Having a beautiful and healthy smile is a priority all year long, but especially during the back to school season. Back-to-school preparation usually means new school clothes and supplies, but your child’s teeth are often overlooked. At Park Avenue Dental, we’re excited to serve the people of Gainesville and help keep their smile healthy all year-long. Below is our back-to-school dental checklist to make sure your child’s teeth shine this school year!
Back-to-School Dental Checklist
✓ Purchase New Toothbrushes
If you haven’t replaced your child’s toothbrush in the last 3 months, it’s time to replace! If you’re not sure, look at the bristles on the brush. If the bristles are frayed, then the toothbrush isn’t cleaning effectively anymore. Make sure you buy toothbrushes with soft bristles, as anything harder is too hard and could damage your child’s gums.
✓ Purchase Floss
Floss is like the No.2 pencil for your child’s teeth! It’s essential to keeping your child’s smile healthy and bright all year long. With the beginning of the school year, it might be tempting to skip your child’s flossing routine, but sticking with it can save their teeth from gum disease and damage down the line.
✓ Purchase a Portable Water Bottle
If your child doesn’t have one already, a water bottle can be their teeth’s best friend. Drinking plenty of water during the day helps wash away debris and enamel-harming acid from their teeth in-between brushing. Not only that, but drinking water promotes the generation of saliva. Saliva is actually a naturally great defense against tooth decay. Finally, water replaces sugary drinks that damage teeth.
✓ Stock up on Teeth-Friendly Snacks
Great snacks for your child’s teeth are surprisingly easy to find. When shopping for snacks, go for healthy and low-sugar. The best choices are apples, carrots, celery, and almonds. These foods provide a host of nutrients that nurture healthy teeth and gums, and are also great for their health! Other options are snacks high in teeth-building calcium, like yogurt, cheese, and milk. For more ideas, visit Colgate’s list of healthy snacks for teeth.
✓ Schedule a Dental Check-Up
If it’s been more than 6 months since your child’s last dental checkup, definitely make an appointment with your dentist. At Park Avenue Dental, we have complete dental services for the whole family. If you or a loved one needs dental services like teeth cleaning, teeth whitening, or other dental services, give us a call. We also have extensive pediatric dentistry experience and can give your child the bright and healthy smile they need for the new school year.
If you’re in the Gainesville area, we would be happy to help your teeth make the grade this school year. Contact us today!
