The summer months are quickly fading into your rearview mirror. The back-to-school to-do list is long and filled with tasks like shopping for supplies, taking your little athlete to their first sports physical, and getting everyone cleaned up and well groomed for their first day of class. Even though you’ve put a lot of thought into making sure everyone’s prepared, the state of your children’s teeth may have gone unnoticed.
While your children’s health is your top priority, it’s not uncommon to forget about their oral health and how it affects their whole system and self-esteem. Your kiddos are concerned about how cool they will look on their first day back to class, and they’re even more worried about how their school photos will turn out. You can give them the confidence they need to smile and say cheese by taking them to see their dentist before the first bell rings.
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), your child should see a children’s dentist at least twice a year, starting six months after the first tooth emerges. Regular visits to a children’s dentist can help your little ones avoid the pain and discomfort caused by cavities and decay, and can help them establish good oral hygiene habits that will allow them to maintain excellent lifelong oral health. Planning one of your child’s regular visits in fall before they head back to school will leave you feeling confident about their health and will give them the confidence they need to feel good heading back to class.
The following are some of the services your family or pediatric dentist provides in an effort to protect your child’s smile:
- Digital x-rays: These allow your dentist to detect decay and disease earlier than what’s possible with a basic oral exam.
- Cleanings: Having your children’s teeth cleaned regularly helps prevent gingivitis, tooth decay, and loss of enamel. It will also keep their teeth bright and shiny so that they can feel proud every time they smile.
- Sealants: Dental sealants are a noninvasive, preventive tooth-decay treatment that protects teeth and keeps them healthy while they mature and strengthen. Dental sealants are made from a resin material that is used to coat the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. They are painted on and seal the nooks and crannies in the teeth so that food and other plaque-causing materials that cause cavities are kept out.
- Fluoride treatments: Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that can be found in both food and water. It aids in the prevention of tooth decay and cavities by making teeth resistant to the acids created by plaque and sugars. A fluoride treatment involves applying fluoride topically to teeth. The in-office fluoride treatment is simple, painless, and fast, and it involves applying fluoride in the form of varnish, gel, or foam directly onto the teeth.
- At-home dental care education: Your dentist can help you with your child’s at-home oral hygiene. They can arm you with information you need to keep your child’s teeth healthy, and help your child understand how important it is to take care of their teeth.
- Orthodontic evaluation: The term “orthodontics” most likely evokes images of silver- and gray-wired braces attached to a teenager’s teeth, along with an endless number of trips to the orthodontist. But modern-day orthodontics allows your dentist to provide some teeth-straightening orthodontic treatments that are clear or nearly invisible. The earlier your dentist identifies the need for orthodontics, the earlier your child will be smiling with confidence.
The back-to-school time of year can feel overwhelming for everyone in the family. But you and your children don’t have to lose your smiles over it. With a little planning, scheduling, and some support from your oral health professionals, you can all feel confident about the beginning of a new school year.
To find out more about how our dentist can help you get your child ready for heading back to class, give us a call today!
