Pediatric dentist offices around the country are full as parents prepare to send their children off to the first week of school. As schools collect their paper work for the beginning of the year, many of these institutions serve as a reminder of how important it is to take care of yearly dental work. And while no one says that you need to schedule all of your family dental appointments in the summer, a number of families try to take care of these tasks during the months of June, July, and August so that kids do not have to miss class.
As a result, summer appointments with pediatric dentists can be a challenge to schedule if you do not have your plans in place months in advance.
Dental Hygiene Is an Important Skill for Children to Develop
In today’s busy world it is important that parents slow down enough to teach their children the importance of proper dental hygiene. From making sure that children brush their teeth two or three times a day to making sure that twice a year dental appointments become a habit, there are many ways that parents can help get their kids on a great path to oral health.
In addition to brushing, flossing, and visting the dentist on a regular basis, it is also important to make sure that children get in the habit of making the right choices about the drinks that they consume. Did you know, for instance, that even though bottled water is a staple in many home one 2012 study in the Journal of Pediatric Dentistry indicated that more than 65% of parents using bottled water did not know what levels of fluoride it contained? This is important information if you want to make sure that the water you are giving your children in as healthy as possible.
Another concern that can lead to tooth decay is the consumption of sports drinks. In fact, studies have shown for a long time that many popular sports drinks are harmful to the teeth because of the sugars and sweeteners they contain. Worse yet, however, is the enamel loss that is caused by many of the most popular energy drinks that are growing in popularity.
The beginning of the school year may be the time when many parents are thinking about pediatric dentist visits, but proper oral health requires attention to many details, including regular brushing and flossing, as well as teaching children to make the best choices about what they drink.
