Top Tips for Tiny Teeth
Starting to care for your baby’s teeth as soon as they begin to come through is an important step in establishing good oral health.
You should continue to help your child brush their teeth until they’re able to do it well themselves. Most children will need your support until at least age 7.
Love Your Smile
Taking care of your teeth is a great way to feel confident about your smile. Who doesn’t want to look their best, right? Your smile is a huge part of how people see you.
Accessing dental care in our area
We know that a number of people are experiencing difficulties accessing NHS dental services and recognise the frustration this can cause.
Everyone should have access to urgent dental care and treatment, regardless of whether they have access to a regular dentist.
Please see the information below for advice on how to find an NHS dentist, how to care for your teeth and how to access routine, urgent and emergency dental treatment in Humber and North Yorkshire.
How do I find an NHS Dentist?
Dental practices can only take on new people to be their regular patients if they have appointments available. Search for a local Dentist.
How to care for your teeth
Urgent dental treatment
Toothache should initially be managed with over the counter pain relief until an appointment can be made with your dental practice, if you have one. A Pharmacist can advise what is the best pain control to meet your needs.
Do not go to your GP as they will not be able to give you dental treatment.
You will need to see a dentist as soon as possible for urgent dental care if you have:
- a very painful tooth or pain in your face which is not controlled by over the counter pain relief
- a tooth infection or swelling in your mouth
Lost fillings, crowns or bridges are not usually deemed to be clinically urgent and you are advised to contact your local dental practice, if you have one.
Patients who have access to a regular dentist
- Please contact your usual dentist for your urgent care needs.
- Ring NHS 111 if your dental needs cannot be met by self-care and you are unable to get advice or an urgent appointment at your regular dental practice (e.g. out of hours or at a weekend).
- You will be offered an appointment through NHS 111 if it is deemed clinically appropriate following a telephone triage.
- The dentist will only try to fix the main problem you have.
Patients who don’t have access to a regular dentist
- Contact a local dentist in hours for an urgent appointment, OR
- Contact the urgent dental care triage service by phone via NHS111. Alternatively, go online to 111.nhs.uk (for people aged 5 years and over only).
- The dental triage service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- You will be offered an urgent dental appointment if it is deemed clinically appropriate following a telephone triage. Please be aware that urgent dental appointments are not available 24 hours a day.
- The dentist will only try to fix the main problem you have.
Urgent dental appointments are available across Humber and North Yorkshire but you may need to travel in order to access an appointment.