During Children's Week at Farsley Dental Practice, Fay takes time to explain to children why it's important to maintain good oral hygiene and to generally look after your teeth.

Here's Fay's quick guide to making brushing your teeth fun!

Always use the right toothbrush!
Make sure you use a children's toothbrush that is right for the age of your child - you want a small cushioned oval head with extra soft bristles and the handle should fit comfortably in the hand. There's a mind-boggling choice of brushes for infants and children available, so if in any doubt, ask me to recommend one for your child.

Always use the right toothpaste!

There are many different types of toothpaste - always use the correct one for their age group.  Once their adult teeth start to develop they can then use the adult toothpaste.  Children under seven should use a pea size amount for supervised brushing to minimise swallowing.

Farsley 5-2 rule

• Brushing TWICE a day, morning before breakfast and evening before bed.
• TWO minutes each time you brush.
• Small circular motion action, making sure you brushes all surfaces of each tooth.
• Pea size amount for Fluoride toothpaste on a medium textured toothbrush
• FIVE exposures of food each day – e.g. Breakfast, Dinner, Tea and a snack in-between each one, meaning during each day your mouth as been exposed to acid only FIVE times.
• Drink any pop with a meal and only have water or Milk in-between.
• Each Meal or snack to last no longer than 30 minuets.