Two Tips To Ensure Summer Doesn't Derail Good Dental Habits
The end of the year is speeding towards us, and it won't be too long before the six-week Christmas school holidays arrive. Holidays are a wonderful time for your kids to relax after working hard all year at school, but it is important that dental routines don't get lost in the lazy, hazy days of summer. As a busy mum who has noticed this area is your children's downfall in previous summer holidays, here are two ways to make sure your children don't return to school needing dentist intervention for cavities.
Schedule A Checkup
It is tough trying to get your kids into the dentist during the school year because of school hours and after-school activities, so take advantage of the summer holidays to schedule a checkup with your dentist for each child. One of the biggest advantages of doing this is that in future you'll easily remember the time of year they are due for their next checkup. Secondly, if a return visit is needed for additional dental work, it can be done without interfering with your child's school time. Also, it's a good time to year to replace every family member's toothbrush. You should replace them at least three times a year, and since you're not short on time, you can take the kids with you to choose their new brush. If they have one they like, they're more likely to use it.
After the checkup, you need to be mindful of what is going into your child's mouth.
Monitor Their Summer Diet
One of the nicest things about summer is the food treats which come with it. Pool parties come with cupcakes and ice blocks, barbecues come with soft drinks and trips to the beach have coolers filled with yummy foodstuffs. However, not all of these foodstuffs are good for the teeth, and the amount of sugar in sweet treats leads to an increased risk of cavities. While your kids are at school you supply them with healthy food choices in their lunchbox, so it is important you keep up these eating habits during the summer break. When you buy ice blocks for your kids to enjoy, choose ones which have low sugar or which are made from fruit juice. Encourage your kids to choose carrot sticks or strawberries instead of cupcakes, and only allow one can of soft drink a week as a treat rather than allowing it daily. By monitoring their diet, you reduce the chance of this food blowout causing cavities.
Now you know how to get through summer without your kids having dental dramas, you can get the checkup appointments booked now before all the slots get taken.