Children will soon be returning to school. With this in mind, this is an excellent opportunity for parents to focus on their children’s oral health and to get them into strong habits for the year ahead. There are many reasons why it is important for oral health to be a major consideration for parents.
With children due to return to school over the next few weeks, there are numerous things that parents will be preparing for.
Ensuring that their children have the required materials, uniform, and stationery are all common areas that parents focus on.
However, there is something else that parents should tie-in with their child’s return to school – a dental check-up. It is very important for children to have their oral health looked after.
Children’s oral health
The oral health of children is a big concern across the world currently. In recent decades, a decline in the oral health of children has been observed.
For example, the World Health Organization found that around 514 million children globally suffer from tooth decay in their baby teeth – which has risen sharply in recent decades [1].
Moreover, past research has shown that children with poor oral health are almost 3 times likelier than those with good oral health to miss school. Moreover, they typically perform worse at school [2]. Therefore, it is clear how important taking care of oral health in children is.
One of the most common dental problems in children is tooth decay. Tooth decay is caused by acids that are produced by bacteria. Over time, a cavity will form, which requires a filling.
Further research shows that tooth decay is associated with pain, poor sleep and difficulties in eating and speaking in children [3].
Oral health considerations
At the start of the school year and beyond, there are several oral health considerations for parents to have.
Over the summer, if a child has had poor oral hygiene, a cavity may have developed. If this is the case, then it is important to get this checked at a dental clinic.
Using the start of the school year as a chance to remind children of the importance of oral health can also be helpful. By getting into good oral habits at the start of the year, hopefully this will continue throughout the school year.
Something else to consider involves those that play sports. Children’s teeth grow over time, meaning that old mouthguards may no longer be suitable. It is important to have the right fit for a mouthguard. Therefore, getting an updated fit can help to protect your children from damage during sports.
What about if a tooth gets knocked out before school starts?
In the midst of the fun and games of summer vacations, accidents can happen. In some cases, children will accidentally have their teeth knocked out.
Dr. Natasha Flake – President of the American Association of Endodontists – has said that more than 5 million teeth are knocked out every year in children and adults [4].
Moreover, as children’s teeth are typically weaker, they are more vulnerable to falling out. But if this does unfortunately happen, then there are things that can be done.
Flake says that it is important to start by trying to find the tooth, and then hold onto it [4]. If possible, you could gently push the tooth back into its socket.
However, if this isn’t possible, then placing the tooth in an emergency tooth preservation kit or milk can help. Failing this, water can be used.
The aim here is to help the tooth survive. Flake says that it is then advisable to see a dentist as soon as possible. Seeing a dentist quickly will maximize the chances of tooth survival.
Flake explains that seeing an endodontist is advisable, as they have at least two more years of training beyond dental school [4]. Therefore, they may have better knowledge of saving knocked-out teeth.
Summary
As discussed, there are a range of reasons for oral health to be prioritized ahead of returning to school. This can benefit children in many ways.
Improved school performance and attendance, a boost to overall health, and positive wellbeing are all aligned with strong oral health.
For parents, they can greatly aid the overall health of their children by taking an active interest in their oral health.
Getting a dental check-up is an excellent way to start the school year, and can instil a positive habit for the year ahead.
Thinking points…
1) As discussed above, it is very important that children attend a dental check-up. By allowing a check-up to coincide with the start of the school year, it will allow you to keep track of their appointments – as they should take place twice per year, every year. Check-ups can help to keep children’s teeth strong, as a dentist will be able to spot any concerns, and provide treatment if needed. If you have children, why not book a dental appointment for them now?
2) Another way of ensuring that your children are aware of the importance of oral health is to bring them with you to your dental check-ups. This will allow them to become accustomed to a dental clinic, and realize its importance. Therefore, remember to attend regular check-ups yourself – and try to bring your children with you where possible. We recommend booking an appointment now!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!
References
[1] World Health Organization. (2023). Oral Health. Available: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health. Last accessed: 22nd August 2024.
[2] Jackson, S. L., Vann, W. F., Kotch, J. B., Pahel, B. T., & Lee, J. Y. (2011). Impact of Poor Oral Health on Children’s School Attendance and Performance. American Journal of Public Health. 101 (10): p1900-1906. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2105%2FAJPH.2010.200915.
[3] Jackson, S. L., Vann, W. F. Jr., Kotch, J. B., Pahel, B. T., & Lee, J. Y. (2011). Impact of Poor Oral Health on Children’s School Attendance and Performance. American Journal of Public Health. 101 (10): p1900-1906. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2010.200915.
[4] Foster, R. (2024). Why back to school should include a dental checkup. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-school-dental-checkup.html. Last accessed: 22nd August 2024.
