29 Sep Preventive Dental Care for School Age Children
Almost 52 million school hours were missed annually between school age children due to dental problem or visit with 116 hours missed per hundred children. Children with dental problems can’t perform to maximum potential in their studies. Children with healthy teeth have better attendance and achieve better results, they more likely to eat more comfortable and get enough sleep. Preventive medicine helps children not only perform better at school, have healthier teeth, and more attractive smile; it also means less expensive and less extensive treatment.
Preventive Care: What should you do?
Step One: Good Home Care
Tooth brushing should be done twice daily. The best time to brush teeth is after breakfast and before the bedtime. Parents should supervise the tooth brushing of their school- age children until they are seven or eight years old.
Step Two: Correct Use of Fluoride
- Fluoride helps to prevent cavities and slows the growth of decay; it also can reverse decay in its’ early stages.
- Water fluoride is still #1 cost effective way to prevent tooth decay.
- If child doesn’t have access to fluoridated water, pediatric dentist can recommend other sources of fluoride, like fluoride supplements (fluoride-containing toothpastes, gels, and rinses).
Step Three: Sealants
Most cavities in children happen in places where sealants could have protected. Sealant placements lead to decrease of cavities occurrence of 86 percent after one year.
Step Four: Snack Limitation
- Parents should shop smart, keeping in mind dental and general health of their children, and buying sugary food just as a special treat.
- Poor diet easily might lead to the problems in teeth development. Protein, vitamins and minerals (especially calcium and phosphorous) are necessary for building strong teeth and prevention of tooth decay and gum disease.
- Some healthy snacks are cheese, vegetables, water, peanut butter and yogurt.
- A food with sugar and starch is safer if eaten with a meal, not as a snack.
Step Five: Regular Dental Visits
- Regular dentist visits help children to stay cavity –free.
- Teeth cleaning help remove plug build-up on the teeth.
- Fluoride treatment strengthens the teeth and prevents cavities.
Use these five steps as guidelines to keep your children’s teeth healthy and beautiful. It is much easier to prevent dental problems than to deal with the upsetting consequences afterwards. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about dental preventive care, please contact as Kids Pediatric Care. We are looking forward to hearing from you!