During the morning school rush there’s a real chance that many children don’t spend enough time brushing their teeth. Or decide to grab a sugary snack on their way out of the door. Sadly, stats show just under one in three (31%) children start their school lives with tooth decay.

Start early: As soon as your baby’s teeth come through you should brush them every day. Also, make an appointment with a dentist to check everything is developing okay and get tips on how to look after your little one’s teeth. Making tooth-brushing a family activity is a great way to help young children understand the importance of a healthy mouth and get into good habits.

Two minutes twice a day: The most basic rule is brush your teeth last thing at night and at least one other time during the day with a fluoride toothpaste. For parents or guardians, it’s a good idea to watch your children until they are confident they can be trusted to brush for the full two minutes unsupervised. This usually happens around the age of seven. An egg timer can help!

Taste is important: Let children pick a flavour of toothpaste they like – and make sure you choose a toothpaste with the right amount of fluoride in it, no matter what flavour it is. All children up to three years old should use a toothpaste with a fluoride level of at least 1000ppm (parts per million). After three years old, they should use toothpaste that contains 1350ppm-1500ppm.

Dietary duty: Educating on diet is important too. Get your children to pack their own healthy lunch and snacks for school. Avoid sugary foods and drinks and instead opt for breadsticks, cheese and vegetables. Your children get a better idea of what is healthy and what is not, helping not only their oral health but overall health.

The best brush: Choose a small-to-medium-sized toothbrush with soft-to-medium bristles. This is the perfect size for your child’s mouth. Don’t forget to replace the toothbrush regularly, when the bristles become worn, and after illness.

The last straw: Try to teach your children about the best healthy drinks to have in their lunchboxes, such as water and milk. If they do have sugary drinks, teach them to use a straw when drinking. This helps sugar and acid in the drink go to the back of their mouth and reduces the number of bacteria attacks on their teeth.