As you help your child prepare for the new school year this month, you are probably thinking about filling their backpack with new supplies and getting them into an earlier bedtime routine. But have you given any thought to their dental hygiene habits? New research shows that good oral health, like the prevention of cavities and gum disease, is linked to greater success in school. Keep reading to find out more from your children’s dentist – and steps you can take to double down on your little one’s smile hygiene this month and all year long.
How a Healthy Smile Can Lead to Better Grades
Recently published research in The Journal of Pediatrics on the relationship between oral health and school success should be interesting to any parent. By looking at data pulled from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health, they were able to determine how dental problems – like cavities, tooth pain, and other indicators of poor oral health – impacted school performance. As explained in the study, they found that these issues were “significantly associated with reductions in school performance and psychosocial well-being.”
Compared to their peers without dental problems, kids of all ages who suffered from one or more oral health issues were more likely to miss school, less likely to do their homework, and overall reported more shyness.
No child deserves to feel less-than for any reason, including on account of their oral health. But the good news is that dental issues can almost always be prevented through improved oral hygiene habits.
Back-to-School Dental Hygiene Tips
So, while you are making your back-to-school shopping list and checking it twice, add another item to the to-do list: reviewing your child’s oral hygiene habits! Keep the following in mind this time of year – and for the rest of the months to come – to set them up for success in and out of the classroom.
- Kids are generally capable of brushing their own teeth around the time they can tie their shoes, but they may not always do a stellar job of cleaning. Make sure to continue to observe their brushing technique long after they are doing it “on their own” – even after you feel confident they are cleaning thoroughly, spot checks may not hurt!
- Encourage your little one to floss between teeth daily. Braces can make flossing especially challenging, but it is no less important. Help encourage the habit by leaving a note on the bathroom mirror to remind them to floss.
- Model the habits you want them to develop yourself! They are always watching you – and if you don’t brush and floss your own teeth, they will be far less likely to, too.
Now that you know a little more about the connection between your child’s oral health and their success in the classroom and in life, it’s a great time to reach out to your children’s dentist in St. Albans for a back-to-school checkup and cleaning!
Meet the Dentists
Dr. Tyler Aten and Dr. Simran Saini offer excellent dental care for the whole family. They have the experience and training to meet a host of oral health needs, and individually, they stay up-to-date on the latest advances in the field by remaining engaged in rigorous continuing education opportunities. To learn more about their practice or to book a back-to-school appointment for the whole family, contact St. Albans Dental at (802) 524-4844.