Back-to-School Checklist for Healthy Children’s Teeth
As your family prepares to go back-to-school, we wanted to give you a quick checklist that will help prepare your children for a mouth-healthy school year!
Fresh Toothbrush
Did you know that you should replace your child’s toothbrush, or electric toothbrush head every 3 – 4 months? Toothbrushes face a couple of different problems that can cut their lifespan short. General use wears down bristles and limits their effectiveness over time. Back-to-school season is the perfect time for a new toothbrush that will keep your child’s teeth clean until around winter break.
New Mouth Guard
Does your child plan on playing sports this fall? If so, be sure to get them a mouth guard to protect their teeth from injuries. Facial injuries are one of the most common injuries in sports, and many can be made less severe with proper protection like a mouth guard. If your child is playing a sport, then you can keep their teeth safer this season with a sports mouth guard.
Reusable Water Bottle
Water helps strengthen and clean teeth. With every sip, water cleans teeth by ridding them of any leftover foods or acids. It also washes away bacteria and sugars that can eventually lead to cavities. Water has zero calories, and helps restore the mouth’s pH balance to fight unhealthy levels of acid. But, water also hydrates the body as it sweats. If your child’s school allows it, a water bottle is a great way to ensure that your child stays adequately hydrated while at school.
Consistent Brushing Routine
The strongest tactic in any oral health routine is maintaining a positive oral health routine. You can help your child establish a mouth-healthy routine right now by having them brush their teeth twice per day for two minutes at a time, and floss once per day, making sure to floss the tough-to-reach areas of their teeth. Use the summer to help your child get into a positive oral health routine that they can carry over into their school year.
A Dental Health Checkup
A dental health checkup it the best way to get a clear understanding of the specific issues (or non-issues) present in your child’s oral health. We will evaluate the state of your child’s oral health, and provide actionable advice that will improve their oral health, and give them a healthy leg-up on their school year.
