How to Have a Cavity-Free School Year

Kids are groaning and parents are rejoicing, so it must be back-to-school season! While you’re crossing off your back-to-school to-do list, make sure a visit to Sandy Springs dentist Dr. Brenda Paulen is on there too. While a visit to the dentist may not seem as fun as that last trip to the park, making sure your child’s oral health is in check will set them up for a healthy school year.

Preventing Cavities

Oral health is linked to overall health, and it’s important to make sure kids’ teeth are being well-maintained from a young age. As they lose baby teeth and begin growing adult teeth, it’s important to remember that the adult teeth have to last for the rest of their lives. Did you know that over half of children aged 5-9 already have at least one cavity? You can avoid your child become part of this statistic by encouraging tooth brushing for 2 minutes twice a day.

Brushing twice a day for 2 minutes is called the 2 X 2 rule so that kids can remember it easily. At Proud Smiles, we make sure to take extra time with our younger patients to show them how to brush and floss correctly and effectively so they can prevent cavities.

Nowadays, there are many toothpastes available on the market that are great for kids, and there are also timers available to help kids brush for 2 minutes. This simple 2 X 2 rule will strengthen enamel and keep young teeth strong.

Another key tool in the fight against tooth decay is limiting sugar intake. For many reasons, children should be encouraged to have a low-sugar diet. Too much sugar can feed bacteria in the mouth and lead to plaque build-up, which over time becomes more difficult to deal with.

If your child is especially prone to cavities or if you struggle with a low-sugar diet, you can talk to Dr. Paulen about preventative sealants. This procedure will fill in pits and grooves on molar teeth to make them less favorable for mouth bacteria to settle and erode tooth enamel. This is particularly effective if your child has trouble reaching the back of the mouth with their toothbrush, which many kids do.

Tooth decay is especially prevalent among school-age children, and tooth-related illnesses account for 52 million school hours lost each year! To keep cavities at bay and promote good oral health, make sure you include a dental check-up on your back-to-school to-do list!