Click Here – Make A Back To School Dentist Appointment
It’s that time of year again when students prepare for the beginning of a new academic year. While you focus on preparing your child for a successful school year with an abundance of supplies, don’t forget to schedule your annual back to school dentist appointment. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Here are some back-to-school oral health tips that can keep your child(ren)’s teeth healthy while also enabling a perfect smile as they return to school.
Encourage Regular Brushing and Flossing
You probably already expected these to be mentioned somewhere. Brushing and flossing are rather indispensable when you seriously need to promote good oral health and enable your kids to have a picture-perfect smile. Therefore, it is important that you do all within your power to make your children appreciate the need to do these regularly.
You may find it less-tasking to encourage your older children to brush and flush, but the younger ones will likely prove tough to encourage. However, there are certain things you can do to get your younger kids to cooperate, including brushing with them, providing them a character brush, or playing their favorite songs while they brush.
Encourage your children to floss at least once a day, preferably after having dinner – you can make this easier to do by turning it to an entire family affair.
Teaching Proper Brushing Technique
When talking back-to-school oral health, it is not simply brushing that count, but doing it correctly and long enough. Children, even some adults, often do not brush their teeth the right way. Common mistakes include brushing too hard or for too short a time or failing to brush the tongue. These mistakes contribute to dental health issues down the line.
The American Dental Association recommends brushing for two minutes twice daily while utilizing fluoride toothpaste – you may need to set an alarm for your kids to brush for the proper length of time. Teach them to always brush their teeth and tongue gently to prevent enamel loss and accumulation of bacterial plaque.
Change Toothbrush Often
Another mistake that can put the oral health of your children at risk is allowing them to use a particular toothbrush for too long. This may provide harmful bacteria ample room to do damage to their teeth and gums.
Always endeavor to furnish your kids with a new toothbrush or brush head at least once every 3-4 months. You may not need to wait that long before replacing, though, once you see the bristles become frayed. Add sufficient supply of toothbrushes to your back-to-school shopping list and make sure your college-going child has enough of these, along with floss and mouthwash, when resuming for the new session or semester.
Discourage Unhealthy Snacks
Making sure your children have the best smile and state of oral health also demands that you help them realize the dangers of unhealthy snacks. Encourage them to avoid too much sugary treats, fruit juices, crackers and soda, as things like these can stick to teeth and cause bacteria to proliferate, resulting in tooth decay. Parents will do well to not even buy these types of snacks.
Instead, advise them to take water for sugary drinks and nuts in place of crackers. You can also encourage healthier snack options such as vegetables, cheddar cheese, and celery sticks. The use of straw, when having soft drinks or soda on occasions, should also be encouraged.
Make A Back To School Dentist Appointment
The period summertime is an ideal time for making appointments at a dental office for your children. Why is this so? You might ask. Research has shown that a significant proportion of children miss school as a result of issues associated with poor oral health. This time of year affords you the opportunity to have your child seen while their school attendance is not affected.
Ask the dentist who attends to your child about options such as fluoride treatments and sealants for better protection from cavities and tooth decay.
You may also consider getting mouth guards for your older children if they often participate in physical activities or sports so as to keep them from losing or breaking a tooth while doing them.
Back To School Dentist Appointment At Our Dental Practice in Monroe, NC
Monroe Family Dentistry is there for you and your children from day one and we are happy to work with you and your child to start habits from birth. If you live near Monroe, NC call us to schedule an appointment today at 704.776.4278.
These are just some of the services we provide. To learn more about our dental practice in Monroe NC and the services we provide, call us or submit an appointment request.