Perfect Time to Check in on Dental Health
As the summer comes to a close and back-to-school checklists get ticked off, now is the perfect time to check in on dental health. As the kids get prepared to start a new school year, there are a few good tips to keep in mind. Here’s a quick back-to-school dental care guide to make sure those smiles stay healthy for the new school year.
1. Re-Establish Brushing and Flossing Routines
During the summer when everyone’s sleeping schedule changes, activities abound, and sleepovers or time away from home are common, dental hygiene practices can get off track. Use the start of the school year to check in on these necessary routines and get them back in order. Make sure children are brushing and flossing in the morning before heading to school, and do the same thing before bedtime at night.
2. Keep Bedtime On Schedule
Did you know not getting enough sleep is hard on your oral health? Lack of sleep can cause dry mouth due to lacking saliva production and even cause cravings for sugar and starchy foods, both of which can be hard on your teeth. When children don’t get the recommended amount of sleep, they could be putting their dental health at risk. Remember, children between the ages of 6 and 13 can need between 9 and 12 hours of sleep per night, and younger kids can need even more sleep including their naps.
3. Watch Out for Sugary School Snacks
Sugar can easily be a tooth’s worst enemy, and this sweet stuff is hanging out in a lot of common children’s snacks. Watch out for things that are often assumed to be healthy, such as fruit snacks, sports drinks, and yogurt smoothies that can be overloaded with sugar. Instead, look for healthy snacks that are sweetened naturally with fruit and don’t contain a lot of unnecessary sugar content.
4. Schedule a Back-to-School Checkup
If you’ve not done so already, go ahead and get your child in for a checkup and hygiene appointment before the school year gets started. This is a good way to avoid having to miss school later once school starts. And, simply remembering to get the checkup scheduled just before the start of the school year is a good way to make sure the appointment doesn’t get overlooked. Contact our team to keep your child’s smile on the right track.
