Back to School Oral Hygiene Tips

Now that kids are back in school, it can be difficult to monitor exactly what they’re eating and whether or not they’re caring for their dental health at school. Here at Auburn Family Dental, we want to make sure that all of our patients have the tools to achieve and maintain a healthy and beautiful smile, even at school.

Dental Hygiene at School

Below are a few ways you can help your kids make tooth-healthy choices during the school year:

• Brush after breakfast – Make sure your children start the day off right by brushing and flossing after breakfast and before they leave for school. Your kids should be brushing with a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste. This will also eliminate bad breath, which can be embarrassing.
• What to pack for lunch – While you can’t always control what the school serves for lunch, you can pack your child a healthy lunch from home. Include things like lean meat, whole grains, vegetables, baked chips, cheese or low-fat yogurt.
• Avoid sugar – Packing too much sugar in your child’s lunchbox can harm his or her dental and overall health. Even though these sugary foods can provide a quick boost for your kids, the sugar crash will eventually catch up to them, causing lethargy, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.
• Sugar-free chewing gum – If your child’s school allows chewing gum, it can be a good idea to include some in his or her backpack. Sugar-free gum helps stimulate saliva production, washes away food particles and bacteria, and the natural sweetener, Xylitol has been proven to help reduce dental cavities.
• Rules for braces – Lastly, if your child is undergoing orthodontic treatment, it makes it even more important to care for oral health at school. We recommend putting together an oral health kit for your child that includes a brush, floss, and travel sized toothpaste.

To schedule a regular dental cleaning and exam for the whole family, please don’t hesitate to contact Auburn Family Dental located here in Wichita, Kansas.