The first few weeks of school can be nerve-racking and exciting for students, parents, and teachers. The last thing we want you to worry about is your child’s teeth. Here are a few of our favorite back-to-school tips for taking care of your child’s smile during the school year.
A Balanced Routine
Finding a balanced morning and evening routine is a big help for making sure that your child is happy and healthy during the school year. The key is to keep it simple and easy to remember. You can come up with a quick checklist for the important things that you child is most likely to forget. For example, you can ask them if they did the 3 B’s before they hop in the car or on the bus. 1. Bring Backpack 2. Bring Lunch 3. Brush Teeth
Dental Sealants
A dental sealant is a quick and easy way to prevent cavities so that your child can focus on school, their favorite hobbies, or playing with their friends. A sealant is a coating that is painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth to protect teeth from decay. It is a painless procedure that only takes a few minutes. According to the CDC, "school-age children without sealants have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants."
Packing a Toothbrush in their Lunchbox or Backpack
Adding a toothbrush and toothpaste to your child’s school supply list is another easy way to keep your child’s smile healthy while school is in session. After lunch, they can ask their teacher to take a quick stop at the restroom to brush their teeth before heading out to recess or back to class. This leaves your child with clean teeth and fresh breath heading into the rest of the school day. A midday routine like this can be relaxing for your child and help them feel prepared for the afternoon.
A Back-to-School Dental Appointment
Finally, making a back-to-school dental appointment is a great way to set your child up for success. You can double check that there are no oral health issues before the school year picks up and also ask about sealants. This is also a great opportunity to get a new toothbrush and toothpaste to bring to school. If your child with be playing sports, you can even have a custom mouthguard created that will fit your child’s mouth perfectly and protect against injuries. Having an annual back-to-school dental appointment on the calendar is also a great reminder for parents to make regular appointments and stay on top of their child’s oral health.
Call us today at (614) 459-5511 about sealants, mouthguards, or to schedule a back-to-school appointment today!
