The summer often brings a more relaxed schedule with fun activities and on the go families. It is important for children to stay on top of healthy habits. Here are 5 great tips to keep kids oral health in shape.
Stick To A Brushing And Flossing Schedule
While summer may provide a more flexible schedule, it is important to stay on a regular brushing and flossing schedule. Keeping up on your child’s oral health is important to prevent tooth loss or other dental problems. Kids thrive the best with a routine so helping them to remember to brush and floss twice a day can create good habits.
Have Healthy Snack Options
Summer heat makes it tempting to reach for ice-cream, soda or other sugary treats. While sweet treats are good in moderation, having healthy snacks on hand will help protect teeth from cavities. Sugar interacts with the bacteria in your mouth and forms plague. Avoiding sugar is best for your kids physical and oral health.
Some options for healthy snacks could be fresh fruits, string cheese, whole grain crackers and plain nuts. You can also let your child help with the grocery shopping and meal planning. Kids are more likely to eat when they feel involved and like their needs are being heard.
Drink Plenty Of Water
Avoiding sugary drinks is just as important as avoiding sugary snacks. Drinking plenty of water will not only help your teeth but it will make sure that you stay hydrated. Kids should drink water over sugary sports drinks or soda.
Water helps dilute acids from food and drinks and removes them from teeth. This lowers the chance that cavities will form and can help prevent more dental problems.
Work To Avoid Dental Emergencies
While we can’t avoid all dental emergencies it is important to prepare for them and know what to do when one occurs. Practicing good oral health can help prevent dental emergencies. If your child cracks their tooth, has bleeding in their gums or mouth or loses a permanent tooth, contact your dentist immediately.
If you are on vacation and away from your dentist you should have an emergency dental kit on hand. You should have gloves, cotton balls, saline solution, dental wax or a pain reliever.
Schedule A Back-To-School Dental Appointment
Oral health can be wrapped up with a visit to the dentist. Before your children go back to school, they should visit the dentist. Having regular dental checkups makes it easier to stay up to date on your oral health. Dentists also tend to be more busy during the school year, so scheduling an appointment before summer ends can help ensure your child gets seen before the school year gets underway.
Dental Care With Mountain View Pediatric Dental
Good oral care makes sure that when your children visit our office, they can be in and out. Avoiding dental procedures, cavities and other scary dental work. Our Cavity Free Club can help incentivize your kids to take good care of their teeth. At their 6 month appointment, if kids are cavity free they will receive a token that can be taken to businesses to get a free treat.
Taking care of your teeth can also improve your overall physical health as well. Help keep you and your kids’ oral health in check this summer. Check out more about child oral health on our blog here.
