Back to School Tips for Ensuring Healthy Teeth

Much as your kids resent it, vacations have just turned the corner and it’s time to dive right back in to the school routine. Starting this school year right by promoting healthy dental habits in your kids from the get-go would help them stay healthy, active, and strong through the year. El Paso dentistry for Children experts provide a few back to school tips:

Create a Morning Routine
It is highly indispensable for kids to brush and floss for at least 2 minutes, twice a day. As sluggish winter days transform in to a heady rush to get to the bus on time, dental hygiene can sometimes fall through the cracks. It is important for parents to establish a regime that keep their kid’s teeth in top-notch shape and prevent cavities. If necessary, wake them up a few minutes earlier to ensure that dental hygiene is never compromised on.

Maintain a Healthy Diet
As most parents are familiar with, cafeteria lunches are loaded with sugary foods and processed meals. If you choose to pack your kid’s lunch yourself, focus on incorporating fresh, perishable items, such as vegetables and fruits, which are healthier alternatives and keep them energized through the day. Packaged foods that are designed for protracted shelf lives, such as pretzels and crackers, are often coated with starch, and should be avoided. Starch forms a coating over the teeth and even breeds cavity-causing bacteria. In addition, encourage your kids to choose water as their choice of beverage, since juices and sodas are loaded with sugar and wreak havoc on their teeth and gums.

Protection during School Sports
If you kids like to participate in organized sports, mouth protection should be their second nature. This is especially true in case of basketball, baseball, soccer, and football. Children should also wear a helmet when riding scooters or bicycles.