Smart Minds Start With Healthy Mouths( Parents Dental Tip...),Health

Parents Dental Tips for Back-to-School

ROANOKE, Va., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Back to school time is a great time for parents to take a refresher course in their child's oral health care. According to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, students miss more than 51 million school hours per year* because of dental problems or related conditions. Dental pain can distract your child, cause schoolwork to suffer or even lead to school absences. A healthy smile contributes to a positive self image and builds confidence.

Delta Dental of Virginia is pleased to provide the following tips to build your child's healthy dental habits and provide resources for parents struggling to afford dental care:

Jump Start Your Child's Healthy Dental Habits

-- Schedule twice yearly dental checkups for your child to prevent oral health problems or catch them early so they can be treated before becoming more serious health issues. Preventive dentistry means less extensive, and less expensive, treatment for your child.

-- Include flossing once a day and brushing at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste in your child's daily routine.

-- Control snacking because repeated exposure to sugary or starchy snacks can increase the risk for cavities.

Be Smart About Candy

Children love candy and prohibiting them from eating it is not realistic in most cases. With a few simple strategies and common sense, you can help protect your child's teeth from the onslaught of sugar while allowing them to enjoy the occasional treat.

-- Avoid hard or chewy candies such as suckers, caramels, popcorn balls and gum, as they bathe teeth in sugar for long periods of time.

-- Choose small candy bars or candies that can be consumed more quickly and easily to avoid prolonged contact with teeth.
-- Brush as soon as possible after eating sugary or starchy foods.

Protect Your Chi
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