Toddlers taught how to clean their teeth

Toddlers in Guernsey are being encouraged to clean their teeth to prevent decay

Children as young as two are being encouraged to brush their teeth as part of efforts to reduce early tooth decay.

The Super Smiles programme, run by the States' Early Years Team, supports children to clean their teeth at daily supervised sessions.

The scheme has helped about 2,500 children in the Bailiwick since it started 12 years ago and has been expanded in the last two years to include toddlers, the States said.

Abby Arblaster, children's dental officer, said while levels of tooth decay in young children were decreasing they were "still a problem". She highlighted the availability of free dental check-ups for children aged under 18.

Abby Arblaster, the children's dental officer, is reminding parents that free dental check-ups are on offer for children

The Children's Dental Service's five-year survey of reception children found the rate of "obvious decay" had almost halved from 20% in 2011 to 11% in 2021.

Ms Arblaster said while the levels were reducing, the amount of untreated decay was rising.

"In a 2025 survey of reception children, 9% had an obvious cavity, and that's an under-estimation of the problem out there," Ms Arblaster said.

She said managing dental decay in children was difficult but it was a preventable disease.

She said the Super Smiles initiative, which had been "really positive overall", had been expanded from three to four year-olds to include toddlers in the past two years.

Families have reported their children are happy to clean their teeth at home as they see it as a fun activity they do with their friends, she added.

Ms Arblaster's advice is to support children to brush their teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, be mindful of high-sugar snacks and take advantage of free dental check-ups.

She said: "Everybody needs a helping hand and working with community settings was the best way to get these messages across."