The school year means busy routines for both students and parents. The school day, homework time, after-school and weekend activities, errands and sporting events seem to create a nonstop pace every day of the week.
Yet, we parents somehow juggle what is necessary to keep our kids healthy and involved. As with adults, we know it is easier and less time-consuming to prevent problems in the first place. This is why we have our children wear helmets, padding or mouth guards during certain activities.
Parents also know to monitor their children’s health through annual physicals and 6-month dental checkups. These appointments enable caregivers to catch many still-small problems while easy to treat as well as note issues that can develop into more complex situations.
Dental checkups and cleanings are one of the wisest investments you can make for your child. Not only do these visits remove tartar and plaque buildup (that lead to cavities), we can watch for signs of bite alignment or abnormal tooth wear at early stages.
Getting your child into a healthy routine of twice-daily brushing, daily flossing and drinking lots of water (rather than sugared sodas or juices) are easy ways to prevent some dental problems in the first place. Avoiding a cavity rather than repairing one is always preferred!
When a parent is fully committed to their own oral health, it is easier to influence a child in the same direction. Be vocal and visible when it comes to your own routine of brushing, flossing and having dental checkups.
As your child grows, we also evaluate the alignment of teeth. Some children need the help of orthodontics to avoid overcrowding or bite disparities such as an open bite. Easing teeth into place while they are young helps them to avoid many of the problems that eventually emerge in adult mouths.
When a bite is misaligned, this puts stress on the jaw joints, or TMJ. This can lead to frequent headaches and migraines, chipped and worn teeth, night-time clenching and grinding, ear ringing, jaw popping and dizziness.
During your child’s checkup, we can also assess their brushing technique. Our hygienists are pros at helping patients of all ages find the best angles for brushing effectiveness!
We love it when our younger patients are cavity-free and appreciate the importance of a clean smile. Their parents love it, too! With all the busy-ness of today’s parents and their kids’ schedules, we know a healthy smile takes a commitment on the parts of both.
Schedule your dental checkups as a family! Call 586-739-2155 to arrange your visits together!
