Summer break is almost here, and your kids will soon be home from school. While this is fun for everyone, this could also mean an increased risk of tooth decay. But we can help! In today’s blog, Lake Orion Family Dentistry talks about how to better protect little smiles all summer long!
Summer Break and Tooth Decay
How does a break from school for a couple of months lead to an increased risk of cavities? For kids of all ages, this break means changes to their routines. Children tend to stay up later, sleep in, and may forget to brush and floss. This means a boost in the severity of plaque and tartar, which can promote bad breath, stained teeth, cavities, and even gingivitis. Aiding this complication is the increased consumption of sugar and starch, as children tend to snack more and often reach for sugary options, like candy, chips, and sodas. Even active children will be consuming sports drinks, which often contain sugars and acids. These factors all lead to a higher risk of tooth decay, but we have a few ways to help better protect their smiles during their time off from school.
Brushing and Flossing
One important way to safeguard their smile is with proper brushing and flossing. Kids need to start the morning by brushing their teeth first thing, before they do anything else. They should clean their teeth for at least two minutes, and we suggest a toothbrush with soft bristles to avoid gum irritation and inadvertent enamel damage. They can use electric or manual, whichever they prefer. We suggest the toothpaste contains fluoride, as this helps strengthen the outer enamel to fight cavities. Kids under the ages of three should use a rice-sized amount, children over the age of three need a pea-sized amount.
Kids need to end their day by brushing too, but before that, they need to floss! When kids floss, they clean between their teeth to remove the bits of sugar and starch a toothbrush’s bristles may not even be able to reach. They need to clean up and down each side of every tooth, dipping beneath the gum line too, to remove what has been trapped. This is essential for fighting cavities and gingivitis in kids and teens.
Checkups and Cleanings
Now that they are starting to come home for the summer, this is a great time to schedule their checkup and cleaning. They can undergo an exam without worries about missing school and align behind, and you can schedule around their extracurricular activities too. We will look closely at the smile with a detailed exam using safe and gentle digital imaging, and then offer holistic and metal-free treatments to help repair and restore their smiles. We also clean the teeth, removing the harmful plaque and tartar layers to protect teeth from cavities and more. A visit now means their next six-month checkup could happen during winter break too, so no need to miss school!
Fluoride and Sealants
As part of our approach to pediatric dentistry, we also offer treatments to help prevent cavities. First, as part of their six-month checkup and cleaning visit, we will apply fluoride to the teeth following the cleaning to strengthen the outer enamel. The placement takes seconds and kids just need to avoid food and drink for about a half-hour as the material properly cures.
We also have dental sealants, which coat the rear teeth. These molars are often difficult for kids to brush and floss thoroughly, and tend to be where tooth decay forms. But we can coat them in a special acrylic layer so no sugar and starch can be trapped on or between the molars. They stay in place for years to come, protecting kids of all ages from cavities.
Cutting Back on Sugar
One major way to help fight tooth decay and gingivitis during the summer break is to offer alternatives to sugary foods and drinks. Encourage them to drink more water and avoid sodas, energy drinks, and sports drinks when pliable. Also, offer fresh fruits, veggies, whole grain crackers and bread, mixed nuts, cheeses, and low-fat yogurts in lieu of candies and snack cakes.
If you have any questions about our approach to pediatric dentistry, or about how we help kids enjoy good oral health all summer long, then contact our office today to learn more and schedule your child’s next checkup and cleaning visit.
Lake Orion Family Dentistry Offers Children’s Dental Care
Our team is ready to help protect little smiles and keep cavity risk low! To find out more about children’s dentistry, or to schedule an appointment, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, MI at (248)693-6213.
