Parents told they can stop the rot

Rochdale Primary Care Trust is appealing to Rochdale parents to ‘Stop the Rot’ in their children’s teeth and turn cavities into smiles!

Douglas Gunn, Senior Dentist at the Community Dental Service said: “We all want our children to grow up with beautiful smiles and healthy white teeth. Parents can spare their children from toothache and help them avoid the need for fillings and tooth extractions by following a few simple steps such as brushing children’s teeth regularly and reassessing their child’s diet.”

Rochdale CDS treats those patients with special needs and those who require treatment under general anaesthetic to restore their teeth to former glory and, where possible, save their teeth from dental decay.

May marked the start of ‘National Smile Month’ and the Oral Health Team, armed with toothbrushes and family fluoride toothpastes, will be on hand to have your children smiling from ear-to-ear. Get vital oral health advice at the following events:

Middleton - Middleton Arndale Centre on Tuesday 30 May

Heywood - Heywood Market on Monday 5 June

Rochdale - The Flea Market on Tuesday 6 June

Dentists recommend the following simple steps to keep your children’s teeth looking good:

1. Use a smear of fluoride toothpaste to brush teeth as soon as they start to come through the gum
2. Brush teeth twice every day, especially last thing at night
3. A Family Fluoride toothpaste will be best for most children.  (Specially formulated “children’s toothpaste” will have fluoride levels that may be too low if your child is prone to decay.)  Of course any toothpaste should be kept out of reach of pre-school children and after brushing excess toothpaste should be spat out, not swallowed
4. Use very little water for rinsing after brushing
5. Don’t add sugar to baby’s bottle or leave children to suck on sweet drinks
6. Keep sugary/sweet foods and drinks for meal times only and use fruit and savoury foods as snacks instead.

Dr Uriana Boye, who heads Rochdale’s Oral Health Promotion Team, said: “Decay rates in Rochdale are improving. This May we are taking part in the national “Smile Month” where we will be holding a series of events to help encourage people to change their diets and offering oral health advice on the most effective ways of keeping teeth plaque free. There will also be activities and competitions in schools.”