School will be starting soon! Have you made a back-to-school dental checkup appointment with Shelburne Dentist Childrens Dentist? If you haven’t, now is the time.
Back-to-school dental check-ups are an important part of a child’s development and can help you take care of your child’s teeth. Here’s what you should know about making a dental appointment for your child before school starts again.
Why Make Your Child’s Dental Appointment Before School Starts?
Children thrive on routine. Getting your child’s teeth cleaned at the same time each year creates a habit that will stay with your child into adulthood.
Taking your child for a back-to-school dental check-up also reduces some burden for you as a parent, because you can make your child’s back-to-school doctor’s appointment, dentist appointment and eye appointment all in one day. This way, your child will be ready for school when it starts.
In addition, school can present some dental hygiene challenges for your child. At home, you get to control how many snacks your child eats in a day, and how often they clean their teeth.
At school, it’s a different story. Kids share snacks in the cafeteria. Some schools have vending machines. And, kids often have access to desserts and snacks through the school food line and class parties.
With all this access to snacks and sugar, kids sometimes face dental hygiene problems during the school year. Taking your child to the dentist before the school year starts can help ensure your child is off to the right start when they begin school.
An Important Opportunity to Clean Your Child’s Teeth
Every dental checkup starts with a tooth cleaning from the hygienist. Children develop plaque and buildup on their teeth throughout the year. Not all kids are good at brushing their own teeth, so when your child comes to the dentist, they could have a significant buildup of plaque and bacteria on their tooth enamel. Plaque is removed during the back-to-school visit, which can prevent your child from getting cavities.
Get Answers to Your Dental Questions
Do you have questions about your child’s oral hygiene? Your child’s back-to-school dental checkup is your opportunity to get answers to your questions. The dentist may point out ways to keep your child’s teeth clean, but you should have a list of your own questions written down. This might include questions such as:
- What are sealants? Does my child need sealants?
- What changes should we make to my child’s oral hygiene routine?
- Does my child need to use mouthwash?
- What toothpaste do you recommend for my child?
Get X-Rays and Other Periodic Dental Work
Your child won’t need x-rays with every visit to the dentist. However, if it’s been a while since your child had x-rays performed, they may be called for. X-rays help the dentist catch dental decay in your child’s mouth. They can also tell the dentist whether permanent teeth are coming in, if your child has wisdom teeth coming in, and whether the roots of your child’s teeth are healthy.
Contact Us Today
School is starting soon! Have you made your child’s back-to-school dentist appointment? If not, now is the time. Contact your Shelburne Childrens Dentist to make your child’s appointment for their check-up.
