Food and Health Guidelines - Torfaen Family Information Service

5. Oral health
Early Years carers can help:
• Children accept visits to the dentist by
explaining through stories, pictures and
puzzles what can be expected during a
visit to the dentist. Alternatively, a visit to
a community dental service clinic may
be arranged.
• The positive message that dentists help
people to look after their teeth should
be emphasised.
• The gloves and mask the dentists wears,
the funny smells and noises, pink liquid to
rinse with and spit out, bright lights, chair
and equipment can all be made familiar
and acceptable to children.
• Role play can be used to accustom
children to being a patient.
• Procedures for polishing teeth and
repairing holes in their teeth can be
discussed.
Use of fluoride tablets
and drops
Fluoride drops maybe useful for children
to help tackle dental caries. They can be
prescribed by a dentist/ GP and fluoride
tablets are available over the counter. It is
recognised that the use of fluoride tablets
requires compliance by families and this may
include under and over use. There is a risk of
fluorosis if children under 6 years take over
the advised dose. Tablets are available in
500 µg and 1mg fluoride levels.
If tablets are given in the Early Years
setting they should be given at a different
time to tooth brushing and allowed to
dissolve slowly in the mouth to maximise
their effect.
For contact information, see Section 10.
• If staff are themselves nervous of dental
treatment it’s obviously best to try hard
not to show it, as parents, too, may be
anxious, and run the risk of communicating
fear to their children.
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