- Be a role model by preparing and eating regular nutritious meals and avoiding frequent between-meal snacking. 
- Protect their child’s teeth with fluoride by purchasing and using a fluoride toothpaste.
- Talk to their dentist about dental sealants, which protect baby (and grown-up) teeth from decay.
Little Smiles Have a Big Impact on Learning
“Children with poor oral health were nearly 3 times more likely to miss school due to dental pain, according to a North Carolina study.” –Children’s Dental Health Project
The start of a new school year brings with it a long list of required supplies, but what often gets overlooked in the bustle to find the right folders, binders, and paper, is oral health. There have been numerous studies on the effects oral health can have on a child’s performance in school. In fact,
“Children reporting recent toothaches were 4 times as likely to have a lower grade-point average than peers reporting no dental pain” (cdhp.org).
This indicates the importance of good oral health for children of all ages.
What can parents do to ensure their child’s oral health?
At the top of the list is scheduling regular dental check-ups with your local dentist every 6 months. If your child hasn’t been to the dentist yet this year, take advantage of these last few days before school starts to make an appointment. At Smiles Dental’s family friendly offices, we recommend beginning your child’s dental visits around the age of 2. Starting early allows children to feel more comfortable and relaxed at the dentist, leading to reduced dental anxiety as they get older. It also improves the dental health of your child as the dentist is able to catch potential bad habits before they develop into costly dental health problems. Find a Smiles Dental location near you and ask about our treatment planning options for you and your family.
Parents can also begin working with children to teach good dental care habits at home from an early age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, parents can: