In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s likely that the upcoming school year will be very different than any your child has had before. Whether your little one will be going to class in person or taking part in remote learning in the coming months, it’s more important than ever to set them up for success. Amidst preparing them for school by gathering supplies and rearranging the house, don’t forget to take stock of your son’s or daughter’s oral health. Recent studies are discovering that the health of your child’s smile can play a key role in their school performance. Read on as your West Brookfield dentist explains how taking care of your little one’s teeth and gums can set them up for a great academic year.
Connecting an Unhealthy Smile with Bad Grades
While problems like cavities or gingivitis won’t directly cause your child to earn bad grades in school, they can easily make it more difficult for them to succeed. Leaving oral health issues untreated can lead to:
- Trouble focusing: A toothache or other irritating dental symptom may make it difficult to pay attention in class or focus on homework.
- Shyness in class: Your little one may be less likely to speak up during class to ask a question if he or she isn’t comfortable with how their teeth look or feel.
- Lowered self-confidence: Feeling self-conscious about the look or feel of their smile can take a huge toll on your son’s or daughter’s self-confidence and happiness.
- Reduced attendance: Eventually, your child may need to skip one or more days of school to treat a dental problem that’s gotten out of hand, which is linked to a lower grade-point-average.
Tips for Great Oral Health This School Year
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can help your little one maintain a happy, healthy smile this school year, like:
- Ensuring that they take the time out of their busy schedule to brush their teeth for a full two minutes twice a day.
- Helping them floss between all their teeth daily by using ADA-approved techniques and tools.
- Limiting the amount of soda, sports drinks, chips, candy and other sugary snacks they’re exposed to.
- Bringing them to their West Brookfield dentist for a routine checkup and cleaning every six months to spot and stop any issues as early as possible.
Great oral health influences many areas of your child’s life, including their academic performance. The healthy habits you teach them now will set them up for a great school year as well as many years of healthy smiles!
About the Author
West Brookfield Dental is proud to showcase the talents of several highly trained dental professionals, including our in-office pediatric dentist Dr. Bakr Amin. As a member of the American Dental Association, the Massachusetts Dental Society, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, he stays current with the most effective ways to teach children about oral health. He highly encourages all his patients to come in for their regular checkups twice a year so that small dental issues can be prevented or treated before they turn into larger problems. If you’d like to learn more, feel free to contact Dr. Amin via our website or at (508) 867-2777.
