As the school bells ring and students embark on a new academic journey, it’s crucial to ensure their oral health is on the right track. Dental emergencies can disrupt the focus and excitement of the back-to-school season but these valuable tips can help prevent the most common factors that lead to poor oral health.
If you want to get ahead of the bell curve and learn some strategies for avoiding an unexpected dentist appointment, continue reading.
1. Create an Oral Hygiene Routine
The first step for any good prevention strategy is to establish good habits in the form of an oral hygiene routine, consisting of brushing and flossing teeth. This routine should be performed each morning upon waking up and every night before bed.
To make this routine more fun for your student, try making a sticker chart or calendar. Each time they do the routine successfully, mark their calendar. Consider offering fun rewards like new toothbrushes, fun toothpaste flavors, or occasional treats to reinforce their good behavior!
2. Schedule a Dentist Appointment Early
It’s a good idea to take your child to the dentist earlier rather than later. As your schedule fills with sports tryouts, grocery store trips, and PTA meetings when school starts, it will be harder to schedule an appointment.
Not only is it important to have your child’s teeth examined, but regular visits also establish a positive relationship between them and your dentist. This will encourage healthy habits and make it easier for them to start scheduling their own appointments later in life.
3. Visit an Orthodontist
Your regular dentist may or may not also be an orthodontist, but it’s imperative to see one with your child annually to check on the progress of their teeth as they grow. Some parents think that their child’s baby teeth don’t really matter since they will eventually fall out, but this isn’t true.
Regular monitoring of your child’s smile will prevent damage to the underlying adult teeth, impaction, and overcrowding. If your child does require braces down the road, their time in them may be lessened.
4. Pack Tooth-Conscious Lunches
School lunches can be fine if you simply don’t have time to make your child’s food each day, but if you can it will go a long way in preserving their oral health, especially if you pack food that is tooth-conscious.
Sugary snacks and sodas are obvious tooth-rotting culprits, but even some brands of “fruit” juice are more corn syrup than real fruit. This doesn’t mean packing a treat for your child for lunch should be avoided at all costs but try to balance it out. If you give them a snack cake, pack some celery, carrots, and milk along with their sandwich.
If you’re short on time or can’t find a good balance, you could consider packing a travel toothbrush or floss sticks to use after lunch as well.
5. Invest in a Mouthguard
This is especially important if your child is going to be doing any physical activities like football, volleyball, or soccer. Your dentist can either make or recommend a good mouthguard to protect your child’s smile from accidents while they’re out and about.
Knowing you’ve taken proactive steps to protect your child’s oral health can be key to reducing back-to-school anxiety. Whether it’s establishing simple dental care habits or taking time to plan out dental appointments, staying ahead in oral hygiene will help your child focus on their studies and help you enjoy another successful school year.
About the Author
Dr. Mariya Barnett believes that forming strong, long-lasting relationships with her patients is vital to their success. After gaining her dental doctorate at the University of Michigan, she has continued her education through a variety of programs and professional organizations like the Texas Dental Association. She is a member of the Alpha Omega Dental Society and has been featured in the Journal of Dental Education. Dr. Barnett was also named one of D Magazine’s Best Dentists of Dallas in 2019 and 2021. To schedule an appointment for your child or learn about services provided at Mariya Barnett, DDS Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, visit the website here or call (469) 874-0469
