As summer draws to a close and the seasons begin to change, many children are getting ready to head back to the classroom. Is your child’s oral health all set for the upcoming school year? It is important that your little one gets a dental checkup before summer ends. These quick exams are essential for detecting issues like cavities and providing students and parents alike helpful tips for keeping their oral health on track. Here are four back-to-school dental hygiene tips that can help your child get started.
Tip #1: Create A Regular Routine
Good habits are formed with good routines. Teach your child to brush and floss their teeth every morning and night before they go to school and before they go to bed. These easy daily routines clear away bacteria and other harmful particles in the mouth that cause cavities and gum disease. Plus, establishing this healthy habit while they are young makes it more likely for them to continue practicing it into adulthood.
Tip #2: Choose Healthy School Lunches
You can make a significant difference in your child’s oral health by sending them to school with healthy foods. Sweets and starchy snacks are fine for your child in moderation, but the majority of their meals should feature fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, lean meats, low-fat dairy, and other healthy choices. Not only will nutritious school lunches help keep tooth decay and gum disease at bay, but it will help minimize their risk of diabetes and other health issues.
Tip #3: Practice the Right Kind of Brushing & Flossing
While you are teaching your little one to brush and floss regularly, make sure that they are doing so correctly. Children naturally get better at these motions as they grow and develop their motor skills, but it is essential to lay the proper groundwork when they are little. It may be helpful to watch videos about proper flossing techniques with your child or investing in specialized tools like an electric toothbrush with a timer or a flosser. Your children’s dentist can also help model proper techniques and make recommendations on different types of dental products.
Tip #4: Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
Unfortunately, at-home oral hygiene can only do so much to protect your child’s oral health. That is why experts recommend that children get a dental checkup and cleaning every six months. These quick and easy visits give your children’s dentist an excellent opportunity to spot and stop oral health issues while they are still minor and easy to treat, saving you time, money, and headache in the future. Additionally, consistently visiting the dentist will reduce your child’s chances of developing dental anxiety.
These simple yet important dental hygiene tips for kids can help your little one’s smile look and feel its best for many years to come. Not only will you be helping them thrive this school year, but you will be setting them up for a lifetime of great oral health.
About the Practice
At Grand Dental – Aurora, we strive to help patients of all ages achieve and maintain optimal oral health for life. We are proud to promote personalized preventive dentistry for both children and adults alike. As a cornerstone of great lifelong oral health, we use these services to help minimize the potential of decay and disease. To discover how we can help prepare your child for going back to school, reach us online or at (630) 898-3610.