Back To School: Tips For A Healthy Mouth This School Year

Getting started in a new school year is a great time for your child to get a fresh start, not only with grades but also their overall health. This very much includes their dental health. It is important that your child's teeth remain healthy all year long to prevent any long-lasting problems during the school year. The following are some easy tips to keep a healthy mouth and clean teeth:

Create an Oral Hygiene Routine

If you don't already have one, create a daily oral hygiene routine for your child. This includes brushing and flossing at least twice daily. Be sure the child is brushing for several minutes in order to remove all the bacteria from the mouth. Also, have the child brush the front and the back of the teeth to prevent any cavities in those areas.

If your child is not willing to brush long enough, come up with some incentives to ensure he or she brushes long enough to get the teeth clean. You can play a video on your tablet or phone for them to watch while brushing. You can also keep a sticker chart for your child to complete each time they adhere to the proper brushing time. After so many stickers, you can give a small prize, such as stickers or an inexpensive toy.

Pack Healthy Snacks

School time also means more snack intake for kids. When it is your turn to send a class snack or if you are packing snacks in a lunchbox, consider sending something healthy that does not contain sugar. Reducing sugary snacks will help keep the tooth enamel strong and keep decay at bay.

Some snack ideas include fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese and crackers, hummus and pretzels, or low sugar yogurt.

Reduce Sugary Drinks

Although children need to remain hydrated while at school, it is important that they do not ingest too much sugar. Not only is reducing the sugary drinks great for preventing cavities, but is also encourages saliva production. Saliva is crucial when fighting cavities, as it works as a rinse for the teeth, removing bacteria from the mouth.

In addition to these tips, be sure to have your child visit a dentist at a place like Neu Family Dental Center for regular cleanings. The start of a new school year is a great time to schedule a checkup so that the teeth are clean and ready to go. You can easily schedule a dental checkup while you are also scheduling school physicals and any other annual appointments.