Good oral health for good general health (Babies)

Key health professionals for delivering this care:
  • Midwives
  • Health visitors
  • Nursery nurses.
Key messages:
  • Good oral health is important for good general health.  Mouthcare is an important part of personal care
  • A child’s first teeth (baby/deciduous/'milk' teeth) are just as important as the adult teeth
  • Baby (deciduous) teeth are important for chewing, speaking, and smiling. They also help guide adult teeth into position when they arrive. If they are lost early, the spaces for the adult teeth can be lost, and they may come through crooked.
  • Tooth decay can cause pain, infection, sleepless nights, time off nursery/school, and time off work for parents/carers
  • Extractions might need to happen under general anaesthetic, in hospital.
Linked resources:
  • A practical guide to children’s teeth (British Society of Paediatric Dentistry)
  • This is a resource for parents, carers, and health professionals about looking after baby’s teeth and gums in their first year
  • This is a behaviour change tool designed by Doncaster Council to help practitioners (health visitors and nursery nurses) promote and support good oral health practice in families. It will help them to focus on prevention and give them improved access to relevant resources for supporting positive oral health behaviour
  • Access the Dental health promotion module on e-Learning for Healthcare. This is suitable for health visitors, nurses, trainee paediatricians, and the child health team.

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