In the hustle and bustle of back-to-school, dental care often falls by the wayside. A dental exam should be part of the back-to-school checklist. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in U.S. children, says the American Academy of Pediatrics. By the time they are in kindergarten, almost half of the kids have 1 or more cavities. Kids with toothaches have trouble focusing when in school. Because of the pain, they may not want to participate in class activities nor eat when it’s lunch time.
Steps Children and Parents can take to stay Cavity Free
• Your child should have a dental checkup even when they don’t have any symptoms.
• Brushing 2 times a day (in the morning before going to school and at night time).
• Floss 1 time a day (I recommend before going to bed).
• Limit sugary snacks and substitute with fresh fruit, veggies, and cheeses.
• Choose water to drink in place of sugary juices and sodas.
• If kids like to chew gum, I recommend the sugar-free gums.
• If your child plays sports they should wear mouth protection such as a sports guard to prevent damaging any teeth.
Just because your child’s teeth look OK doesn’t mean that everything is good. Make sure you schedule your child a back-to-school visit with your family dentist because if there are some dental concerns, they can catch the problems early which makes it easier to treat. I hope this Tooth Talk will help all kids going back to school have a great school year. Please call and or email me with questions to Integrity Dental Care, PLLC, dr.jmitchell@integritydentalcares.com, (615) 445-8700.
