Whether you’re gearing up to send your kids back to school, or they’re already back in the action, all of us at our pediatric dental office in Long Island wanted to talk about how important a healthy mouth is for a healthy report card.
Absolutely! According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s report on children’s dental health, more than 51 million school hours are lost each year because of a dental-health related issue. Time spent out of the classroom may directly impact a student’s grades. When a child misses class, they’re missing crucial lessons, and grades can suffer.
Many schools offer oral health programs or seminars for kids on proper brushing and flossing each year. These programs discuss the importance of seeing the dentist and taking excellent care of your teeth. Check to see if these educational programs are happening at your kid’s school. You can also do a little Dentistry 101 homeschooling by encouraging your child to brush at least twice a day, floss at least once a day, and get them in to see their dentist as often as recommended.
Yes, a toothache, cavity, or other dental problems are always concerns for us. Especially if you have to keep your kid out of school. What’s perhaps more important is the fact that many oral health problems can lead to whole-body issues in the future. Bacteria found in the mouth can spread to other parts of the body, and as your child ages, can put her at risk for serious health concerns like diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. To decrease her risk, it’s best to start her on the path to great oral health early.
We can’t stress enough the importance of bi-annual appointments to our Long Island pediatric dental office. These visits serve as a twice-a-year report card for how well your child’s teeth are developing, if she’s brushing and flossing properly, and can aid us in finding any potential problems before they become big problems.
We know you’re shooting for all As this year, both in the classroom and in the dental chair, so start off on the right track and schedule an appointment for your little one today!
Accepting patients from Long Island, Westbury, and Nassau County.
