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It’s that time of year again. The air is starting to cool down, the days are getting shorter, and children are returning to school. Back-to-school season is a change of routine after summer break, and that can impact your child’s dental care habits.
There’s no better time than the back-to-school season to review your child’s dental routine and make any necessary changes. Pediatric dentists Staci Brunell, DMD, and Priyanka Patel, DMD, from Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in Yorktown Heights, New York, share what you can do to help your child have healthy, sparkling teeth when they go back to school.
Some schools require your child to get a dental exam at the start of the school year. Even if your child’s school doesn’t require one, now is the perfect time to make a dental cleaning appointment if your child is due.
Teeth cleanings are essential to keeping your child’s teeth free of plaque and decay, which can lead to cavities and infections. Now that your child is entering a new school year, our team also assesses your child’s changing oral health needs as they grow older.
For example, as your child’s adult molars come in, we might recommend sealants to help prevent cavities. It might also be time to change your child’s brushing or fluoride routine or to consider starting orthodontics.
Over the summer, your child might have enjoyed a larger dose of sweet treats like ice cream, popsicles, sodas, and cakes. Starting school is a good time to reset those bad habits and bring in healthy snacks.
Consider packing healthier foods low in simple sugars for school lunches and after-school snacks. Fresh fruit and dairy products are tasty and can even benefit your child’s oral health.
Your child might have been going to bed later and keeping different hours than usual during the summer. School brings a new routine back into your child’s life, and with it comes the opportunity to ensure your child is taking consistent care of your teeth.
Your child probably has a new bedtime. Before the new bedtime, ensure they have ample time to brush and floss their teeth carefully.
With every new school year, your older child can learn new and more independent brushing skills. Help your child take over brushing independently, learn to floss, and do other age-appropriate oral health tasks.
Going back to school means taking PE classes, participating in school sports, and playing with friends during breaks. All of these fun activities put your child at risk of breaking or chipping a tooth.
If your child participates in contact sports, such as hockey, basketball, football, or boxing, they should wear a custom-made mouth guard while playing. Our team can check the fit of your child’s mouth guard and see if they need a new one fit as they grow.
Make sure your child’s school has your child’s dentist and emergency contact number on file in case of an emergency. When your child is old enough, they can also learn what to do after a tooth emergency.
Back-to-school is a time of transition for children and families, and you can use that to your advantage to get or keep your child’s oral health on track. Contact us to make a dental appointment for your child.
