Text alternative: Healthy Mouths for Kids at School

​How to keep teeth healthy

Food and drinks

• Offer your child healthy snacks like cheese, vegetable sticks, fresh fruit, and plain yoghurt.
• Make water your family's drink.

Brushing teeth

• Brush teeth after breakfast and before bed using fluoride toothpaste.
• Help children brush their teeth until they are about 8 years old.

Dental check-ups

• Children should have their teeth checked regularly.
• If children play contact sport, they should wear a well fitted mouthguard, to reduce the risk of injury to their teeth.

Did you know?

• Once a child gets tooth decay it can get worse quickly.
• Tooth decay can cause pain and infection.
• Children with tooth decay may have trouble eating, sleeping and focusing in class.

What can cause tooth decay?

• Bacteria (germs) in the mouth feeding on the sugary drinks and sticky food you eat.
• Constantly sipping on sugary drinks like fruit juice, cordials and soft drinks throughout the day.
• Eating food like cakes, biscuits, pastries and lollies between meals.
• Eating savoury snacks that stick to teeth like potato chips, puffed rice, corn crackers and crispbreads.
• Not brushing teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.

Dental services in NSW

NSW Public Dental Services provide free general and emergency dental care for all children under the age of 18 with a Medicare card. NSW Public Dental Services provide free general and emergency dental care for adults holding an Australian government concession card. To access NSW Public Dental Services call: 1800 679 336.

Some children (between 0 and 17 years) may be eligible for the Commonwealth Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS).

For a private dentist visit the website of the Australian Dental Association.

If you need an Interpreter Service call 13 14 50.