It’s that time of year when summer packs up and heads away for another nine months, and that means your child will soon be going back to school. Though everyone wants their kid to be safe in class, dental emergencies can still strike even in the finest institution of education. Luckily, there are steps you can take to help your child stay out of the way of dental danger. Here are some tips to prevent trips to the emergency dentist’s office during this coming school year.
Dental Care Begins at Home
Home might be where the heart is, but it’s also the best place to learn good dental hygiene habits. Summer has a way of making kids slack off, so if your child has let good oral hygiene slip during the break, the new school year is a great time to get them back on track. Four ways to set your child up for a school year of excellent oral health include:
- Brushing teeth: Teeth should be brushed at least twice a day or after meals (especially if they wear braces), but make sure your child knows to wait at least thirty minutes after eating to allow the mouth to clean away the larger debris.
- Flossing: Using dental floss at least once a day can clean from between the teeth the plaque, sugary residue, and food particles that brushing alone might miss.
- Antibacterial mouthwash: A daily thirty-second swish-and-rinse can cull much of a mouth’s bacterial population while leaving your child’s breath fresh and minty.
- Dentist appointments: Your child will probably need you to schedule these but getting them used to seeing the dentist twice a year now can lead to it being a habit in adulthood.
Teach Your Child Not to Chew on Inedible Objects
Students have chewed on pens, pencils, fingernails, paperclips, and ice for generations, and many of these students have needed emergency dental work because of it. Teeth are meant for chewing food, sugar-free gum, and nothing else. Chewing on plastic, wooden, or metal objects can damage enamel, crack teeth, or wreck existing dental work.
Equally worth mentioning is that teeth are not meant to be used as tools for opening or holding things. Make sure your child knows not to use them to open packages or bottles. Encourage them to work harder in gym class instead so their forearms are strong enough to open these things without help from their teeth.
Get Your Little Athlete a Mouthguard
Does your kid want to try out for the football, soccer, or some other type of sports team? That means they’ll need helmets, pads, and other protective gear. Make sure this includes a custom mouthguard from the dentist’s office, if possible. These models are superior to anything that can be bought at the store because they are professionally customized to fit their wearer’s teeth. This way when they have an impact on the field, you can be sure they keep their teeth afterward.
A new school year is a time of transition, so make sure it includes better dental habits. Teaching your kid how to take care of their teeth now can set them up for good oral health in the future. This will keep your child’s smile shining as bright as tomorrow’s opportunities.
About the Author
Dr. James K. Kramer earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine from the Temple University School of Dentistry. He has since accumulated more than thirty years of dental experience and is a Master of the Academy of General Dentistry as well as a member of the American Dental Association, the Delaware State Dental Society, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. His practice offers services such as preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry. To schedule your child for a back-to-school dental appointment, contact him online or dial (302) 436-5133.