A Parent’s Guide to Maintaining Your Child’s Oral Health

According to the CDC, cavities are the “most common chronic disease of childhood in the United States.” They report that “More than half of children aged 6 to 8 have had a cavity in at least one of their baby…teeth.” Poor dental health is a challenge facing countless children across the country. Though it would be easy to let dentist appointments slide and say yes when your son asks for his fourth popsicle, we want to encourage you today to make your child’s oral health a priority this summer. Here, we will provide you with five specific ways that you can promote your child’s oral health as summer rolls around.

1- Prevent dental emergencies.

            A surefire way to harm dental health is to have a tooth knocked out—an easy thing to do come summertime, considering all the slippery pool decks, tough trampoline springs, and rough-and-tumble soccer games that go on. Kids need to be kids; we’re not suggesting you avoid the pool like the plague or wrap them in bubble wrap so they can never play football again. But especially in the summer, it’s important to remember that dental emergencies can happen. As you and your kids go about summer fun, consider taking extra steps to ensure their teeth are protected. Those steps might look like:

Enforcing the lifeguard’s advice: walk, don’t run.

Slip-n’-slides, waterparks, and slippery pool decks are all staples of summer that are practically begging for a knocked-out tooth. Encourage your children to exercise caution when in these environments and never roughhouse where they could slip. No one wants a cracked or knocked-out tooth.

Have them wear a mouthguard during sports.

According to the ADA, “Mouthguard use has been shown to reduce the risk of sport-related dental injuries.” If your child is involved in sports over the summer, particularly sports like football or wrestling that come with a high risk of impact, give them a mouthguard to wear. They may not appreciate it, but it is a great way to reduce their risk of winding up with damage to their dental health.

Ensure proper care of dental equipment.

If your child is old enough to have braces, you know that they may experience discomfort from the wires, or have a band or bracket break. To aid in keeping braces in the best shape possible over the summer, encourage your child to follow all of their orthodontist’s advice. In particular, encourage them to follow the guidelines set out for what food is braces-friendly and what food is not. It may only take one sticky taffy at the beach carnival to cause that bracket to break.

2- Opt for teeth-friendly summer treats.

               There are plenty of summer staples in our diets—adults and kids alike—that aren’t so friendly to our teeth. We don’t have to list them all—you can probably think of several off the top of your head. Popsicles, kettle corn, taffy, corn on the cob, lemonade, potato chips…these are just a few! It’s easy for kids and adults alike to fall into diet habits that aren’t friendly to dental health.

               Perhaps the best way to combat this over the summer for your kids is to swap out the junk for healthier (but still tasty!) teeth-friendly alternatives. The good news is that the things that are better for their teeth are often better for their bodies, as well. Consider the obvious summer example: popsicles. Who doesn’t love to have a box in their freezer over the summer? Instead of store-bought popsicles, which are typically packed with sugar and preservatives and are giving your kids a sugar high, try making popsicles yourself with fruit juice and a popsicle mold. While these still contain sugar and acid and should still be given to your kids in moderation, they are an improvement upon most store-bought varieties. You could even get your kids involved in making them with you! 

3- Have water be their primary drink.

It is difficult to understate how crucial water is to your child’s well-being—not only to their dental health but also to their health as a whole. This importance only grows in the summer. According to Children’s Health, “Children’s bodies are not as efficient at cooling down as adults, which makes them more prone to dehydration. Their risk of dehydration also increases as temperatures rise. Proper hydration is key to helping your child avoid heat-related illness and health complications.” Not only do their bodies desperately need water, but their teeth do, too. Water is a main source of fluoride, a mineral that builds up the teeth against decay. Without enough fluoride, a child’s teeth will be vulnerable to decay. Water also serves in other practical ways, such as rinsing away debris and eliminating dry mouth that could cause cavities.

As important as it is to give your kids plenty of water over the summer, it’s also important that they’re drinking water instead of other beverages a majority of the time. Of course, the occasional soft drink at a Fourth of July cookout is fine, but that shouldn’t be your child’s everyday routine. As VeryWellHealth reports, “A 12-ounce can of Coke contains 39 grams of sugar (about 10 teaspoons), which is more than 80% of the recommended daily intake for a healthy diet.” The sugars and acids in a soda like that start a damaging reaction on your child’s teeth that lasts at least 20 minutes each time they drink a soda.

And sports drinks? You might think that those would be better, but they’re actually worse. As WebMD reports, “These drinks can have as much or more sugar and acid than many sodas and juices.” The moral of the story? Kids need water, and they don’t really need Coke. So have them opt for water this summer, as much as possible.

4- Offer them dental health responsibility, as they’re ready for it.

That’s right—summer’s a great time to get your kids in on the action! If you have kids who are right on the cusp of being able to brush or floss for themselves, consider taking advantage of the greater time and flexibility that summer offers and capitalizing on it. It may sound a bit strange to compare teeth-brushing or flossing to something like potty training, but taking a few days, a week, or a month in the summer to focus intensively with your child on how to brush or floss could be exactly what they need to get the skill down.

This is also the perfect time to set up a reward system. During the school year, everyone is so busy and life is so full that it can be difficult to even remember that you promised to give them a sticker every time they brushed their teeth alone, or to take them out for ice cream when the chart was full. But when the relaxed pace of summer rolls around, those strategies have more room to work. You’re more likely to follow through on the promises you made, and so they’re more likely to actually have the behavior you want (that is, maintaining their own dental health) reinforced.

Of course, it can be dangerous to hand responsibility off to a kid too early. Some say children lack the dexterity and follow through the brush by themselves until age 7 or 8. Others say that a child is ready to brush on their own when they’re able to tie their shoes by themselves. The point is, if your child isn’t ready to do a thorough job without assistance, don’t let them brush or floss alone. But if they are ready for a little more independence, offer it to them. Then, reward them with praise or small treats for brushing or flossing well or without having to be told. This will reinforce the good dental health habits you hope to see. By teaching them the importance of dental hygiene, you are setting your child’s oral health up for a lifetime of success.

5- Schedule dental cleanings and treatments.

               Does your child need their biannual cleaning? Do they need to have a cavity filled? Do they need to have a root canal or need braces put on? Whatever the treatment is, there’s no time like the present. The summer is the perfect time to schedule the appointments that have been crowding the slush pile of your desk during the school year. You’ll have the time to take them, and it will be out of the way. If the process is more intense, like getting braces on, summer is the perfect time because it allows the child to recover outside the intense routines of school. So don’t wait! If you would like to schedule an appointment for you or your child, please contact our office today.

               Just because tooth decay is such a common problem in kids doesn’t mean it’s inevitable. Instead, this summer can be a time when you prioritize your child’s oral health. Use it to teach them the importance of good oral hygiene, laying foundations that will last them the rest of their life. If you have further questions about the subject or would simply like to schedule an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.