Join the Smile Squad and help support children’s oral health

Oral health affects a wide range of things including your child’s confidence, education and self-esteem. However most oral health problems are preventable if the right tooth care routine is set up from the start.

NHS dental treatment for children is free so take your child for their first appointment as soon as their first baby tooth comes through.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, Councillor Carol Hart said: “Oral health affects lots of things including confidence, our ability to socialise and our self-esteem.

“Luckily most oral health problems are completely preventable if the right tooth care routine is put in place right from the start.

“Our campaign aims to help parents and carers to help their children take care of their teeth and gums right from day one.”

Getting into a good routine from the start is the best way to keep your children’s teeth and gums healthy and can help prevent problems from occurring.

Top tips include:• It is important to brush for at least two minutes, twice a day• Try to do it just before bed and at another time that fits in with your routine such as first thing in the morning before breakfast• Use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste - the size of a grain of rice - for babies and toddlers up to 3-years-old.• For children aged 3 and over, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste• Supervise brushing your child's teeth until they are at least seven years old, or until they are able to do it properly themselves• Encourage your child to spit the toothpaste out afterwards but do not rinse out your child's mouth with water or mouthwash after brushing as this will wash away the fluoride

While oral health in Derbyshire is significantly better than the East Midland average, there are still areas of Derbyshire that have poorer outcomes including Amber Valley, Bolsover and High Peak. Visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/oralhealth for more advice and information

There's also a chance to show off your child's creative side by designing an oral health character. The winning design will get turned into a tiny plushie.

Download a competition entry here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-a25FCi2Jj0yCkkhbP2umftNRpechZ4a