According to the American Dental Association, professional dental cleanings are a must for your children, especially before the school year begins. Clean and healthy teeth will support your child’s performance in the classroom, and will help them avoid missing class due to tooth pain and dental appointments. Here are a few more reasons why these back to school appointments are so important:
Cavities and Tooth Decay
A professional dental cleaning paired with fluoride treatment is very important when preventing cavities and tooth decay. Dental cleaning offers a deeper cleaning in comparison to brushing and flossing. In addition, teeth cleanings before the school year can help prevent long term issues such as disease and infection. Regular cleanings also help guarantee a fresher breath and brighter teeth.
According to the ADA, fluoride treatments in the dental office offer extra protection for your teeth. Professional fluoride treatments are usually in gel or foam form and are applied with a brush or cotton swab. Do not allow your child to eat or drink anything hot or cold to allow your teeth to absorb the fluoride and let it repair any damage.
Sealants
Back-to-school appointments are also important to check if your child needs sealants, for extra protection against cavities. According to the CDC, school-age children without sealants have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants. The earlier that your child gets them the better.
Sealants are a protective coating that are placed on your child’s molars. They help prevent small bits of food from sitting on the back teeth that a toothbrush may not be able to reach. They are usually made of a medical grade resin. Sealants can last up to 9 years; it is important for your dentist to check on your child’s sealants every appointment.
Absences
To ensure that your child has optimal time in the classroom to learn and grow, booking a back-to -school appointment is a must. They can avoid these absences by keeping their teeth clean. It is important for you to make sure that you are helping them brush and floss every morning and night making this a healthy habit. Dental cleanings are the next best step to this routine and can help reach places that your child’s toothbrush may not. Research from the American Journal of Public Health found that 2 days a school year are missed due to dental issues, and 6 days total. This can lead to lower test scores and results.
Get your child’s school year started off on the right foot by scheduling an appointment with us today!
