Back to School Dental Tips

How to add dental health into your kids’ back-to-school routine

Back to School Dental Checkups

With all the errands and activities involved in getting children ready to start school every fall, their dental health may not be top of mind. But here are some good reasons to change that, and some guidelines on how to accomplish it.

While it may feel too complicated to add yet another task to your long to-do list, the start of the school year is the perfect time to get everyone to the dentist for a checkup and tooth cleaning. Routine dental exams to evaluate a child’s dental health and address any issues early will save time and money down the road. They also give kids and their dentists a chance to become familiar and comfortable with each other. Regular visits help build children’s trust in their dentists. If anxiety is a problem, consider seeing a pediatric dentist, or pedodontist; they are specially trained to treat young children, adolescents, and those with special needs.

Scheduling an annual back-to-school dental cleaning also demonstrates how important oral health is to overall health, which will continue to be true throughout their lives. Seeing the dentist a few weeks before school starts also allows time to treat any dental problems, from cavities to gum disease, before the first day, and prevent missed school days later due to pain and dental treatments.

Keep in mind that young children suffering from tooth pain often can’t articulate exactly what hurts, and continual pain may result in a lack of focus and learning.

The American Dental Association (ADA) has recommended that dental exams become part of the annual back-to-school routines along with sports physicals, health exams, and immunizations. Additionally, children should visit the dentist at least twice a year, and continue to be taught age-appropriate oral hygiene skills as they develop both dexterity and their primary and then permanent teeth.

What Parents Can Do

Remember that phrase “monkey see, monkey do”? Children will likely imitate the good oral hygiene care they see their parents and other influential adults practicing. It helps if parents brush their own teeth while supervising their children’s brushing so they can watch how it’s done properly and ask any questions they may have. Parents can demonstrate nuances like the amount of pressure to apply, how to brush in circles up near the gum line where plaque accumulates, how to navigate around the back molars, and how to spit properly. It’s more fun for them if they are using a special toothbrush they picked out for themselves, so this is also a good time of year to replace toothbrushes for the whole household (which the ADA recommends doing every 3 to 4 months or if worn or damaged).

Usually, children can brush their teeth efficiently by the time they are in 4^th or 5^th grade, but as everyone develops differently, continue to monitor them. Occasionally using a plaque disclosure product can identify areas where they need to focus more as well as help them improve their brushing and flossing techniques.

Encouraging children to drink more water has many benefits: it’s critical to overall health, it helps avoid sugary drinks, it flushes food residue and acid from around the teeth, and it saves money. Always pack a nutritious lunch that provides protein, fiber, and dairy.

At-home dental routine tips:

• brush and floss teeth before school and after dinner or before bed
• use fluoride-containing toothpaste
• consider fluoride treatments such as supplements and sealants
• start school with a new toothbrush
• drink plenty of water
• pack a floss holder in lunch bags
• to make it fun, play music while brushing and flossing
• use a calendar and stickers to record brushing and flossing success
• help children learn how to care for their braces
• schedule a back-to-school tooth cleaning

At-school routine tips:

• take tooth-friendly lunches and snacks, like baby carrots and cheese
• avoid foods with high sugar, like juices and sticky candy
• drink plenty of water
• provide a mouthguard if involved in sports.

Keep in mind that regular dental visits and supervising toothbrushing may prevent comorbidities from occurring as a result of dental disease. These can include diabetes, heart disease, and malnutrition.

What Teachers Can Do

Teachers are critical role models for students at any age. Regularly discussing oral health issues during class over the years can have an important impact on children’s overall health and wellbeing, both physical and mental. It may encourage them to inquire about a dental visit, discuss something bothering them like lack of sleep or difficulty eating due to oral pain, open up about any appearance concerns, and ask questions. They need to know that it is safe to discuss dental problems and that they are in good company when it comes to prevalence.

Teachers can influence children by introducing them to tooth-friendly foods, praising them for practicing good dental behavior, and encouraging them to go to the dentist often. There are many ways to demonstrate tooth-friendly habits in class and through homework assignments, which can also enlighten and remind parents to continually oversee and encourage good oral homecare.

Teachers can also talk about brushing their own teeth or how clean they are after they see the dentist. They can schedule activities that promote dexterity so students can brush and floss more effectively.

Restorations to the Rescue

Untreated decay can lead to large fillings or broken teeth that will need to be repaired with a crown. Pediatric dental crowns, like the resin-covered stainless steel and tooth-colored zirconia crowns Cheng Crowns manufactures, help protect damaged primary teeth until permanent teeth come in. Learn how to care for pediatric crowns and fillings.

Having positive dental experiences from a young age will help children want to continue visiting the dentist and be more comfortable with the concept of procedures like fillings and crown placements. If they are continually encouraged to maintain their oral health, the benefits will last a lifetime.

Resources

10 back-to-school dental tips for students. Dental Choice Family Dentistry.  https://www.dentalchoice.ca/blog/10-back-to-school-dental-tips-for-students/. Accessed August 15, 2024.

Back to School Dental Hygiene Tips for Kids. Ellensburg Dental Care. Community Health of Central Washington. https://www.chcw.org/ellensburg-dental-back-to-school-dental-hygiene-tips-for-kids/. Accessed August 15, 2024.

Back to School Dental Tips for a Health Smile. ProHealth Dental. July 7, 2021. https://www.phdental.com/oral-health-news/2021/july/back-to-school-dental-tips-for-a-healthy-smile/. Accessed August 15, 2024.

Cavity Facts. CDC Oral Health. https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/data-research/facts-stats/fast-facts-cavities.html#:~:text=1,May%2015%2C%202024. Accessed August 23, 2024.

Kids with Poor Oral Health are More Likely to Perform Poorly in School: What Parents and Teachers Can Do About It. Delta Dental. https://www1.deltadentalins.com/newsroom/releases/2022/08/kids-with-poor-oral-health-are-more-likely-to-perform-poorly-in-.html. Accessed August 15, 2024.

Toothbrushes. American Dental Association. https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/toothbrushes#:~:text=Toothbrushes%20should%20be%20replaced%20approximately,as%20the%20bristles%20become%20worn. Accessed August 15, 2024.