Promoting Good Oral Health

Oral health is the state of the mouth and teeth that allows people to perform essential functions such as eating, breathing and speaking. Protecting oral health begins in childhood.

In Enfield, only 34% of adults and 40% of children attended dental check-ups at the recommended frequency in 2021. Not attending dental check-ups can contribute to dental problems and pain in the future. The rate of hospital admission for dental reasons in Enfield for 0-5 year olds between 2018/19 and 2020/21 was 412 per 100,00, which is higher than the England and London averages. In 2022, Enfield had the highest average number of missing (extracted) teeth in five year olds in London.

Enfield’s Oral Health Promotion Team undertake a range of activities to children, young people and families to promote good oral health. The teams top tips for good oral health in children are:

• Brush teeth as soon as they appear in the mouth
• Brush teeth twice a day, last thing at night time is the most important
• Use a smear of tooth paste containing 1,000 parts per million (ppm) for under 3 years
• Use a pea size amount of tooth paste for children between 3 -6 years , containing more than 1,000ppm fluoride
• The fluoride content in tooth paste can be found under the ingredients list of the tooth paste
• Introduce an open or free flow cup at the age of 6 months
• Encourage to spit tooth paste out, but don’t rinse
• Supervise tooth brushing until at least the age of 7 years
• Reduce daily sugar in take and keep all sugary food and drink to mealtimes only
• Visit the dentist on regular basis

Further information on Enfield Oral Health Promotion Team including a range of leaflets and activity sheets can be found here.

Don’t forget to register yourself and your child/children with a dentist. To find your local dentist please click here.