Regular dental visits are important year-round, but a back-to-school checkup is key in fighting the most common chronic disease that could be found in school-age children: cavities! In fact, dental disease causes children to miss more than 51 million school hours each year.
Prevention and early detection can help avoid pain, trouble eating, difficulty speaking and school absences. “When people are beginning to do their pediatrician checks to make sure their kids are school-ready, make sure teeth are part of it,” says pediatric dentist and American Dental Association spokesperson Dr. Mary Hayes.
Why Back-To-School Dental Checkups Are Important
As kids start going back to school in a few weeks, they’ll be faced with new classes, new teachers and new opportunities for sneaky tooth decay to develop. With school lunches, vending machine snacks and busy schedules that could distract kids from brushing their teeth, the worst enemy - cavities start to become common among many school children. To give kids their best chance at excelling in school and with their oral health, make sure to schedule their dental checkup so that their teeth can be clean and fresh for the new school year.
There are many reasons why dental checkups are good for kids, other than the fact that their teeth will be cleaned of plaque and enamel-eating bacteria. For starters, by taking care of oral hygiene, parents show their children that they should value their oral health as they regularly take them to the dentist. Children who visit the dentist early on in their lives have a better chance of developing a good attitude about dentists and dental care in the future. Secondly, dental checkups help dentists identify oral health problems early on in a kid’s life, allowing your child to receive the proper care and treatment that they need for a healthy smile. Tooth decay can occur silently in children and worsens when not treated. Dental checkups prevent this from happening and protect the health and structure of teeth with the help of a dentist. Last but not least, parents benefit from taking their kids to the dentist in Norwalk, CT as it informs them about the practices that they should be teaching their children at home and also gives them the opportunity to ask our dentists advice for treating certain conditions. These and other reasons support the fact that children who visit the dentist often have better oral health than those who do not.
5 Questions to Ask at Your Child’s Back-to-School Dental Visit
How Is My Child’s Overall Dental Health?
One of our professional dentists will be checking your child's whole picture of oral health: teeth and gums. Our dentists in Norwalk, CT always make sure that teeth are lining up correctly, your child’s bite is in good shape and to keep an eye out for any orthodontic issues that may show up later.
Will My Child Get a Cleaning Today?
This is for sure a must, no matter how well your child brushes. Even if your child brushes twice a day, it’s possible that some bacteria could stay and that can lead to cavities, and sometimes you may have a child who goes off to camp and never opens their toothbrush.
That’s why a professional cleaning is important. It removes more of the cavity-causing bacteria and helps to keep gum tissue healthy. It can also remove most or many stains from teeth.
Does My Child Need an X-Ray?
X-rays help our dentist in Norwalk, CT see how your child’s teeth are developing and make sure the tooth roots are healthy. They also are used to see if there is any tooth decay between your child’s teeth. The decay process can move extremely fast, so the earlier we can catch it, the better.
Not necessary that your child need an x-ray at every visit, our dentists in Norwalk, CT will decide if they need it.
Can You Check My Child’s Mouthguard?
We always recommend to bring your child's mouthguard along so our dentist can check it for wear, tear and fit. If your child is having a growth spurt, losing teeth and getting new ones, the mouthguard might need to be redone.
What Are Sealants?
Sealants can be another way to keep your child from getting cavities, but they’re no substitute for brushing and flossing. A sealant is a thin, protective coating (made from plastic or other dental materials) that our dentist in Norwalk, CT can place on the chewing surfaces of your child’s permanent back teeth (called molars). Once they’re on, sealants work to keep cavity-causing bacteria and bits of food from settling into the nooks and crannies your child’s toothbrush can’t reach. This helps keep cavities from forming and tiny existing spots of decay from getting worse.
Prepare To Go Back To School With Our Help!
If you haven’t scheduled your child’s back-to-school dental checkup yet, call our dental office in Norwalk, CT at (203) 364-5084! At our office, you will experience all that modern dentistry has to offer and your child will receive the best dental care available. Whether they need a cleaning or filling, we can fulfill your child’s oral health needs at an affordable price. Schedule an appointment today so that your family can be prepared for the new school year!