5 REASONS TO SCHEDULE YOUR CHILD’S BACK-TO-SCHOOL DENTAL CHECKUP
Parents want to get their children off to school on the right foot. It is important your children have what they need for school. But equally important is that they are healthy, including their teeth. Prevention and detection are vital to keep dental problems from affecting your child’s school attendance.
According to the Centers for Disease Controlcavities 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.
About 1 of 5 (20%) children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.
1 of 7 (13%) adolescents aged 12 to 19 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.
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 a dentist, making the first visit pleasant helps set the stage for their future treatment. We highly advise bringing them to the office for a visit before their appointment. Let them meet the dentist and our staff and get familiar with the office. Let them color, play with the toys or watch a video so they have a pleasant experience. This will familiarize them with going to the dentist.
You can schedule cleanings first to get your child accustomed to being at the dentist. Then make a follow-up appointment if there are any cavities to handle.
Read to your children books about taking care of their teeth. There are lots of books for children about visits to the dentist. For example, for 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.
On their appointment day make it a pleasant thing to do. Plan a fun reward for them doing a good job at the dentist.
Routines can get thrown off in the summer. If this has been the case, 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.
SCHEDULE THEIR CLEANING AND EXAM NOW
School is just around the corner. Soon you’ll be making the trips to the store for school supplies, new clothes and such. But don’t put off the dentist visit. It can make scheduling more difficult for you and your child if you wait until they are back in school. Contact us now and schedule. Make sure to schedule your child for both a check for cavities and for dental cleaning.
Dr. Susan Bracker, D.D.S
Rochester, New York