August is Get Ready for Kindergarten Month, and WAO wants parents to ensure the dental health of their children.
Wafelbakker Anderson Orthodontics, one of the most established orthodontics practices in the area, has compiled a list of dental health tips to coincide with Get Ready for Kindergarten Month in August. These tips will help children learn healthy dental habits and also allow parents to catch possible problems before they become more pronounced.
As part of Get Ready for Kindergarten Month, Scholastic—the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books—released 20 tips for parents. These include learning how to: grip a pencil, crayon or marker correctly; write their first name using both upper and lower case letters; match sounds that correspond to vowels and consonants; and recognize colors and parts of the body.
However, just as important as these tasks is learning proper dental care. Dr. Wafelbakker and Dr. Anderson advise their young patients to brush (for approximately two to three minutes) and floss at least two times per day. Because flossing can sometimes be tricky for kids, they recommend trying floss threaders, water flossers and mini toothbrushes (Christmas tree brushes) that fit between teeth. It is also important for children to have regular checkups and cleanings every six months with their general dentist as baby teeth loosen and permanent teeth come in.
Dr. Wafelbakker and Dr. Anderson also recommend healthy snacks and beverages over those loaded with sugar. The reason? Sugars that stay resting for long amounts of time in a particular area of the the mouth will start to wear away at healthy enamel and bone structure under the gum line. Plaque bacteria feeds off of sugar to produce acids that wear down the healthy structure of a tooth, which could lead to cavities and gum recession. If children do eat sugary foods, it is recommended to rinse the mouth with water to remove any “sugar bugs.”
For children with braces, it is important to avoid extra hard and/or sticky foods. It is also advisable to never bite directly into hard vegetables and fruits such as crisp apples, pears, nectarines, corn on the cob, celery and items similar in texture. Doing so poses a risk of possibly loosening a bonded bracket from the tooth surface, which serves as an anchor in the specific shift of the teeth. When a bracket (or brace) becomes loose, it slightly delays the progress of treatment until fixed.
Dr. Wafelbakker and Dr. Anderson also recommend the use of a store-bought mouthguard for children involved in contact sports. A loose-fitting, basic mouth guard that comfortably sits around the teeth will protect them from injury.
It is also important for children to get an orthodontic check-up no later than age 7. At this point, Dr. Wafelbakker and Dr. Anderson can often prevent larger functional problems later in life. For example, they can spot and correct subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present. Additionally, by improving issues in the early stages, future treatment is often simplified, less invasive and less time consuming.
WAO’s free orthodontic consultations run approximately 45 to 60 minutes in length to ensure that the exam and documented bite details are thoroughly covered with the patient and parent. Dr. Wafelbakker an Dr. Anderson encourage families to take advantage of time off from school for these appointments (such as during the summer) so as not to interfere with academic routines. However, when this is not the case, and a patient decides to visit one of WAO’s locations during school hours, they are given the proper school excuse documentation.
By following these tips, parents will ensure that they are giving their child the best opportunity for a healthy, beautiful smile that will last a lifetime.
“Where Teeth Work the Best, They Look the Best!”
Find all of Scholastic’s Get Ready for Kindergarten tips at https://www.scholastic.com/parents/school-success/school-life/grade-by-grade/preparing-kindergarten.html