If you are a parent, you may have started counting down the days already. The first day of the new school year is about a month away, and you have some things you know you need to do:
Get new clothes for your kids. ✓
Get school supplies (pens, pencils, notebooks, etc.) ✓
Get new backpacks. ✓
Get dental cleanings and exams.
If you haven’t added that last item to the list, we strongly encourage you to do so. Studies have shown that oral health issues can interfere with your child’s success in school.
At Biggers Family Dentistry, we want to help you prevent those oral health problems. If you live in or near Midlothian, VA, contact us today to set up cleanings for your whole family. Call (804) 621-2199 or fill out our online form .
Poor Oral Health Can Interfere With Education
Try to imagine one of your kids sitting at school with a toothache. How do you think this might affect him or her throughout the day?
Your son may not be able to concentrate on that day’s lessons due to the pain. Your daughter may have trouble staying focused on her classwork.
If the pain gets bad enough, you could get a call from the school letting you know that your child isn’t in class because he or she has been complaining about a toothache.
Before you dismiss this as unlikely, consider a few facts. According to the American Dental Association, children in the US miss more than 51 million hours of school annually due to oral health problems.
And the Children’s Dental Health Project noted that children who have recently reported having a toothache are four times more likely to have lower grades. The project also pointed out that in a recent survey found that 1 in 7 children (6 to 12 years old) has had a toothache within the past six months.
We think you’ll agree: Your kids benefit more from their education when they are in school and they aren’t distracted by pain.
Preventive Care Can Keep Your Kids’ Mouths Healthy
A professional dental cleaning and exam can help prevent problems or identify them so they can be treated before classes resume.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 5 kids between the ages of 5 and 11 has an untreated cavity. Among 12 to 19 years olds, 1 in 7 has an untreated cavity.
A good oral hygiene routine at home and regular professional dental cleaning can go a long way in preventing tooth decay from developing. At the same time, regular dental exams give us a better chance of finding a cavity early so it can be treated quickly, less invasively, and less expensively.
We also offer more than just dental cleaning. Dental sealants and fluoride treatments can add another level of protection against tooth decay.
Sealants create a barrier between your kids’ teeth and the bacteria that can cause cavities. Fluoride is a mineral that can repair minor damage caused by those same bacteria and make your teeth stronger, so they are less likely to get cavities.
If you have questions about any of our services, just ask us. We’ll be happy to explain how they can help reduce your children’s risk of tooth infections and toothaches.
And You Can Get A Mouthguard While You Are Here
As parents, we know that most kids are not going to grow up to be professional athletes. Even so, millions of kids enjoy the fun that comes with participating in sports.
As much as you enjoy watching your kids play, you also want them to protect themselves on the field. We hope that includes wearing custom-fitted athletic mouthguards regardless of whether one is required for that sport.
The ADA recommends wearing a mouthguard for any high impact sport or activity. In Virginia, that includes football, but it also includes cheerleading, field hockey, and volleyball.
If you want your children to keep smiling long after they leave the field or the court, ask us how we can make custom-fitted mouthguards to protect your favorite smiles.
We Hope To See You Soon
Family care is the foundation of what we do at Biggers Family Dentistry. We are here to help you with your family’s oral health, and if it helps them with school, too, that’s even better.
To request an appointment soon, call us at (804) 621-2199 or fill out our online form .