According to recent epidemiological analyses, caries risk continues throughout all age groups. Moreover, there are trajectories of oral health which an individual enters at an early age. Escaping to another trajectory with a better health perspective has shown to be difficult; therefore, it is important to start caries prevention even before birth to ensure that children start in a favourable trajectory. Health depends on social, environmental and economic determinants which are conceptually summarised in the life course theory. For oral health, this implies that primary health care providers can integrate oral health into their routine examinations with oral health screenings, preventive education and prophylactic fluoride applications. The main message for each age group is twice daily toothbrushing with age-appropriate amounts of fluoridated toothpaste individually supplemented with other oral hygiene techniques. If the oral hygiene technique fails, improvement can be achieved through composing self-care management goals, encouraging patients to formulate their own goals, action and coping planning, and control. The patient’s adherence to his own goals is strengthened by the oral care provider, who alerts the patient (and parents, caregivers or voluntary aids) continuously about his decisive influence on the control of caries in his own mouth. This requires tailored recall intervals for monitoring, motivation and stimulation. Self-management goals are the take-home message towards creating a stronger and healthier dental atmosphere at home and are a vital facet to preventing caries for all age groups.