It’s easy to get so caught up in shopping for your child’s school supplies that you forget about more important things: your child’s health. 

Some parents assume that cavities in baby teeth matter less because they’ll eventually fall out. This is a myth, however, as dental decay in baby teeth often negatively affects permanent teeth. When you neglect a child’s dental care, it creates dental issues in the future. As your child heads back to school, it’s a good time to create new routines to take care of dental health. 

Here are 6 new habits to consider incorporating this school year. 

Mouthguards for Sports 

Did you know that traumatic injuries can take months to fully heal? Athletes who do not wear mouthguards have a 60% higher likelihood of dental damage, according to the American Dental Association. 

A well-fitted mouthguard stabilizes the teeth and jaw, serving as a shock absorber, and distributing the force generated by impact. Mouthguards minimize dangerous pressure on the soft tissue. Instead of allowing one tooth to take the hit, the mouthguard evenly distributes the force over a larger surface area, reducing damage. 

If you want to protect your child’s mouth from dental trauma such as fractured jaws, a lacerated tongue, or knocked-out teeth, then you need to make sure they wear a mouthguard. By creating a soft barrier between the soft tissue of the gums and the teeth, you’ll reduce the risk of dental injury. In addition to this, children who wear mouthguards also have a lower rate of concussions. 

There are three types of mouthguards, each with different benefits.  

Stock Mouthguards  

Stock mouthguards are the cheapest option and are good starter mouthguards. Easy to acquire, you can purchase a stock mouthguard at any sports store. The main disadvantage of buying a stock mouthguard is fit; because these mouthguards are premade, they may not fit the shape of your child’s mouth as well as other options. 

 
Boil and Bite Mouthguards 

Unlike stock mouthguards, boil and bite mouthguards are adjustable. You can buy boil and bite mouthguards from athletic stores, which makes them a cheap and easy option. To make them fit the mouth better, place the plastic mouthguard in boiling water until the material softens. When the mouthguard is cooler, the athlete should wear it, biting down on the softened mouthguard. The mouthguard will cool in the shape of the wearer’s mouth. This will make it much more comfortable and offer more protection. 

 
Custom Mouthguard 

The most durable and comfortable mouthguards are custom-made. After taking the exact measurements of your mouth, your dentist’s office can make a mouthguard especially for you. Custom mouthguards fit the mouth perfectly, providing the most comfortable fit and the most protection against dental injury. 

If you’re not sure what kind of mouthguard your child needs for their sport, talk to your dentist or their coach to get recommendations. 

Pack A Dental Hygiene Kit For School 

If your kids are at school for the whole day, then they probably won’t brush their teeth until the evening. Children often eat sugary snacks at school, but don’t brush their teeth until they get home. This gives sugar and acid lots of time to damage enamel. When kids eat sugary food and don’t brush their teeth, they are certain to develop cavities. 

By packing a small portable dental kit in their backpack, your child can take care of their dental health while they’re at school. A simple dental kit should contain a travel toothbrush, a small travel container of toothpaste, and single-use flossers. Flossers can help remove the plaque and bacteria that cause cavities. If your child isn’t flossing, they’re missing out on one of the most important steps in dental hygiene.

By packing a dental kit and teaching them proper brushing techniques, you can help your child develop good habits. Brushing their teeth after lunch will protect their teeth from any sugary snacks they might eat and keep their teeth healthy. You might even consider packing a dental hygiene kit for yourself, too. 

Pack water instead of juice  

What do you usually pack in your child’s lunchbox? Juice is easy to pack, and kids love it, but the sugar content in juice often outweighs its benefits. The average juice box contains 21-23 grams of sugar, the equivalent of 5 teaspoons of sugar!  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a sugar allowance under 25 grams for children. This means that just one juice box is almost as much sugar as a kid should consume in the entire day! 

Because of the extraordinarily high sugar content, you should limit children’s juice intake. To determine how much juice your child should be drinking, you’ll need to consider their age. For children who are seven or older, eight ounces of juice is a good amount. For younger children, a good rule of thumb is to match juice intake to their age. As an example, for a child who is six, six ounces of juice is healthy, or three ounces of juice for a three-year-old. Do not give any juice to a baby younger than twelve months old, and never put juice in a sippy cup. 

In moderation, juice can still be a fun snack, but it simply doesn’t provide the key nutrients that children need while they’re in critical stages of growth and development. If possible, look for healthy juice brands with low sugar content, or find flavored water with no added sugar. Make sure kids know that it’s okay to have “unhealthy” snacks in moderation. This is a good opportunity to instruct kids about a balanced diet and making healthy choices. 

Replace Toothbrushes 

When was the last time you replaced your toothbrush? Most dentists recommend that you should change toothbrushes every three months. For children, replacing toothbrushes can be even more important. When toothbrush bristles wear out, they become less effective in removing plaque, and the roughened bristles rub on gums harshly and cause damage. 

Back-to-school shopping is a good time to stop by the dental aisle and stock up on dental supplies. A fun way to get your child involved is to let your child pick out their toothbrush. You’ll want to make sure they pick a soft brush with rounded bristles and check that it’s small enough so they can reach their back teeth. Let them pick out the design and color. If your child feels like they have choices, they will enjoy their dental routine more. 

Age-Appropriate Dental Routines 

The right dental routine depends on how old your child is, but three rules hold true for any age group: make dental routines fun, make sure kids brush and floss properly, and make sure they understand why each step is important. 

0-2 years 

As soon as your child’s first tooth begins to show, it’s time to start brushing their teeth. This will usually occur between the ages of six to ten months.  

3-5 years 

When your child is three, they can start learning to brush their teeth, but you should supervise every step. Always put a tiny amount of toothpaste on a soft brush. Brush your teeth along with your child to model good brushing habits. Most dentists recommend flossing your child’s teeth as soon as adjacent teeth begin to touch, usually around three. 

6-12 years 

 
When your child turns six, it’s time that they learn to start flossing their teeth. Baby teeth play an important role in chewing and speech development. They also guide the emerging permanent teeth into the right places.  You should still supervise your child while they brush their teeth to make sure they reach all the crucial areas. As kids get older, the amount of sugary snacks they eat increases, so dental hygiene becomes more essential than ever. 

13-17 years 

As teenagers become increasingly more independent, they should be responsible for their own dental hygiene: flossing and brushing unsupervised. During this time, wisdom teeth begin to come in, and teenagers may experience shifts in their dental routine. Braces make it more difficult to brush and floss teeth, causing many teenagers to become less careful with dental routines. Regular dental cleanings are vital to monitor the growth of wisdom teeth and make sure hard-to-reach areas don’t develop cavities. 

Schedule A Dental Cleaning 

Many parents wait to bring their children to the dentist until they experience dental problems. There’s a better way to deal with oral health: treat issues proactively, before they become problematic. Scheduling a dental check-up at the beginning of the school year will allow you to assess your child’s dental needs.  

If your child needs treatment, this means you have the freedom to schedule follow-up appointments on non-school days. According to Delta Dental’s Children’s Oral Health Survey, over a third of children miss school because of dentist visits. By visiting your dentist before the school year starts, you minimize the amount of time your child may need to miss classes. Routine dental cleanings and check-ups are vital to treat cavities and identify if your child will need braces. Ask your dentist about sealants and fluoride treatments to prevent cavities. Keeping their teeth as healthy as possible will reduce the chance that they need dental surgeries in the future.  

Scheduling regular dental appointments may also help to reduce anxiety. Many children get anxious about visiting the dentist, but going for regular dental cleanings can help reduce stress. Often, children see the dentist in a friendlier light when they realize how beneficial these appointments are. 

 Reward Kids for Good Habits 

Make sure that you teach your kids that cleaning their teeth can be fun, instead of drudgery. 

Most children respond better to rewards than to punishment. If you reward your kids for good habits, they’ll be more engaged in dental hygiene, but if you punish them for bad hygiene, then they will dread brushing their teeth.  

Try to make it a fun experience by creating a reward system or letting them choose their dental supplies. Rewards could be something like their favorite snack, more game or TV time, or extended bedtime. Allowing kids to have a choice in the dental hygiene items they use can motivate them to brush their teeth. If possible, bring your child to the store with you, so they can pick out a toothbrush in their favorite color or featuring their favorite movie character. Ask kids what flavor of toothpaste they would like to try and or buy kid’s toothpaste with fun flavors. 

Some parents turn brushing their teeth into a game and use challenges and music to make brushing more fun for their children. Brushing your teeth properly takes about 2-3 minutes, so if your child has a favorite song, try playing music during toothbrushing. Following the rhythm improves brushing form and makes brushing more fun. If your children are competitive, try playing games!

Make it a challenge to see who can brush their teeth the longest, floss the most thoroughly, or brush their teeth while standing on one leg. Lastly, make dental hygiene a family activity, and brush your teeth along with your kids. When kids see their parents modeling good hygiene habits, they’ll copy you.  

Helping your child to see dental hygiene as fun makes it easier for you to establish a dental care routine that will carry them into adulthood and keep their teeth happy and healthy. 

Arlington Family Dental is your home for dental care that has the best interest of your kids, you, and the whole family in mind. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!