SMILING kids took part in a fun event to learn more about their oral health.

On Friday, kids visited The Essex Dental Clinic, Earls Colne, for the surgery's half term brush-a-thon.

Part of National Smile Month, the event saw staff at the clinic give advice, tours of the clinic and explain more about what goes on at a regular check up.

Free goodies bags were given to kids, and there was a lucky dip competition for the chance to win a state-of-the-art electric toothbrush.

Louise McAllister, owner of the surgery, said: "Children’s dental health is at crisis levels. I see more decay now than I did 30 years ago which is incredibly worrying.

"This is a great opportunity for children to learn more about looking after their teeth and if they are nervous, without the pressure of actually getting into the dentist’s chair."

"We’re keen to encourage more children to visit us sooner – ideally as soon as they have teeth.

"Bad oral hygiene is linked to so many diseases, so taking care of your teeth helps your overall health.

"It’s vital to ensure that children get used to regular check ups and understand that visiting the dentist is a normal thing – not something to be scared of."

TOP TIPS FOR ORAL HYGIENE FROM THE ESSEX DENTAL CLINIC:

  • Clean your teeth TWICE a day, BEFORE breakfast and BEFORE bed
  • Clean for 2 minutes (try timing yourself) 
  • Use a pea-sized amount of Flouride toothpaste
  • Your toothbrush should have a small head with lots of tightly-packed filaments and a medium texture. The manual toothbrush we recommend is a Sensodyne® Search 3.5.
  • Change your toothbrush regularly, as soon the bristles start to splay out, approximately every 8 weeks
  • Your gums should not bleed when you brush them. This is a sign that the gums aren’t healthy and therefore you need to clean more effectively. If your gums bleed, keep brushing them. 
  • Do not wet your toothbrush before you start brushing
  • Place the brush where your gums meet your teeth and go around in small circles, then wipe away from the gum. Do not brush up and down or side to side
  • Start brushing in one corner of your mouth and work round, one tooth at a time, to the other side
  • Remember to clean each tooth inside and out
  • Clean in between your teeth daily. This can be done with floss or Te-pe®  brushes
  • If you have deep pockets, using an interspace brush to clean down them is very useful
  • Ask your dentist/therapist/hygienist for help and advice on cleaning your teeth
  • If brushing makes you gag, always start at the back and work forward and concentrate on breathing through your nose
  • Electric toothbrushes are very good. Look for ones that charges at a shavers socket and which has a timer. The electric toothbrushes we recommend are Oral B® or Sonicare®
  • When using an electric toothbrush, let it do the work, just guide it round the contours of your tooth/gum margin and do not ‘scrub’ with it.