By Dr Elizabeth Crake
Between the school run, work and getting everyone to bed, dental care can feel like one more thing on an already full list. The good news is that protecting your family's teeth doesn't take much time, just a few simple habits done consistently. Families who get the basics right rarely need anything more than a routine check-up. Here are the prevention habits that genuinely make the difference, built around real, busy life in SW19.
Start with brushing, it does most of the work
If you only get one thing right, make it brushing. The NHS recommends brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, last thing at night and on one other occasion. The two details most families miss are timing and rinsing:
- Brush last thing at night. Saliva flow drops while we sleep, so the bedtime brush is the most important one of the day.
- Spit, don't rinse. After brushing, spit out the excess toothpaste but don't rinse with water, that lets the fluoride keep protecting the teeth.
- Use a pea-sized amount for children and supervise their brushing until they're around seven, as the NHS advises.
- Two minutes, gentle and thorough. A song or an electric brush with a built-in timer help everyone hit the mark.
Cleaning between teeth with floss or interdental brushes once a day adds another layer of protection where decay and gum problems most often start.
Tame the sugar, not the fun
It's not just how much sugar your family eats, it's how often. Every sugary snack or drink triggers an acid attack on tooth enamel that lasts around an hour. Grazing through the day keeps teeth under constant attack, while keeping sweet things to mealtimes gives teeth time to recover. A few realistic swaps go a long way:
- Keep fizzy drinks, juices and squash to mealtimes; water and plain milk are the safest between-meal choices.
- Save sweets and chocolate for after a meal rather than as standalone snacks.
- Watch the hidden sugars in flavoured yoghurts, cereal bars and dried fruit, sticky snacks cling to teeth longest.
Make the most of fluoride
Fluoride strengthens enamel and is one of the simplest, most effective ways to prevent decay. For most adults and children, a family fluoride toothpaste is all that's needed, check the packet shows at least 1,350–1,500ppm fluoride for everyone over three, in line with NHS fluoride guidance. For children at higher risk of decay, we can apply a professional fluoride varnish during a routine visit for extra protection.
Wimbledon sits in one of London's hardest-water areas. Hard water is perfectly safe to drink, but the high mineral content means plaque hardens into tartar faster, and tartar can only be removed professionally, not at home. That makes regular check-ups and a hygienist visit especially worthwhile for SW19 households. Booking the family back-to-back also saves a second trip into the Village around the school run.
Don't skip the check-ups
Regular check-ups are the backbone of prevention: they let us catch a small filling before it becomes a root canal, or early gum inflammation before it becomes a problem. Contrary to the old "every six months" rule, the NHS now sets check-up intervals individually based on your risk of dental problems, anywhere from 3 to 24 months. Your dentist will recommend the right gap for each member of the family.
| Who | Typical recall interval |
|---|---|
| Children & young people under 18 | 3 to 12 months |
| Adults, higher risk of decay or gum disease | 3 to 9 months |
| Adults, low risk, stable oral health | up to 24 months |
| Most healthy families, as a practical rule | around every 6 to 12 months |
Intervals are always set individually by your dentist. For most busy families, booking everyone in together roughly every six months keeps things simple and predictable, see our general & family dentistry page for what a visit includes.
Book your family's check-ups in Wimbledon Village
Gentle, whole-family check-ups with Dr Elizabeth Crake and our team at The Dental Lounges Wimbledon, with appointments that fit around school and work.
Book an appointment 📞 020 3034 4044Add a hygienist visit for the grown-ups
Brushing at home can't remove tartar once it has hardened, only a professional clean can. For adults, a hygienist appointment every six months removes that build-up, helps keep gums healthy and freshens the whole mouth. It's a small, predictable cost that helps you avoid much larger bills down the line. Here's where our family prices sit:
| Appointment | Price |
|---|---|
| New patient check-up (inc. 2 X-rays & oral cancer screening) | Contact us for current fees |
| Regular patient check-up | £80 |
| Child check-up (under 17) | £55–£60 |
| NHS care for under-18s | Free |
| Standard hygiene clean (adult) | £90 |
| Children's hygiene (under 17) | £80 |
| Denplan family membership (per adult, inc. 2 exams + 2 hygienes) | contact us for current pricing |
Prices are confirmed in writing before any treatment. NHS dental care remains free for children under 18 in England.
Build a routine the whole family can keep
Prevention works because it's repeatable: brush together morning and night, keep sugary treats to mealtimes, fill water bottles instead of buying juice, and book everyone's check-ups in one go so they don't slip. Get those four things right and most families will rarely need anything more. Whenever you're ready, our friendly team at The Dental Lounges Wimbledon would be glad to welcome your family, get in touch via our contact page to find a time that suits everyone.
Frequently asked questions
The NHS sets check-up intervals individually, from 3 to 24 months depending on your risk of dental problems. Many healthy adults and children settle around every 6 to 12 months. As a practical rule for busy families, booking everyone in roughly every six months keeps small problems small and easy to manage.
Brushing last thing at night and on one other occasion with a fluoride toothpaste, then spitting out and not rinsing so the fluoride keeps working. The NHS recommends this twice-daily routine for the whole family, supervising children's brushing until they're about seven.
Yes, NHS dental care is free for children under 18 in England. We also offer private children's check-ups from £55 to £60 at our Wimbledon practice, which typically allow longer, calmer appointments and flexible timing around school and work.
