During back-to-school season, you take lots of measures to ensure your child is safe and prepared. Unfortunately, many parents forget a key component of that: their child’s oral health. After all, a tooth-related injury can be quite stressful, and even small dental problems can make it difficult for your little one to concentrate in the classroom. With this in mind, keep reading to learn four helpful tips on how to prevent dental emergencies.
Tip #1: Pack Tooth-Friendly Lunches
Naturally, you want to find lunches that are as nutritious as they are delicious. However, it’s important to make sure they are tooth-friendly as well. While tasty, tortilla chips, popcorn, and pretzels are just a few snacks that can damage your child’s chompers. So, it’s better to opt for yogurt, applesauce, oatmeal, fresh fruit, and cooked vegetables.
Tip #2: Implement a Solid Oral Hygiene Routine
Over the summer, your child may have fallen off-track with their oral hygiene routine. That’s okay – there’s no time like the present to pick up those good habits again! To help keep their teeth and gums in pristine condition, make sure they brush for a full two minutes each morning and evening. They should also floss daily and begin rinsing with mouthwash when they are old enough (usually around the age of 13).
Tip #3: Schedule Their Biannual Checkup and Cleaning Now
With a jam-packed schedule, you may be considering postponing your child’s biannual checkup and cleaning. Don’t! These routine appointments play a crucial role in the condition of their oral health. In addition to catching cavities in the early stages, they remove stubborn plaque and ensure your child knows the importance of caring for their smile.
Tip #4: Does Your Child Play Sports? Get Them a Mouthguard
Did you know that roughly five million teeth are knocked-out each year? So, if your child participates in a sport (even a non-contact one), it’s of the utmost importance that you get them a mouthguard to wear during practice and at games. That way, their teeth and gums will be protected from any accidental elbows to the face, rogue baseballs, and the like.
As a parent, you want your child to start the school year off on the right foot. Naturally, that doesn’t include a stressful and potentially painful dental injury! Don’t worry – the above tips will reduce the chances of that happening.
About the Author
For more than a decade now, Dr. Nicholas Brong has dedicated his days to helping patients of all ages achieve healthy smiles. His journey to becoming a top-rated dentist began at the University of California, San Francisco, which is where he earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery. Although he has completed advanced training on a wide range of topics throughout the years, he continues to pursue continuing education with professional organizations, including the Minnesota Dental Association. If you have a question about maintaining your child’s oral health or you want to schedule their six-month dental checkup, don’t hesitate to visit our website or call (507) 288-1066.
