Did you realize that children who have good oral hygiene during the school year are more likely to succeed academically? In addition to staying in the classroom to learn, they probably will stay on top of their healthy habits throughout the year. Every six months, your child has a special dental exam with the dentist, and there are ways you as a parent can help them prepare and ace their visit. Here are just a few tips for getting ready!
Make Sure They Maintain a Routine
When it comes to brushing and flossing, taking care of dental health every few days is not frequent enough. Children (and adults) should clean their teeth twice every single day to control cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. When a child learns healthy habits early on, they are more prone to continue them into their teenage and adult years. When they keep their teeth cavity free, they can avoid missed time in the classroom to visit an emergency dentist and more time learning.
Keep Lunchboxes Full of Healthy Foods
When you pack your child’s lunch, be sure to include mainly healthy food choices, like fruits and vegetables, lean meats, dairy, and leafy greens. Although a small sweet treat is okay, but excess sugar and starch encourage the bacteria that lead to cavities and gum disease. You may not be able to prevent them from exchanging food with other kids, swapping a chocolate chip cookie for an apple is a hard sell. They may have to stick with what you packed for them!
In addition to healthier food options, you can send them to school with plenty of water instead of putting a juice box in their lunch. Not only will water keep them hydrated, but it will help wash away any sugar or bits of food left in their mouth.
Oversee Their Oral Hygiene Routine
Depending on how old your child is, they may not require adult supervision while they brush and floss their teeth. However, a younger child may need you to step in and help them reach areas that tend to be difficult to keep clean. Watching over the process allows you to feel confident that they are brushing and flossing properly and taking the right amount of time. To help them brush for a full two minutes, a small timer on the counter can be very useful.
You may also want to consider offering your child a small reward after finishing a week (or month) of good brushing or after getting a thumbs up from the dentist at their six-month appointment. Positive reinforcement can help motivate them to develop these skills!
Children with good oral hygiene early on are more likely to achieve positive results both at the dentist’s office and in school as they grow and develop. When you help them embrace a healthier lifestyle, they are free to succeed and thrive!
About Grand Dental – Wilmington
At Grand Dental – Wilmington, we take pride in the personalized, comprehensive dental care we provide Our talented team of four dental specialists are happy to work with patients of all ages, including young children, and provide patients with beneficial tips designed to improve and maintain healthy smiles for everyone in the family. To get in touch with us for an appointment, visit our website or call 815-476-6755to learn how we can help.