Every child wants to look his best with new clothes, new school supplies and new summer vacation stories to bring, but have you thought about taking your child to his dentist?
According to studies, one of the first things people notice about someone is their smile and that a good smile creates a positive self-image - something all parents wish for their children. It makes a lot of sense that the perfect time to incorporate good oral health habits into a child's daily routine, is back-to-school time!
Tooth decay is one of the biggest health issues among children, accounting for over 51 million hours of school time lost every year. What’s more, poor dental health in youth can lead to chronic problems like discomfort, difficulty chewing and the need for painful and expensive procedures down the road.
The back-to-school dental checkup is an important and easy way to help prevent these problems.
Regular dental exams do more than catch tooth decay. By having these for your children you will be able to see if their teeth are growing in properly, evaluate the results of their brushing and flossing techniques (and give lessons, if necessary), and apply fluoride treatments or protective sealants that can prevent decay before it happens. If your kid plays sports and other physical activities, he can be fitted with a mouthguard too.
Even kids that are too young for school are probably old enough to go to the dentist. The ADA recommends babies start seeing a dentist when their first tooth comes in, usually when they’re between 6 and 12 months old.
So while completing your back-to-school checklist, make sure to bring your kids to visit their dentist. Include new toothbrushes in their school kit, provide them with a dental kit for school, pack dental-friendly lunches and snack and start a good reward system that will encourage good dental exam results. Then you can finally say that your children are smile-ready and happy to get back to school!
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