Preparing your kid for going back to school takes a lot of work. It’s plenty of chaos for even the most diligent of planners, so a pediatric dental emergency is the last thing you want to deal with! A few simple teeth-oriented safety tips can save you and your child from unwanted surprises. Don’t worry – there’s plenty your pediatric dentist can do to help out, too. Keep reading for five preventative care tips.
Preventative Dental Care
Dentists actually have an entire category of services devoted to preventing dental disasters before they happen. Preventative dentistry involves the most well-known type of dental appointment: checkups and cleanings. Biannual checkups allow your pediatric dentist to identify red flags before they become serious problems, and biannual cleanings allow them to remove plaque and tartar.
Pediatric dentists can also give your kid’s teeth a protective boost with a fluoride treatment, which helps ward off cavities and tooth decay. Basically, a quick pre-school check-in is well worth it!
At-Home Oral Hygiene
Pediatric dentists excel at getting rid of cavity-causing plaque, tartar, and bacteria, but they can’t clean your child’s teeth every day. To stop bacteria from building to dangerous levels, you’ll have to enforce regular brushing and flossing habits at home. This means brushing twice a day, flossing once per day, and taking your child to those biannual preventative visits!
Invest in An Athletic Mouthguard
Let’s be honest. After cavities, accidental injuries are probably the most likely to endanger your child’s teeth. And while sports are a fantastic pastime, this is where dental damage is most likely to occur. Pediatric dentists know this, which is why many offer athletic mouthguards customized for your active Olympian. Ask your pediatric dental team about crafting one before “friendly warm-up season” transitions into “competitive tournament season”.
Pack Smile-Friendly Snacks
Food won’t singlehandedly solve all dental concerns, but strategic snacking choices can help protect teeth against cavities and infection. Crunchy greens like celery and lettuce, for example, prompt saliva production, which helps the mouth stay nice and clean. Calcium rich dairy products like yogurt and cheese build strong pearly whites and choosing water over sugary alternatives adds a sparkle of fluoride to meals.
Contact Your Dentist Promptly
These back-to-school safety tips for your kids’ teeth will go a long way. However, if your child does experience a dental emergency, it’s important to contact your pediatric dentist as soon as possible. Oral complications can develop quickly, and the longer you wait, the more difficult they can be to treat. Preventive care is best for preventing dental emergencies, but swift diagnosis and treatment is best for dealing with an active dental emergency!
About the Practice
At Dr. Glen’s Happy Teeth, we’re proud to have specialists on staff who are highly qualified to provide a comprehensive set of dental services. Dr. Glen himself is our pediatric dentist extraordinaire and would be happy to help you and your child get ready for the back-to-school season! To contact our office, call 516-517-0331.