Madeline McGee

As a parent getting ready to send your child back to school, you’ve likely purchased new clothes and school supplies, but have you thought about your child’s teeth? Parents are usually surprised to learn that their child can support their journey toward academic success by simply keeping up with a daily oral health routine.

Poor Oral Health = Poor Grades

Oral health issues continue to raise concerns as they can become a distraction to kids in the classroom, causing them to fall behind in coursework. Several dentists have studied the relationship between dental care and academic performance, and findings concluded that oral care has a significant impact on school experiences, which affect attendance and grades.

According to one study published in the American Journal of Public Health, on average, elementary children miss a total of 6 days per year, and 2.1 days of missed school were due to dental problems. These children are four times more likely to have a lower grade point average. This also includes parents who missed an average of 2.5 days of work per year to care for children with dental problems. Too many absences related to dental pain can cause children to miss a critical time in their lives where reading and writing skills start to become a focus.

Raising Grades and Smiles

Many parents have a tough time judging how much dental care their child needs. It can be especially difficult when children are shy about dental discomfort, especially if they fear they will be in trouble for their behavior. A child may fear that he/she will get in trouble for not brushing his teeth, and may be more hesitant to tell his/her parents about their oral pain. Some children may not understand why they don’t feel well and might not know exactly how to communicate their discomfort. It is easy for parents to overlook their child’s discomfort when a child does not or cannot express they are in pain.

To avoid pain or discomfort, scheduling frequent teeth cleanings and checkups is recommended, as tooth decay can be hard to detect for most parents. Ultimately, having a healthy smile can help improve kids’ concentration and performance in the classroom and may help reduce school absences. The American Dental Association advises parents to make dental exams a regular part of their back-to-school routine along with sports physicals, health exams and necessary immunizations. If a child has decay, it is crucial that the problem is treated effectively to avoid any further discomfort or disease.

During a professional cleaning and oral exam, a dentist will remove plaque bacteria from teeth to help fix early decay. Dentists can also advise parents about effective preventive measures for children’s teeth, such as the use of sealants and fluoride, and brushing and flossing techniques.

Adopt Oral Health Habits at Home

Left untreated, oral health issues can quickly develop into tooth decay, periodontitis, and tooth loss. To keep children healthy and happy, it is extremely important for parents to teach their children good oral hygiene habits and to schedule regular dental appointments. The following tips will start your child on the path to a healthy smile at a young age.

• Children should brush their teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time.
• Once any two teeth are touching, children’s teeth should be flossed once a day.
• Limit sugary and starchy foods, but if consumed, have them during mealtimes when more saliva is produced to wash away bacteria from teeth.
• By a child’s first tooth or first birthday, a child should establish a dental home and visit the dentist regularly.
• Parents can consider reading fun books about oral health habits, including visiting the dentist, to reinforce why it’s important for kids to take good care of their teeth.

School can be less challenging without having to deal with dental problems. Help your child have a great school year and even better school picture by developing good oral health habits early and seeking preventive care for a brighter, healthier smile.

Sources: American Dental Association, American Journal of Public Health

ACID + SUGAR = DOUBLE TROUBLE

Summertime often means plenty of sports and activities for kids. Your child is more than likely exerting themselves in hot and humid weather and keeping them hydrated is a major concern. Some parents may turn to sports drinks for getting the job done, but these drinks may be the cause of more trips to the pediatric dentist for oral health problems.

Sports drinks can be harmful to teeth due to their high sugar content and high levels of acidity, according to the International Association for Dental Research. While most consumers believe that they are drinking something healthy when consuming a sports drink, the truth is that these beverages can be more damaging to teeth than soda.

The high acid content present in most sports drinks is enough to weaken tooth enamel, which makes the teeth more susceptible to bacteria and tooth decay. Weakened, or softened, tooth enamel can also lead to:

• Damage to the tissue under the enamel as well as the enamel of the teeth
• Hypersensitivity (extreme sensitivity to temperature changes or touch)
• Susceptibility to staining of the teeth

The sugar contained in most sports drinks worsens the situation by encouraging bacterial growth once it settles on the teeth, sports drinks can be harmful to your teeth by promoting dental cavities.

Preventing Damage From Sports Drinks

Exposure is an important factor in whether sports drinks can be harmful to your teeth. Drinking a sports beverage all at once is much better for your child’s teeth than sipping it leisurely over several hours. Another preventive measure includes having your child rinse their mouth out with water to cleanse their teeth after consumption.

Sports drinks were created to replace lost electrolytes after intense physical activity or exercise. Using them for that purpose alone will help ensure that your child is not over-consuming them and exposing his/her teeth to unnecessary sugars and acid.

Other tips to reduce damage to teeth from sports drinks include:

• Use a straw for sports drinks to minimize contact with teeth
• Purchase dental-friendly sports drinks (low sugar/low acid)
• Alternate sips of sports drinks with sips of water to rinse mouth
• Do not rinse mouth guards with sports drinks

To allow the enamel to re-harden, do not brush teeth for at least 45 minutes after consuming a sports drink. The softened enamel can often be damaged by the abrasiveness of the toothbrush or toothpaste.

When thinking about how to prevent dental cavities, moderation is the key to consuming sports drinks with respect to dental health. Research suggests that consuming large quantities is a top contributor to tooth decay, especially infrequent situations unrelated to sports, such as at dinnertime.

Drinking a sports drink once in a while after a workout or game is not a serious threat to your teeth; just remember to limit quantity and frequency. If you have dental concerns related to sports drink consumption or are looking for a pediatric dental team for your family, please contact us.

Healthy Alternatives for Kids

Sports drinks are everywhere, including school cafeterias, because they are thought to be a safe alternative for children to consume. While they may be a healthier alternative to sodas, these drinks are just as capable of causing tooth decay. The following healthy sports drink alternatives have been associated with improved performance and quicker recovery:

Coconut Water – Great for rehydrating and it comes with wholesome nutrients instead of added sugar and artificial flavors.

Bananas – A favorite of runners and gym aficionados, when combined with water, it’s just as effective as getting those electrolytes from a bottle of Gatorade, in addition to potassium, to keep those Charley Horses away.

Chocolate Milk – It’s true, in moderation of course! For recovery, the optimal mix is the right balance of carbs and protein, and this beverage has just that, including Vitamins A & D, iron, and calcium to build up strong bones.

Do It Yourself (D.I.Y.) – Create your own healthy homemade sports drink with all-natural flavors using your child’s favorite fruits and mix it up in the blender with some water for a grab-and-go refresher.

At Children’s Dental Health, we encourage healthy, year-long oral care habits in our patients. Not only will limiting your child’s consumption of sports drinks benefit their teeth, but also their entire body.

Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; International Association for Dental Research

Thumb sucking can be of concern for many parents/guardians, and while seeking advice from a pediatric dentist is recommended, there are several methods to help break this habit at home.  Though thumb sucking is not harmful to a baby, it can be for toddlers. If this habit lasts past 3 years of age, it can slowly change the alignment of the teeth and impair their bite. Instead of the upper teeth fitting snugly around the lower teeth, thumb sucking, pacifiers, and fingers in the mouth can cause the upper teeth to start angling forward. This can misalign your child’s bite and create many more dental treatments later on in life.

You can try any of the following techniques for helping your child if they are struggling to break the thumb-sucking habit.

• Encouragement – Establish a reward system with your child when they can refrain from sucking on their thumb for a certain period of time. This is a great way to help them to consciously start breaking their habit.
• Substitution – If sucking their thumb is a comfort when falling asleep or tired, try using a stuffed animal or another object to let them hold onto to replace their habit.
• Creativity – Use your imagination to create a fun reason for them to give up their pacifier or stop sucking their thumb. Tapping into their big imaginations could help make breaking their habit seem exciting, rather than dread. Positive reinforcement is best when eliminating a bad habit.

A pediatric dentist may recommend alternatives that will prevent a continuous habit. However, a good general rule is to start breaking your child of the habit as early as they will allow. The older they get, the harder it becomes to let go.