The school, has come to an end, which means summer break is here. While your children are hanging around the house or with friends, they may also be consuming a lot more snacks, which can increase the risk of tooth decay. Fortunately, there are ways for you to encourage good oral health over the summer break, keeping little smiles healthy all summer long.
Help Keep Little Smiles Healthy Over Summer Break
- Help them floss: Like you, children need to floss their teeth every night before going to bed. They need to floss on each side of every tooth to remove food particles that would otherwise be broken down by bacteria, leading to an increased risk of decay. You can assist them to make sure they are cleaning their teeth properly and thoroughly.
- Make sure they are brushing properly: Children should brush their teeth twice a day, once in the morning and again before going to bed. Each session should be no less than two minutes to allow them to properly clean every available surface of the teeth. To add a little fun, you can let them pick out their own age-appropriate toothbrush.
- Offer healthier snack options: Instead of candy, chips, and snack cakes, why not offer fresh fruit and vegetables? Or a trail mix of nuts or some low-fat yogurt? These are healthy snack options that help reduce the risk of oral health concerns, such as tooth decay.
- Discourage soda: When children drink sodas, or energy drinks or sports drinks, they increase the likelihood of cavities forming. However, water keeps them hydrated and contains no damaging acids or sugars.
- Visit the dentist: The summer break is a great time to schedule a visit for a checkup and cleaning. There is no missed school and these visits are an excellent way to improve oral hygiene.
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