
Good Oral Hygiene in Children
How to: instil good oral hygiene in your child
‘So use your time wisely, look after your teeth, and try not to hurt anyone.’
So goes one of the greatest lines written by singer-songwriter Aidan Moffat, from his song ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told.’
And he’s right on all counts, but the virtues of looking after your teeth are often overlooked until it’s too late.
When your gums are necrotising and gingivitis is making your breath smell rancid, that’s the moment you appreciate how important good oral hygiene really is.
Explaining this to children can, however, be fiendishly difficult, especially when they view brushing their teeth as nothing more than a dull chore.
But there are plenty of ways that you can make sure their teeth are in good shape throughout their childhood and into their teens, and many strategies can help instil a good oral routine within them.
We’ve come up with a few ways to help you make sure your children’s teeth are always clean. Read them and take heed.
-
Get electric
Electric toothbrushes are clinically proven to clean teeth and gums more effectively, and they take a lot of the work out of traditional brushing.
Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation, says, ‘Health experts have been speaking about the benefits of electric toothbrushes for many years. This latest piece of evidence is one of the strongest and clearest yet – electric toothbrushes are better for our oral health.
‘Electric toothbrushes, especially those with heads that rotate in both directions, or oscillating heads, are really effective at removing plaque. This helps keep tooth decay and gum disease at bay.
‘As the science behind the advantages of electric toothbrushes is mounting, the decision whether to invest in one becomes much easier.
‘Given the advantages of electric toothbrushes, having one is an excellent investment and could really benefit the health of your mouth.’
- Get straightened out
Wonky teeth are unsightly, but they’re much more than an aesthetic problem.
If your teeth aren’t straight then food is much more likely to become lodged in them, and brushing out those remnants will be much more difficult. The end result? A greater chance of dirt build-up.
The most obvious escape route from this fate is braces, which are now much less awkward and painful to use than in previous decades thanks to companies like Portman Smile Clinic, who offer a huge range of teeth straightening options. So your child won’t have to live with the social stigma of railroad track braces.
- Go sugar-free
It’s so easy to let your children feast on sugary snacks in their youth, particularly when they’re begging you for a bag of Tangfastics in the supermarket. But a quiet life wasn’t what you signed up for as a parent, so stand your ground and say no when they ask.
Sugary snacks are the bane of every dental professional’s life, and with good reason. They cause immense amounts of decay. So limit your child’s sugar intake as much as you can. They’ll thank you later.
That’s our list. How do you keep your child’s teeth clean? Let us know in the comments
You may also like
By Penny McCarthy
Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.
Archives
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- January 2011
Categories
- About Parents News
- Afternoon Tea
- babies
- Bank Holidays
- Best buys
- Christmas
- Days out guides
- Easter School Holidays
- Education & Books
- Featured
- Food
- Free
- Halloween
- Health & Fitness
- Holidays
- London
- Midlands
- National News
- North East England
- North West England
- Northern Ireland
- School holidays
- Scotland
- South East England
- South West England
- Theatre
- Things to do
- toddlers
- Travel Blog
- Wales