WHY ARE BACK-TO-SCHOOL DENTAL CHECKUPS SO IMPORTANT?
1. Prevention and early detection are your best weapons in protecting your child’s teeth. Creating healthy habits now will help educate them in keeping good habits for life.
2. According to the Centers for Disease Control cavities are one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the United States. Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning.
3. About 1 of 5 (20%) children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.
4. 1 of 7 (13%) adolescents aged 12 to 19 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.
5. Children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don’t.
TIPS TO MAKE YOUR CHILD’S VISIT POSITIVE
If your child has never been to the dentist or is visiting a new dentist, take them to the office for a visit before their appointment. Let them meet the dentist and staff and get familiar with the office. Have them play with the toys or watch a video so they have a pleasant experience.
Read books to your children about taking care of their teeth. There are lots of books for children about visits to the dentist. For example, for very young children there are The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist, by Stan & Jan Berenstain and Just Going to the Dentist by Mercer Mayer. For older children there is Going to the Dentist by Helen Frost.
GETTING BACK TO ROUTINE
If your child’s routines got interrupted over the summer, now is a good time to get them back on track. This should include brushing first thing in the morning and brushing and flossing at night before bed.
BEAT THE RUSH
With all the summer events it’s easy to lose track of time; but soon you’ll be making those trips to the store for school supplies, new clothes and such. Best not to wait until the last minute to schedule your child’s dental visit as this can make scheduling more difficult for you. Contact us now to schedule your child for a cleaning and check-up.
Sincerely,
Dr. Dave