Back to School - Are You Ready?

Moms and Dads from coast to coast are familiar with the ‘back-to-school’ drill: Start getting the kids to bed earlier; go shopping for new school clothes; begin school registration process—a literal checklist of preparation tasks to look forward to.

Of course all of these are important must-do’s. However, this is also a great time to ensure your kids’ oral health is ready for a new school year.

Here’s a quick checklist to make sure your kids are ready to go!

Oral Health Checklist

There may be a few less teeth than last year , but is their smile ready to greet the new teacher?

• Make sure to schedule an appointment with the dentist at least once a year. Having regular check ups with your child’s dentist can ensure you AND your child are held accountable for keeping their oral health a top priority.
• Pack a healthy lunch and/or snack! Send your child to school with nutritious, non-sugary snacks that will be beneficial to their oral and overall health.
• Incorporate fun into brushing and flossing! Subtle changes like playing music, using a sticker calendar, or letting your child pick their own toothbrush can make a big impact!
• If your child needs a filling, remember there is an alternative to drilling and sedatives. Read our blog here about silver nitrate.

Good Oral Health Care Helps Overall Health

Your kids’ oral health is a major contributor to their overall health. When neglected, poor oral hygiene can lead to poor health, reducing your child’s natural immune defense system.  Your kids’ mouths are virtual petri dishes for schoolyard germs, so take extra precaution with their oral health—you may even notice a few less colds and flu bugs this school year!

It’s certainly worth the extra effort as you’re really “schooling” your child on good oral health habits they can take into adulthood.  It’s like your parents told you—an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!  So give yourself an A+ by taking care of your child’s oral heath checklist this school year.