Back-To-School Oral Hygiene Tips

Summer is almost over and it’s back to school for most of our patients! Dr. Rhoda Lockett here at Lockett Orthodontics wants to remind kids and parents to be mindful when packing school lunches and getting into the new school-year routine.

Make sure to avoid packing things like candy, cookies, chewy food or overly sugary lunches. These snacks mix with the bacteria in your child’s mouth and will cause harmful, cavity-causing acids to build up on the teeth. In addition to being harmful to your dental health, a sugar rush will lead to a crash later in the day, causing your child to feel sluggish and lethargic at school.

Below are a few back-to-school tips to make sure that you’re maintaining your dental health as well as building up your brain!

5 Important Oral Health Practices At School

• Make sure lunch boxes are packed with healthy and delicious lunch foods! We recommend lean meats, cheeses, yogurts, fruits, whole grain breads, baked chips, and celery or carrot sticks. Certain fruits and veggies can also help clean your teeth and gums during chewing!
• Before going to school, make sure teeth are flossed and brushed with fluoride toothpaste. This will eliminate morning breath and will also prevent harmful plaque from sitting on the teeth throughout the school day.
• If the school allows chewing gum, pack some sugar-free gum to chew after lunch. This can help stimulate saliva to wash away bacteria and can also help dislodge any food stuck between teeth.
• Kids with braces or other orthodontic treatment should try to brush after lunchtime. It’s easy to pack a travel sized toothbrush and toothpaste into their backpacks!

Here at Lockett Orthodontics, we recommend that kids receive a dental cleaning and exam before school starts so they can start the school year with a clean, happy smile! To make an appointment with Dr. Lockett, please contact our Colorado Springs, CO office today!