As the summer months are coming to a close and the kids are heading back to school, it can be difficult to get back to your normal routine. As you’re rushing around to different locations and getting into the swing of school and workdays, it’s key to take some extra steps to keep your family’s smiles protected against dental emergencies. Continue reading to learn some tooth-healthy tips to implement.
Keep Up an Excellent At-Home Dental Hygiene Routine
If your child experiences toothaches from decay or gum disease, they aren’t going to be able to focus well in school and may even need to miss class to undergo dental work. With an excellent at-home dental hygiene routine, you can prevent these issues from arising at all. Your child’s daily routine should include brushing their teeth for two minutes in the morning and before bed. They should also be flossing once a day. If they are old enough (6+), mouthwash is an excellent addition for extra freshness. Just be sure that you are supervising them to ensure that they are using it correctly.
Provide Healthy Food Choices
There isn’t usually much harm in having a sugary treat now and again, but it’s important that your family’s diets contain a balanced amount of lean protein, fruits, veggies, dairy, and carbohydrates. This way, your kids will have all the nutrients they need to grow big and strong and maintain a healthy smile. For an afterschool snack, try providing your kids with apple slices or carrot sticks and dip. These high-fiber foods actively help to clean plaque off their teeth as they eat, boosting their oral health!
Discourage Bad Habits
Many of us are guilty of using our teeth to bite a hangnail or open stubborn packaging. However, doing so increases the likelihood of chipping or cracking a tooth. If you find that your kids are doing this, remind them that it’s best to ask for help to complete these tasks so the right tool can be used. Chewing on pencils, ice, fingernails, or other hard object should also be discouraged. Breaking bad habits is difficult, but it is well worth it when a dental emergency can be avoided.
See the Dentist Regularly!
It’s important to attend regular dental visits twice a year. This appointment includes a regular dental cleaning, thorough examination, and X-rays. This way, if an issue is present, it can be detected and treated early on so it doesn’t become serious. If you aren’t already on track for regular cleanings and checkups, now’s a great time to get back on board.
Just because school is back in session doesn’t mean oral health should be left on the back burner. By using the tips listed above, your family can keep your smiles healthy and happy!
About the Practice
At Advanced Smile Design, Dr. Krunal Patel and Dr. Poorvi Gandhi work together to provide for patients in the Willow Grove community. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need at one convenient location. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (215) 659-3334.
