5 Tips to Keep You Smiling

Brush teeth with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes, twice a day

Baby (deciduous) teeth are important for eating, speaking and building self-confidence. Baby teeth are also important for holding space for adult (permanent) teeth.

For children 5 years old and under, use a soft small toothbrush with a half-pea sized amount of full-strength fluoride toothpaste, or less if they only have a few teeth.  

For children over 5 years old, use a soft tooth brush with a pea-sized drop of full-strength fluoride toothpaste.

Children under 8 years old need help from an adult to brush their teeth. For tips to help with brushing click here.

By starting healthy habits early, your child can have healthy teeth to last a lifetime. Start cleaning teeth as soon as they start appearing (around 4 ½ months old), choose sugar-free snacks and drink water to help prevent tooth decay.

Spit, don't rinse after brushing

Fluoride is important to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay.

Avoid eating or drinking after brushing teeth, especially at night so the fluoride from toothpaste can keep working to protect teeth.

Drink tap water and milk

Tap water is free and most water supplies across the Wellington Region are fluoridated for healthy teeth.

Avoid sugar sweetened drinks such as fruit drinks, fizzy drinks, sports drinks and flavoured milk.

Eat snacks with no added sugar

Choose and prepare foods that have no added sugar.

FREE dental care for under 18s

Bee Healthy Regional Dental Service is the community-based dental service across the Wellington Region.

Dental care is free for children from birth until their 18th birthday.

For further information or support, call 0800 TALK TEETH (825 583). Calls are free from landline and mobile phones.

Check your child’s teeth for signs of tooth decay at home by “lifting the lip”. If you notice yellow or brown coloured stains or anything that doesn’t look quite right, call 0800 TALK TEETH (825 583) to make an appointment at your local Bee Healthy Dental Clinic.