The end of summer is fast approaching, and in all the excitement of getting the kids ready to go back, it’s easy to neglect your family’s oral health. Dr. Mark Sowell of Aesthetic Dentistry Centre in Plano, TX can make the back-to-school season easy with family dental care and tips to maintain your oral health.
1. Make dental appointments for your whole family
This time of year is a good way to remember your dental check-ups. Dentist’s offices fill up quickly, so make your kids’ back-to-school dental appointments as early as possible – before school schedules get in the way. And you might as well make yours while you’re at it!
2. Pack low-sugar items in school lunches
Packing school lunches every day can be stressful, and it’s easy to want to just throw in ready-made packs of processed snacks on busy mornings. However, some pre-planning can save you money and help protect kids’ teeth. You prepare your own packs of low-sugar snacks for your child’s lunch. There are also some great low-sugar pre-packaged items that are available as well.
3. Establish a time for tooth brushing
Kids need routine even if they don’t realize it, and setting up a daily oral hygiene routine will set them up for a lifetime of good oral health. Dentists recommend brushing twice a day and flossing once a day to maintain good oral health, so it might be good to schedule oral hygiene into the morning and bedtime routine.
4. Let kids choose their toothpaste and toothbrush
Make oral health more exciting to kids by allowing them to pick out their own dental products. Point out the children’s dental products but make sure they choose an ADA-approved toothpaste and toothbrush. If they’re looking forward to using the products they’ve chosen, it makes oral hygiene easier for everyone.
5. Reward good oral health
Find a reward system that works for your family and reward good oral health. Did your child get a good report from their dentist? Reward them with an anticipated activity or privilege to help reinforce and reward their hard work.
6. Know what to do in a dental emergency
Accidents happen, and knowing what steps to take in the first moments of a dental emergency can help save a broken or knocked-out tooth. An adult tooth that has been knocked out must be kept moist in the mouth (between the cheek and gum) or a glass of milk. For a cracked or broken tooth, wash the mouth out with warm water immediately and contact your dentist for follow-up care. If there has been any trauma to the head or mouth, seek medical attention right away.
Aesthetic Dentistry Centre wishes you a great back-to-school season! To schedule your family’s appointments, schedule your complimentary consultation with us online or call (972) 382-6855.