For families in our community, summer break will be starting soon. With kids at home and vacations on the horizon, this could mean interruptions to your routine, and a higher risk of cavities. In today’s blog, Dr. Robert M. Browne talks about how to safeguard smiles during summer break.
The Risks for Smiles During Summer Break
During your child’s time at home, they can become lax in their normal routines, including how often and well they brush and floss. But if they can keep them on their routine, they can lower their risk of tooth decay! Children of all ages need to brush for two minutes in the morning with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste, and then do the same before they go to bed. They also need to floss before they brush that second time to dislodge and remove the bits of food trapped between teeth, which a toothbrush alone may not reach. These actions not only fight cavities, but bad breath and teeth stains too. For older kids, this can also keep gingivitis at bay!
Checkups and Cleanings
A visit during their summer break for a checkup and cleaning is also helpful. You don’t have to worry about your children missing school or extracurricular activities either! We can conduct an exam to assess the state of their smile and offer treatment to address any issue any find, protecting their smiles from untreated tooth decay, which in turn lowers the risk of infection and premature tooth loss. We also conduct a cleaning in the same visit, which enables our team to carefully remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth, lowering the risk of cavities, gingivitis, bad breath, and stained teeth in the process. This is helpful for kids of all ages, so schedule an appointment now!
Preventing Cavities at Home
Along with better brushing and flossing habits, and visits for an exam and cleaning, you can help protect your children with a healthier diet. Summer is a time for snacking, but by cutting back on options high in sugar and starch, young can fight their cavity risk. Try to provide fresh fruits and veggies, items like cheeses, low-fat yogurts, sugar-free snacks, or even whole grain bread and crackers. Encourage them to drink more water too, and less sports drinks, energy drinks, soda, and fruit juices.
If you have any questions about how to protect your family from cavities during summer break, then contact our team.
Dr. Browne, DDS, Provides A Dental Exam
Our team wants to help safeguard your smile, for kids and adults alike. To find out more about protecting smiles from cavities during their break, or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Robert M. Browne, D.D.S. in Prairie Village, KS at (913) 901-8585.
