Keeping Your Child’s Teeth Healthy (10-16 year olds)

What is tooth decay?

Tooth decay occurs when dietary sugars and bacteria form a sticky film on the surface of the tooth called plaque. The plaque bacteria produce acids which weaken the tooth and can cause it to become decayed.

How does tooth decay develop?

Tooth decay begins on the outer layer of the tooth (enamel). If left untreated, the decay will extend to the inner layer of the tooth (dentine), which may lead to sensitivity or pain.

There is a risk of severe pain, abscesses, and facial swellings if the decay progresses to the nerve inside the tooth (pulp).

What can I do to prevent tooth decay?

There are things that can be done at home, and by the dentist, to prevent tooth decay:

1. Adopting a healthy diet.
2. Brushing teeth twice a day, using a fluoride toothpaste.
3. Visiting the dentist regularly for professional interventions.

What can I do to prevent tooth decay?

Food and drink choices

• Dental decay is strongly linked to frequency of sugary foods and drinks.
• Keep sweet snacks and drinks to mealtimes.
• Limit snacks to one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Some examples of safe snacks are in the table below. Avoid milk at night.

Safe Snacks

• Fresh vegetables.
• Fresh fruit.
• Toast or savoury sandwicheses.
• Cheese.
• Eggs.

Safe Drinks

• Plain water.
• Plain milk (avoid at night time).
• If you want to drink tea or coffee, don’t add sugar or flavoured syrups.

Look out for hidden sugars

• ‘No added sugar’ foods and drinks (like squash) contain sugar and should only be offered at mealtimes.
• Careful of raisins and other dried fruit – these are sticky balls of sugar!
• Fruit smoothies.
• Fruit-flavoured yoghurts.

Tooth Brushing

• Brush twice per day. Bedtime is the most important time of the day to brush the teeth plus one other time of the day.
• Brush for at least 2 minutes.
• Your dentist might prescribe high fluoride toothpaste. If not, you should use a toothpaste containing 1350-1500 parts per million fluoride.
• After brushing, spit out the toothpaste but do NOT rinse after (with mouthwash or water). This gives the toothpaste a chance to re-harden your teeth.
• Use a fluoride-containing mouthwash (look for 225ppm fluoride) at a different time to brushing – for example, after school.

You can check how well you are brushing with disclosing tablets

• Do them at a time you are not going straight out – like before bed or at the weekend.
• Use Vaseline on your lips first.
• Rinse the sink after spitting out to wash away the excess to prevent staining.

High Fluoride Toothpaste

What is high fluoride toothpaste?

High fluoride toothpaste helps to protect and remineralise the teeth.

What is high fluoride toothpaste?

If you are at increased risk of tooth decay, your dentist might prescribe you a high fluoride toothpaste.

There are different strengths for different age groups:

• 10+ year old: 2800ppm fluoride toothpaste.
• 16+ year old: 5000ppm fluoride toothpaste.

How do I use it?

• Use a pea sized amount and brush twice per day (including last thing at night).
• Don’t rinse after brushing.
• This prescribed toothpaste is for your use only and it should be kept out of reach of younger children.

What can the dentist do to help prevent decay?

It is important to go to the dentist regularly for review appointments. This may be as often as every 3-4 months until your dentist thinks your tooth decay is stable.
Your dentist may recommend fluoride varnish or fissure sealants to help prevent tooth decay.

Fluoride Varnish

• Fluoride varnish contains more than fifteen times as much fluoride as a regular toothpaste. Studies show it can reduce decay by between 37-43%.
• It can be applied up to 4 times per year.

After application, we recommend

• Not to eat or drink for 30 minutes.
• Eat soft foods for the rest of the day.
• Avoid brushing teeth on the evening after application.

Fissure sealants

Why are fissure sealants important?

Sealants are a safe and easy way to protect healthy teeth from tooth decay.
Fissures and grooves of back teeth are difficult to clean. Sealants are plastic coatings that stop plaque from getting stuck.

What is involved?

The tooth is washed, dried and a sealant is painted onto the grooves and then set with a light.

What next?

The sealants should be checked by a dentist at your child’s regular dental review appointments to ensure they are still present and intact. Occasionally, they may need to be topped up.

Tooth brushing chart / Diet diary

You will be given a paper copy of this leaflet by your clinician. Or you can print / download copies from the PDF file at the top of this page.

Contact us

Out of Hours

Contact your family dentist who may be able to see you out of hours or call the NHS 111 helpline to schedule an emergency dental appointment.

Attend your local Accident and Emergency Department if there is spreading infection, fever, facial swelling or difficulty breathing.