The first day of school is almost here, which means if you haven’t already done so, then it’s time to schedule a back-to-school dental checkup.
Family dentistry is an integral part of our practice in Florence, SC. We want to encourage healthy habits from an early age for your children.
As we will explain, it also can affect how well your kids do in school. Call (843) 588-1919 today to schedule your next appointment with our team at Advanced Dental Center.
Decay & Declining Grades
Imagine being a child sitting in a classroom with a toothache. You want to listen to what your teacher is saying, but the pain in your mouth is too distracting.
At lunch, your classmates eat and joke around, but you can barely eat. Eventually, you tell a teacher that something is wrong. You spend the next class in the nurse’s office, but she may not be able to do much to help with a dental issue.
The American Dental Association reports that children miss more than 51 million hours of instruction every year as a result of dental problems. A recent study of elementary school students also noted that more than one-third of missed school days were directly related to dental issues.
That same study also noted that children who reported tooth pain were four times more likely to have lower grades than their peers.
Good oral health won’t necessarily help your kids do better in school, but there is growing research that poor oral health can be an obstacle to their success.
Stay Ahead of the Curve
You want your kids to be as healthy as they can be. You also want your kids to get the most from their education. By scheduling a dental checkup, you can greatly reduce their risk of a toothache months from now.
At our practice, your kids will get thorough and professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar buildup. We also can take X-rays to check for decay in the earliest stages. This way we can treat it before it becomes something painful and distracting.
As parents, you expect your sons and daughters to brush and floss daily. Also as parents, you know your kids don’t always do what they are expected to do, or they may not do those things as well as they should.
This is a good reason to consider dental sealants as well. Sealants are a coating that acts as a protective barrier between cavity-causing bacteria and your children’s teeth. For a low cost (compared to a dental filling or worse a root canal), sealants can reduce the risk of cavities by 80 percent in molars (the teeth most likely to get cavities), according to the ADA.
Keep Your Family’s Smiles Picture Perfect
You know that picture day will be coming up during the school year at some point. If nothing else, give your daughter or son a reason to smile wide when that day arrives. Schedule an appointment today at Advanced Dental Center. Call (843) 588-1919 or contact us online.