Start cleaning our child's teeth as soon as they appear - usually the first tooth appears at 6 months.

Sit the child on your knee or stand behind them.

Cradle their chin in your hand.

Using a soft children's toothbrush, clean teeth and gums in small circular motions. Remember to clean all surfaces of each tooth.

Work around the mouth, cleaning each tooth separately.

Choose a children's toothpaste containing fluoride and use a pea-sized amount. Non-mint flavours are available.

Encourage them to "spit not rinse" as this keeps fluoride in contact with the teeth for longer.

As your child gets older, she may want to join in, but children should be helped until they are about 7 years of age and supervised after this.

Remember to encourage - praise often gets results. Make it fun!

Ask at reception about our range of children's toothbrushes. We also have a selection of videos for you to borrow (see Children at Ashwater)