Back to School Countdown's Begun

Back to school time is fast approaching. Is your child's mouth ready? Strange question you say...let's visit a moment about this topic.

Parents make long checklists of needed school supplies, new clothes, backpacks, and shoes, but stopping by the dentist rarely makes the list.

Is it important for your children to stay up on regular dental visits? ABSOLUTELY!

You've worked hard to teach your child proper oral health care habits, and entering into the school years is no time to slack off. The small efforts they make now to keep their teeth healthy will pay huge dividends years down the road.

WebMD has a great check list of what your school age child should be doing regularly:

What your child can do

• Your child should be brushing his or her own teeth morning and night with a soft toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Watch to be sure he or she is doing a good job brushing.
• Flossing is an important part of good dental health, but it can be a challenging task for a child to master. Talk with your dentist about the right technique to teach your child how to floss. Plastic flossing tools may help you and your child.
• If your child has cavities, your dentist may recommend the use of a mouthwash that contains fluoride. But teach your child not to swallow it, because fluoride can be toxic in large amounts.
• Use disclosing tablets from time to time to see whether any plaque is left on your child's teeth after brushing. Disclosing tablets are chewable and will color any plaque left on the teeth after the child brushes. You can buy these at most drugstores.

Make stopping by our office for a visit a priority on your back to school checklist. Dr. Clark will praise your child for his or her good efforts, as well as provide helpful hints of things they can do to improve over the coming months. Don't forget they get to choose a free prize as well!

Call to schedule your 

appointment today!

(541) 451-1440