Back To School – Make Sure Your Child’s Teeth Are Healthy For Autumn Term

The summer holidays can be a challenging time to ensure our children eat well, with the structure of the school day temporarily on pause. Sleepovers, later nights and interrupted meal times are examples of the some of the challengers parents face when trying to make sure their children keep their teeth healthy over summer.

A recent study conducted by mydentist, found that kids eat 5 times more sugar over the summer holidays than during term time, with the biggest perpetrators being sugary drinks and ice-cream. Nyree Whitely, the group clinical director of mydentist drew attention to the fact that the ‘summer holidays are one of the most vital times of the year to book a check-up for your children’ due to the ‘period of increased sugar intake’.

 

The importance of regular check-ups for children

Tooth decay is the most common reason for 5-9 year olds being admitted to hospital in the UK and this is mostly for tooth extractions. This can so easily be avoided with an early introduction to the dentist and positive reinforcement at home. At Smile Up, we give younger patients a take home kit, equipped with mini toothpaste, floss and toothbrush so as to encourage children to take control of their dental and oral health. We believe this is the secret to long term wellbeing, creating a foundation for the rest of their lives.

 

An investment into your child’s wellbeing

The emotional consequences of poor dental health are as severe as those which are health-related and can leave a lasting mark on your child’s self esteem. Complications such as the loss of a tooth, decay and gum disease change the aesthetics of a smile and can even stop your child from wanting to smile altogether as they grow up, for fear of others seeing any wear and tear. To give your child the best possible chance of feeling confident about their smile, make sure you bring them to routine check-ups bi-annually and instil a clockwork brushing routine at home.

 

Here at Smile Up, we are open 7 days a week to offer convenience and flexibility to our patients. We are a multi-lingual practice, speaking languages that include Polish, Portuguese, French, Russian, Italian and Greek. Get in touch with us today to book your child in with us for a post-holiday check-up.