Full Speed Ahead! Going Back to School with Dental Confidence

The back-to-school season can provoke many different emotions. Pride. Nostalgia. Stress. If you’re more anxious than not about sending your little one back to school, that’s understandable. There’s a lot to do and think about to get them ready, which can make it difficult to go “full speed ahead”. With some help from your dentist and a few preventative care tips, though, you can have confidence in their dental wellbeing! Keep reading so you can take one more concern off your plate.

Schedule a Checkup and Cleaning

It might sound simple, but that’s the beauty of it. By simply scheduling your child for a checkup and cleaning with your dentist, you can simultaneously scan for cavity red flags and fortify their teeth for the fall semester. A screening and a little bit of fluoride go a long way!

Start Them on an Oral Hygiene Routine

Oral hygiene is one of the biggest if not the biggest factor in developing dental conditions. Twice daily brushing and once daily flossing helps prevent bacteria from building up to cavity- and gum-disease-inducing levels. Get your child started on an oral hygiene routine before the back-to-school chaos, so they’ll already be in the habit when homework comes rolling in.

Pack Their Lunches Strategically

Part of the reason kids develop cavities has to do with their sugar intake. Sugar acts like fuel for bacteria, encouraging it to grow and spread. Starches and Carbohydrates aren’t much better, as they ultimately break down to sugars in the mouth. Yummy berries are a safer snack for daily sweetness, and if you can encourage them to eat “gross”, crunchy greens like celery and lettuce, the fiber will help clean their teeth!

Teach Them About Dental Safety

Accidents happen, and unless you pack your child up in bubble-wrap (hopefully it goes without saying that that’s a bad idea!), they’re simply a part of enjoying life to the fullest. But you can still spare your kiddo from having to tell the dentist an embarrassing story! Teach them about the less-than-smart ways to use their teeth, such as:

• As a bottle-opener
• A convenient way to hold hard objects when their hands are full
• For nut-cracking competitions

Habits like these can chip and crack perfectly healthy teeth. Also, while you don’t want them to become paranoid, remind them to watch where they’re walking. You’d be surprised how many dental emergencies are caused by smacking into a stop-sign or fire-hydrant!

Remember that if your child does encounter a stressful dental disaster, your emergency dentist is just a quick phone call away. They’ll swoop in promptly with over-the-phone first-aid guidance and appointment scheduling assistance. You’re never alone when it comes to your little one’s oral health!

About the Practice

At Dental Excellence Melbourne, we’re happy to help patients of all ages clean and maintain their teeth for effective preventative care. When you schedule an appointment for your child, we’ll ensure they feel comfortable and safe. Dr. Cedric Chenet has advanced training in pediatric dentistry, so you can trust him to take good care of your loved one! To contact our office, call 321-255-0199.