Dental health
For any dental care, please contact your own dentist if you have one, or call NHS 111 for urgent care if you do not have your own dentist.
Poor oral health can impact quality of life. It can not only lead to pain, difficulty in eating and school/work absence, but also results in reduction in overall well-being. All of these consequences can have an economic impact on families and the wider population.
This section of the website is aimed not only at the public, but also health professionals wanting more information regarding dental and oral health.
Need help?
Find a local dentist. If you have a dental emergency call NHS 111.
The dental health NHS webpage contains information on why you should floss, use intradermal brushes, and what NHS fillings and crowns are made of.
Dental Trauma UK (a registered charity) provides simple and effective advice on managing trauma.
Knocked a tooth out?
Don't panic!
What to do to help save your tooth
- Step 1: Pick the tooth up by the crown only (do not touch the root)
- Step 2: Lick the tooth clean if it is dirty, or rinse it in water
- Step 3: Stick the tooth back in position (adult teeth only)
- Never try to re-insert a baby tooth
- Step 4: Bite on a handkerchief to hold it in place
- Step 5: Go straight to a dentist
If it's not possible to put the tooth back in position, put the tooth in milk and go straight to a dentist (out of hours go to A&E).
Take care of your teeth and gums
Here's how you and your children can have healthy teeth and keep trips to the dentist to a minimum.
Brush your teeth twice a day
Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
Read more about how to keep your teeth clean.
Floss between your teeth
Floss or use an interdental brush every day to remove food, debris and plaque lodged between your teeth.
Read more about why you should use dental floss.
Cut down on sugar, and other lifestyle tips
Have a healthy lifestyle, including eating well, not smoking and limiting your alcohol and sugar intake. It's good for your whole body, including your teeth, gums and mouth.
- Stopping smoking can reduce the risk of oral cancer.
- Reduce alcohol consumption to recommended levels.
Brush baby teeth as soon as they come through
Start brushing a baby's teeth as soon as they come through.
Here are tips on looking after your baby's teeth, including the importance of avoiding sweetened foods and drinks.
Get children into a teeth-cleaning routine
Help your child have healthy teeth for life by having a good dental health routine. Read more about how to look after your children's teeth.
Dentists will advise on how regular check-ups should be. The majority of children are seen 6 monthly, but this can vary depending on the needs of the child.
Straighten crooked teeth with braces
More and more teenagers (and some adults) are having braces and orthodontics to straighten their teeth.
Find out more about braces and orthodontics.
Have regular dental check-ups
Have regular check-ups with your dentist. Do not put off going for a check-up. Detecting problems early can mean they're easier to treat.
If problems are not treated, they may lead to damage that's harder, or even impossible, to repair.
There are a wide range of dental treatments available. Some, such as fillings and root canal treatment, are readily available on the NHS.
Others, such as cosmetic dentistry, are only available on the NHS in certain circumstances.
Find out more about dental treatments and dental check-ups.
For information on who can get free dentistry and what to expect from your dentist, see how to find an NHS dentist.
Read the answers to the most common questions about NHS dentistry.