Backpack? Check. Pencils? Check. New clothes? Check. What about a healthy smile? With school starting, it’s a great time to think about your child’s oral health and what they might need for the upcoming year.
A quick checklist:
- Schedule dental cleanings and checkups before school starts.
- Replace old toothbrushes and stock up on dental supplies.
- Pack healthy lunches with water and dental supplies.
- Establish brushing and flossing routines.
- Get custom mouthguards for contact sports.
Dental Essentials
You can start by scheduling dental cleanings and checkups before the first day of school. Summer is the best time to address any dental issues when you have more time for treatment. You don’t want your child missing class to go to the dentist, or having tooth pain while they’re trying to learn.
You can also replace old toothbrushes and stock up on travel-size dental supplies to send with your kids to school.
Lunch and Snack Planning
Your child might be begging for lunchables, spicy chips, candy, and sugary juice, but the food they eat directly impacts their oral health. Tooth-friendly foods like cheese, fruit, nuts, and fresh veggies are much better options. Sticky candy and sugary drinks feed harmful bacteria and adhere to the teeth.
Include a water bottle to rinse away food particles and keep them hydrated. For older kids, sugar-free gum is a great after-lunch option. You can also pack disposable toothbrushes and floss for after-lunch cleaning.
Establishing School-Year Routines
Get started implementing consistent morning and evening brushing and flossing routines that fit into your family's school-year rhythm. For younger kids, visual reminders can help reinforce good habits.
You can even practice good brushing and flossing together, and let your kids help plan their school-year routines. This might include a couple of superhero-themed toothbrushes to be used on certain days of the week, and you can make it exciting by following up brushing with a book or game of their choice before bed. Or in the morning, follow up brushing and flossing with a bathroom dance party! They pick the music.
Don’t Forget Sports Safety
If your child is involved in contact sports, now is the time to get their custom-fitted mouthguard. You can talk to your child’s dentist about this, and keep their emergency contact information in your child’s sports bag, just in case.
You might want to review your insurance coverage to understand the policy for sports-related dental injuries.
Ready to Schedule a Back-to-School Cleaning?
At Lonestar Smiles for Kids, we’re experts at children’s oral health. We treat children of all ages and abilities, always focusing on making your child feel comfortable. We want their experiences at the dentist to be positive and fun!
If you’re interested in scheduling a back-to-school exam or cleaning, we’d be delighted to speak with you. You can call us at (817) 598-0835 or make an appointment online.