEP: Prevention and Management of Dental Caries in Children.
For grown-ups: our guidance source
Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP), Prevention and Management of Dental Caries in Children, online guidance. Checked 3 November 2026.
Read SDCEP’s toothbrushing guidance
Our dental team will tailor advice to your child. This TTC page is based on SDCEP guidance; it is not an SDCEP publication. No patient details are entered or stored.