Back to School Dental Tips

15 Aug Back to School Dental Tips

Summer is soon coming to a close, and school will be back in session. If you don’t pack your child’s lunch you may not know what they are eating during the day at school. Just because summer is over doesn’t mean that your child’s teeth are in the clear in regards to sweet beverages and sugary snacks. School lunches can be just as bad on a child’s mouth, and this can result in cavities and tooth decay.

Check out these simple tips that will help you instill better dental habits in your children for this upcoming school year:

• Start off the day with a healthy breakfast

In actuality, every meal should be healthy, but eating breakfast is the most important meal of the day so you should try to start off the morning with a healthy meal. Eating breakfast helps curb hunger and it can help set the tone for the entire day. Overall, when your children are home, they should eat healthy foods as much as possible. A lot of natural foods contain lower amounts of sugar, which are less damaging to the teeth. Giving children a good foundation, and setting them up with healthy eating habits will help ensure that your kid will eat healthy at school.

• Pack a healthy lunch

If your child’s school doesn’t offer a healthy lunch menu, then it is essential to pack your child a lunch that consists of more natural products than processed foods. Grains, dairy and fruits/vegetables are a good choice, since string cheese, yogurt and milk all help make the teeth stronger. Having snacks such as sliced up carrots, apples, or other fruits and vegetables are always a good choice. Fruits in particular will help satisfy the craving for sweets, and both fruits and vegetables will give your child the essential minerals and vitamins that they need to keep their teeth happy and strong. It is vital that you stop packing sugary and sticky foods in your child’s lunchbox, especially since they are unable to brush immediately after lunch.

• Develop healthy brushing habits at home

It is important to help develop a schedule early on to help ensure that your child is brushing their teeth after breakfast in the morning, and once again at night before they go to bed. Having a routine helps teach and establish good dental hygiene habits and patterns, and these habits will be more likely to stick with your child. When your children are young, make this into a fun experience and show them that you also care about tooth health by brushing your teeth with them every day! This way you can show and teach them the correct brushing techniques by example.

• Schedule regular dental examinations

It is imperative that your child has regular dental checkups in order to help prevent any problems, and to diagnose and treat any current problems before they become worse. Your dentist might even be able to help you out with a properly fitted mouth guard for playground activities, gym class, or if your child participates in organized sports. If you live in the NYC metro area and are in need of a family dentist, give us a call for more information or to make an appointment.