Children's Dental Care in Hounslow

Children's dental care in Hounslow: quick answer

Children's dental care focuses on prevention, early assessment and age-appropriate treatment. Regular examinations, fluoride toothpaste, supervised brushing and limiting frequent sugary food and drinks help reduce decay risk. Recommendations should reflect the child's age, development, health and individual needs.

When should a child first see a dentist?

The NHS advises taking a child when the first milk teeth appear or before 12 months old. Early visits help families receive preventive advice and allow children to become familiar with the dental setting.

How should children brush their teeth?

Brush twice daily with age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste, including last thing at night. Parents or carers should brush or supervise young children and follow individual advice about toothpaste strength and amount.

• Do not let children eat or lick toothpaste from the tube.
• Keep sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes where possible.
• Fluoride varnish, fissure sealants or other care are recommended according to risk and consent.

Important: This is general information and does not replace a clinical assessment, diagnosis or personalised treatment plan.

Page updated: 19 August 2026. Trusted information: NHS children's teeth guidance · NHS baby and toddler tooth care · DentEuropa CQC record.

Teething: what to expect and how to help

First teeth usually appear from around 6 months, and most children have all 20 milk teeth by about two and a half years. Teething can make babies uncomfortable - you may notice sore or red gums, extra dribbling, a wish to bite on things, a flushed cheek, mild irritability or disturbed sleep.

To soothe your baby, gently rub the gums with a clean finger, offer a chilled (not frozen) teething ring, or give a clean, cool object to bite on. Use teething gels only if advised by a health professional. Teething does not cause a high fever or diarrhoea; if your baby seems genuinely unwell, please speak to your GP, health visitor or pharmacist.

Why baby (milk) teeth matter

Milk teeth are not just temporary. Healthy baby teeth help your child eat and stay well nourished, speak clearly, and feel confident when they smile. They also hold the right space for the adult teeth that follow, which usually start to come through from about 6 years of age. Caring for milk teeth now helps the adult teeth arrive in a healthier position.

How much toothpaste should my child use?

Use a fluoride toothpaste from the moment the first tooth appears - not the large swirl of paste often shown in adverts:

• Under 3 years: a thin smear of toothpaste containing at least 1,000 ppm fluoride.
• 3 to 6 years: a pea-sized amount containing 1,350 to 1,500 ppm fluoride.

An adult should brush or closely supervise brushing for young children, and children should not eat or lick toothpaste from the tube. Effective brushing matters more than the amount of paste used.

Baby-bottle tooth decay

Frequent or prolonged contact with sugary drinks - including milk, formula and fruit juice - can cause early decay, often seen as brown marks on a baby's front teeth. To protect your child:

• Never put your baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice.
• From around 6 months, introduce a free-flow cup, and aim to stop bottle feeding by about one year.
• Only ever put milk or water in a bottle - never add sugar, honey or syrup.

Dummies and thumb-sucking

Sucking a thumb or dummy is normal and comforting for babies. Try to gently discourage the habit by about 2 to 3 years of age, as sucking beyond this age can affect how the teeth and jaws develop. Never dip a dummy in anything sweet.

Fissure sealants

A fissure sealant is a thin protective coating applied to the deep grooves of the back teeth, where food and bacteria easily collect. It creates a smoother surface that is easier to keep clean and helps protect those teeth from decay.

If your child has toothache or decay

Please book an appointment promptly if your child has tooth pain, or if you notice a mark or hole in a tooth. Decay in baby teeth should be treated - depending on the tooth we may place a filling, carry out pulp treatment, or, only where necessary, remove the tooth. Treating problems early helps prevent pain and protects the adult teeth developing underneath.

Dental injury: first aid for a knocked-out or broken tooth

A knocked-out or broken tooth is a dental emergency - act quickly and contact us or an urgent dental service straight away.

• Hold the tooth by the crown (the white part) - never touch the root.
• If it is dirty, rinse it briefly in milk; do not scrub it or remove any tissue.
• An adult tooth can sometimes be gently placed back into its socket. If you cannot, store it in milk (or the child's saliva) - not water - and bring it with you at once.
• Baby teeth should not be put back in. Take your child to a dentist as soon as possible.

The sooner an adult tooth is seen, the better the chance of saving it.

Caring for your baby's mouth before teeth appear

Even before the first tooth, wipe your baby's gums gently with a clean, damp cloth or piece of gauze, for example after feeds. Start brushing with a soft baby brush as soon as the first tooth comes through.

Dental emergencies

For severe toothache, facial swelling, or a knocked-out tooth, please contact the practice as soon as possible. Outside our opening hours you can call NHS 111 for urgent dental advice.

Book a children's appointment

Our friendly team at DentEuropa in Hounslow welcomes children of all ages. Get in touch to arrange a check-up or to talk through any concern about your child's teeth.