Although back to school season looks different for many students, it’s still a good time to assess your family’s oral health. Ridgetop Dental Group in Northern VA reminds you to see us, your family dentist, to keep your oral health in the best condition.
1. Make dental appointments for your whole family
Dental appointments fill up quickly, and you don’t want to have to make several trips to the dentist for each family member. Scheduling in advance for this time of the year helps you remember your appointments and allows you to schedule multiple family members all at once.
2. Pack low-sugar items in school lunches
Packing school lunches is repetitive and can become stressful, and it’s easy to reach for the snack packs for the lunch boxes. Try to plan ahead and pack low-sugar items to help protect kids’ teeth. There are plenty of low-sugar pre-packaged items that make packing lunches simple.
3. Establish a time for tooth brushing
Even if school routines aren’t the same, you can still help create an oral health routine in the morning and evening to set kids up for a lifetime of great oral health. Dentists recommend flossing once a day and brushing twice a day, so you may want to have teeth brushing time in the morning and the evening at the same times every day.
4. Let kids choose their toothpaste and toothbrush
Kids have plenty of good options when it comes to choosing dental products, so letting them choose their own and find products with the ADA seal of approval can make it more engaging. When kids look forward to what they’ve chosen, it makes establishing and maintaining their oral hygiene routine much easier.
5. Reward good oral health
What rewards do your kids like? Using valuable rewards to encourage good oral health can help avoid conflict when it’s time to brush and floss. You can also use rewards after a dental visit to help associate positive things with going to the dentist, in addition to reinforcing and rewarding their good oral hygiene.
6. Know what to do in a dental emergency
Most parents can handle most emergencies, but some forget about dental emergencies. Kids are at a higher risk of dental injury if they play sports. If a baby tooth is knocked out accidentally, it’s less of a big deal than if it is an adult tooth. Knowing what to do in the first moments after a dental emergency can help save a broken or knocked-out tooth. Teeth must be kept moist, so instruct your child to place the tooth between their cheek and gums. If this is not possible, keep the tooth in milk and contact your dentist right away.
Ridgetop Dental Group wishes you a great back-to-school season! To schedule your family’s appointments, schedule with us online or call us.