Fun activity pack for healthy teeth and happy smiles

National Smile Month is a big campaign across the UK that promotes good oral health, running from the 17^th May to the 17^th June. It is a campaign supported by Leicester City Council.

To mark National Smile Month, a free activity pack has been created for young children which includes puzzles, fun facts and oral health advice. Download it here. An easy-to-read accessible pack is available to download here.

You can also join people around the country on Wednesday 2nd June for The Great British Brushathon. The Brushathon will connect people from all around the world in one giant communal brushing event.

To take part all you need to do is take a selfie or video whilst brushing your teeth and post it to social media. Use the hashtag #GreatBritishBrushathon or #LeicesterBrushathon with your selfies, videos, and messages throughout the day.

During pregnancy

The changes in hormones during pregnancy can lead to gum problems. You should:

Brush teeth twice a day for at least two minutes
Spit out the toothpaste – don’t rinse, as this washes off the protective fluoride in the toothpaste
Replace toothbrushes at least every three months

It’s also important to book a check-up with a dentist. NHS dentists are free for you to use from the start of your pregnancy up until your child is one year old. Find your local NHS dentist here.

Read more about looking after oral health in pregnancy here.

Baby

Start looking after your baby’s teeth by brushing with just a smear of fluoride toothpaste as soon as the first ones come through.

You should book your baby in for their first dental check-up as soon as they get their first tooth and attend regular check-ups from that point forward.

Under 18’s can access NHS dental services free of charge. Find your local NHS dentist here.

More information on Baby’s first dental visit can be found here.

If you can, try to encourage your baby to drink from a cup instead of a bottle from the age of six months. Using a bottle for longer than needed can have a bad effect on your child’s teeth, and can also cause problems with their speech development and eating too. More information can be accessed here.

Toddler

Get your child into the habit of brushing their teeth both in the morning and before they go to bed. Toothbrushing should last two minutes and can be made more fun by:

Singing a song whilst brushing
Reading some stories about teeth
Download a toothbrushing app, such as Brush DJ

We also advise to try and ditch the dummy by the age of one. The longer your child uses a dummy, the more chance there is that the structure of their mouth will be affected, such as how their teeth meet when they close their mouth or when they bite. This can affect their adult teeth later on too. Click here for tips on ditching the dummy.