It’s time to return to school again, and you’re probably rushing to make sure everything your child needs for a successful school year is in order. While you’re stocking up on supplies and scheduling that physical, don’t forget about scheduling their next dental appointment because dental emergencies can still happen at school. Here are some tips to set your kid up for a successful year of academics and dental health.
Keep Your Child on Top of Their Oral Hygiene
The first line of defense against tooth decay, and by proxy dental emergencies, since poor oral health can cause these situations to unfold, is proper at-home dental care. While summer should be a blast of freedom and exploration, its lack of structure might cause your child’s good oral hygiene habits to slip a little. Make sure your kid sticks to this routine:
- Teeth brushing: Everyone, including children, should brush their teeth for two minutes at least twice a day or after meals. Be sure they know to wait thirty minutes after eating.
- Flossing: Using dental floss at least once a day will remove plaque and food particles that brushing alone can miss.
- Using antibacterial mouthwash: This can give the mouth that finishing touch for both cleanliness and fresh breath.
Equally important is having regular dental visits twice a year. When you put these four things together, you have a strong net of dental protection.
Prepare Healthy Foods
Part of summer fun is all the traditional foods like meat and corn-on-the-cob off the grill and sugary sodas, ice cream, snow-cones, and barbeque sauce. All of these are fine in moderation with a good oral hygiene routine, but the school year is a great time to get dietary concerns back on track. Be sure to pack your child healthy lunches and snacks including lean meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, and plenty of water. Cutting out excess sugars and starches is a great way to prevent cavities.
Use a Mouthguard for Sports
Sports give kids exercise while teaching them teamwork, but they carry risks of injury. Just like your little football star needs shoulder pads and a helmet, your child’s beautiful smile needs a mouthguard to protect it from harm. You can get your young athlete a custom-made mouthguard from the dentist that is superior to anything that can be bought at the store.
You want to keep your child’s smile in one piece, and taking a few precautions as you send them off to school is the best way to do that. Learning these good habits early can make them stick for a lifetime, ensuring your child’s healthy teeth for years to come.
About the Practice
Advanced Dental Concepts is dedicated to serving the dental needs of Portage, IN. Led by Drs. Danny Hayes, Shane Harmon, and Uyen Vu, the staff takes pride in offering high-quality dentistry in a welcoming atmosphere. Services include general, restorative, cosmetic, emergency, and pediatric dentistry. For more information on keeping your child’s smile safe for the school year, contact the office online or dial (219) 763-6878.