Back To School Tips For Teeth

04 September 2012

Back To School Tips For Teeth

Summer is almost over and as you and your family prepare for school to start here are some helpful tips to keep your smile looking great year round.

Mornings are busy!  As you get ready to rush out the door: Remember to brush!

This is critical.

Some parents pack their child’s lunch box with juice and other sweet drinks and snacks. There is little chance for children to clean their teeth at school and as a result these drinks can make your children high risk for tooth decay. (Even diluted juice is bad – remember it is not how much sugar but how long). It is however OK to drink juice while eating a meal.

When choosing a school time snack choose a food high in protein like Greek yogurt or fruit.  These are much more filling and healthy snacks that are also good for your mouth than a refined carbohydrate that is high in sugar. Foods high in protein for snacks and meals both minimize hunger and the need for all-day snacking.

If you need a sweet treat, remember hard sweets and gum are bad choices; choose chocolate which has a much shorter exposure to the teeth and a lower risk of cavities. (Remember the rule when it comes to cavities it is not how much sugar but how long the teeth are exposed to the sugar)

College Students – take your good habits with you. This means your orthodontic retainers should go with you to college. An electric toothbrush is also a good way to help keep you honest with your oral hygiene.

Whilst studying do not sip on caffeinated drinks or energy drinks full of sugar. This is a recipe for disaster. Every summer we fix countless number of teeth that have cavities as a result of this behaviour occurring during the school year.  Sugar free drinks are the best choice.

Also remember with coughs and sore throats, that are unavoidable  choose a sugar-free throat lozenge and be careful or sugary cough syrups.  This avoids cavities developing in the teeth beside where the lozenge is held in the mouth or the syrup is on the teeth.

Good luck and remember you only have to brush the teeth you want to keep.