Looking after your family's teeth

No matter how you plan your day, there’s one routine everyone in the family should stick to – brushing their teeth! Here are some tips for maintaining good dental hygiene.

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Tips for taking care of your family's teeth

Tip #1: Brush twice daily

Brushing twice daily for 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste is something everyone should be doing to avoid any mouth issues. Make sure everyone brushes last thing at night before they go to bed to clean away any bacteria that has built up through the day from the meals, snacks and drinks you’ve all had.

Wee ones not keen on toothbrushing? Check out our tips for getting toddlers more enthusiastic about brushing their teeth here.

Tip #2: Avoid sugary snacks

Try to avoid sugary snacks and drinks between meals. You’ll find ideas for healthy snacks for the whole family in our recipe section and on the Childsmile website.

Tip #3: Contact your family dentist if you have any worries

If you’re in pain in your mouth or have any worries about your teeth, contact your dentist. The team will talk to you about the options available and make sure you get the right treatment.

If you or your family are not registered with a dentist and would like to find one, NHS Inform provides a list of numbers to call for each health board. NHS staff can also advise you on how to access dental services.

Can I get free dental care?

Everyone in Scotland is entitled to free NHS dental examinations (including review examinations). For some patients, all treatment is completely free.

You can find out more at nhsinform.scot/dentist.

What should I do if I have a dental emergency?

If you need to see a dentist urgently at the weekend or in the evening you can call 111 and you will be advised by NHS 24 of local emergency dental service arrangements in your area.