From the age of 3, children are able to use an electric toothbrush (for children younger than 3, use a manual toothbrush with extra soft bristles). Tests have shown that an electric toothbrush is better at removing plaque. A trip to Superdrug, Tesco or any other large supermarket should provide you with a good selection of electric toothbrushes with appealing Disney and Superhero designs for the younger ones. They are definitely worth the investment.

It’s important to brush for two minutes, twice a day. It might seem obvious, but make sure you and your family brush first thing in the morning before eating and drinking and last thing at night. It’s best to supervise brushing until your kids are at least seven years old.

With the morning school-run rush and the end-of-the-day weary haste to get them off to bed, it’s easy to supervise what really is a token quick brush that isn’t as thorough as it should be. Two minutes of brushing is the recommended time to do a proper job. This is actually quite a long time and if attention span (and lack of it) is a factor – make the routine fun. Get a wacky timer that makes an amusing ring when two minutes is up or one of those two-minute sand timers that you tip up to start. The two-minute rule should then become engrained from an early age as part of the teeth-cleaning routine.

You can do this by looking at the back of the tube (or mouthwash bottle) and referring to the list of ingredients. Fluoride is really important as it helps strengthen teeth enamel and helps protect the teeth from cavities. Children up to three years of age should use a smear of toothpaste with 1000 ppm (ppm stands for parts per million in case you were wondering). For children over three, use a pea-sized amount and make sure the toothpaste contains from 1350ppm to 1500ppm fluoride.

Studies have shown that mouthwashes can reduce more plaque, and signs of gum disease, when used in addition to tooth brushing compared with tooth brushing alone⁽²⁾. It’s important to remove as much bacteria from your mouth as possible. When bacteria in your mouth combine with saliva, this creates a sticky film, which builds up on your teeth – known as plaque. Plaque can lead to tooth decay and potentially gum problems. The benefit of a mouthwash is that it can reach places that brushing can’t, and remove any debris dislodged by brushing and flossing. Supplementing teeth brushing with a 30-second swish of an antibacterial mouthwash will help give added protection from the build-up of plaque, as well as fresh breath. Dentyl Dual Action mouthwash is alcohol free so doesn’t sting, unlike some mouthwashes. And with its nifty dual-colour and appealing Smooth Mint, Fresh Clove and Icy Cherry flavours (definite teenage appeal), is an ideal family mouthwash and suitable for children aged 6+.

These simple improvements are realistically achievable and by implementing these suggestions, you’ll be creating the foundation of a good family oral care regime that will ultimately benefit their health.

⁽²⁾www.123dentist.com/using-mouthwash-is-more-effective-than-brushing-alone/