Important Messages about your Oral Health

• Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste for 2 minutes.
• Spit out the toothpaste. Do not rinse out your mouth.
• Floss between your teeth.
• Eat less sugar
• Have fewer sugary drinks
• Have regular dental check ups

Protect your children’s teeth with a few simple rules:

• Brush your child’s teeth and gums at least twice a day. It’s best to do this in the morning and last thing at night.
• Watch your child when they’re brushing their teeth. Try to make sure they don’t swallow the toothpaste.
• Spit, do not rinse’ after brushing. This gives the toothpaste time to work on your child’s teeth to protect them.
• Eat sugary food and drinks at mealtimes only.
• Pasteurised milk and tap water are the safest drinks for your child’s teeth.
• Register with a dentist. They will tell you how often you need to visit. Give your child sugar-free medicines if possible.
• Do not add sugar or salt (of any kind) to weaning foods.
• Choose healthy and nutritious foods and drinks.

For more information on children’s oral health and nutrition:  

• Childsmile – Improving the oral health of children in Scotland
• Looking after your child’s teeth | Parent Club
• Fun first foods: An easy guide to introducing solid foods – Publications – Public Health Scotland
• First Steps Nutrition Trust

For more information on how to take care of your own oral health visit: Taking care of your oral health | NHS inform 

How to access dental services

Are you registered with a dentist?

The following link will take you a list of dental practices currently taking on new NHS patients in Lanarkshire:  

• Dental Practices accepting new NHS patients | NHS Lanarkshire 

Mouth Cancer 

These increase your risk of developing mouth cancer:

• Smoking
• Using other types of tobacco including chewing tobacco
• Regularly drinking more than the weekly alcohol limit of 14 units
• Infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV)

45 Second Self-check Examination 

You should see your dentist straight away if you have any of these:

• Mouth ulcers which do not clear up in three weeks
• Red and white patches in your mouth
• Unusual lumps or swellings in your mouth or head and neck area

To view a demonstration on mouth self-examination watch the video below or visit: How to do a mouth cancer check at home – YouTube 

For more information on mouth cancer visit:  

• Mouth cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support 
• Mouth cancer | NHS inform 

For more information on mouth cancer and general oral health visit:  

• Oral Health Foundation