Start Off the School Year with a Healthy Smile

The fun and carelessness of summer will soon fade. If you're the parent of a school-aged child, you know this means the school bell will soon ring. While you're undoubtedly taking the time to ensure your children have all the school supplies, uniforms, and other tools they need, you should also make sure not to forget their oral health. Make sure you're starting your child off with a healthy smile.

Oral Checkup

If your child hasn't had a dental checkup lately, schedule one for before the school year begins. Dental checkups are all about prevention. Whether the problem is incorrect development, an alignment issue, decay, or oral disease, a dental provider can more readily address these issues if they are caught early on.

The longer the time span between checkups, the more advanced the condition may be when it is caught. A dental disease in an advanced stage may have an effect on a child's academic performance, as 51 million school hours are missed each year due to dental disease. Being proactive with regular checkups keeps your child healthier and minimizes school absences.

School Lunch

If you make your child's lunch each day, make sure you are sending them to school with healthy selections and avoiding harmful food options. Your child's lunch should primarily be made up of a combination of fresh fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, tangerines, broccoli, and celery.

Stay away from seemingly healthy snacks like dried fruit and fruit juices, as both of these selections generally have high sugar content, which can increase the risk of decay. It's okay to give your child a sweet treat in their lunch, but make it an occasional addition, rather than a regular selection. For example, you could provide a Friday snack.

Mouth Gear

If your child participates in a competitive sport, such as soccer, football, hockey or volleyball, make sure they have the right protective gear. In any high-contact sport, there is always the risk of your child colliding with a ball or another player and sustaining significant damage to their teeth.

Although these issues are often thought of as cosmetic concerns, a chipped or lost tooth can lead to permanent nerve and bone damage. When choosing a mouthguard, try to stay away from the generic options available in most sports stores. For the ultimate protection, it's best to have a custom guard designed by a dental professional.

As a parent, you play the most critical role in the safety and protection of your child. Make sure you are keeping your child's oral health a priority. Contact a dentistry such as Crest Hill Family Dental to make an appointment today. 

Share