Those are the messages the dental division of the Department of Health, Social Services and Housing will be emphasising during Dental Health Week, which begins Monday.

Fighting tooth decay and gum disease is a life-long process, of course, but the earlier good maintenance programmes start the better their success rate.

In fact, experts believe fluoride programmes should begin as early as four months of age.

While such programmes are nothing new locally -- the Department has been providing free fluoride treatment to Bermuda's school children for 15 years -- Dental Health Week will stress the importance of gaining even greater support for its work.

"We will be seeking everyone's co-operation -- parents, teachers, dental staff and students -- in making sure the children take their fluoride,'' hygienist Mrs. Brenda Harris-Scott explained.

Why? Because a Department survey shows that fluoride works dramatically in reducing the incidence of tooth decay.

"Comparing the cavity rate now to 15, 20 years ago, the rate has been reduced tremendously,'' Mrs. Harris-Scott confirmed.

Fluoride is administered in one of two forms: systemically (by chewing tablets) for children over two years of age, and topically (in drop form) for those under two.

To make the treatment more palatable to its young clients, the Department experiments with different flavours -- peppermint, strawberry, grape and orange among them.

"We work with the flavours until we find one that seems to be acceptable to the majority of children,'' Mrs. Harris-Scott noted.

At the beginning of each school year, free supplies of the fluoride tablets are despatched to the Island's schools, which then set up supervised dispensing programmes for primary through first year secondary students.

"We try to encourage everybody to take the tablets at the same time each day.

That way it becomes a regular habit,'' Mrs. Harris-Scott explained.

When holidays roll around, children are given tablets to take home, which parents then become responsible for ensuring that they take.

The Department's preventive maintenance message is further enhanced by visits to schools by its dental nurses, who give talks and show films. Similar visits to PTA meetings are planned.

"Fluouride has been a successful worldwide programme, and the fact that Government offers it services free to the community is good,'' Mrs.

Harris-Scott emphasised.

Fluoride is only one part of good dental health, however. Taking care of the teeth and gums through proper brushing is also important.

"Gum disease is caused by bad oral hygiene,'' the hygienist explained. "It starts off with gingivitis, where the gums swell, bleed and turn red. Left untreated, gingivitis can progress to the chronic stage known as periodontitis. Over a period of time, if periodontitis is not treated, the result can be loss of teeth because the disease eats away the bone and there is no support for them.'' Good brushing begins with selection of the correct brush. Size and type of bristles are the main factors here.

"When selecting a junior brush you have to go by the size of the hand not the age of the child, because hand sizes vary between children of the same age,'' Mrs. Harris-Scott said.

"Parents must make sure there is enough length between the head and the handle of the toothbrush so that when the child grips the handle there is enough length for him to comfortably reach the back teeth.'' Jaw size should also be considered when choosing the correct toothbrush. "The standard size brush head length should not exceed one inch, and the handle should not be too long,'' the hygienst noted. "If the brush is too big it is difficult for a child to manoeuvre around.'' Good brushing techniques should be learned at an early age in order to keep teeth and gums healthy.

"Start on the outside of the teeth and move from the left to the right side of the mouth, jiggling the brush in a back and forth motion. Don't miss any teeth,'' Mrs. Harris-Scott directed. "Next, move to the inside of the teeth and, using the same motion, brush from left to right all the way around.

Finally, scub the chewing surfaces.'' What about brushing in an up and down motion? "We don't do that any more,'' the hygienist said.

Teeth should be brushed twice daily at least -- after breakfast and just before going to bed. If it was not convenient to brush at lunchtimes also, the mouth should be swished out with plain water or mouthwash.

No food or drink other than water should be taken at bedtime after the teeth are cleaned -- and that includes infants, children and adults.

"We discourage putting baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice because these items contain sugar which, if left on the teeth, eventually end up causing nursing bottle syndrome,'' Mrs. Harris-Scott explained.

The best toothpaste is one containing fluoride. In trying to find a flavour a child likes, the hygienist said the most economical course was to buy smallest tube possible in the first instance.

OPEN WIDE! Cameron Rowling, 7, has his teeth checked by Department of Health dental hygienist Mrs. Brenda Harris-Scott, left, and dental assistant Mrs. Joy Smith at the Victoria Street clinic.

BRUSHING UP . . . Primary school students Nea Sticca, left, and Jibri Burgess, right, learn proper brushing from Department of Health dental assistant Mrs.

Joy Smith.

SMILING BRIGHTLY comes naturally to Shanna King, 7, thanks to regular brushings.