With the new school year getting underway, you’d like to give your child a winning edge. It turns out that the quality of his or her oral health can have an impact on school performance, but how is that possible? As you continue reading, a local children’s dentist explains what the connection is and gives tips for what you can do to promote the best oral health.
The Studies Don’t Lie
In an article published by PubMed, the results of a 2007 study are shown. Based on the data, researchers concluded that “preventing and treating dental problems and improving dental health may benefit child academic achievement and cognitive and psychological development.”
Researchers uncovered the following in relation to poor dental health:
- Students are less likely to complete assigned homework.
- Children in this group are more likely to have problems at school.
- School absences are more prevalent among this category of students, as they miss, on average, one more day per year than their peers.
Thankfully, these trends can be reversed with greater awareness.
What Can be Done?
As summer comes to a close, there are some steps you can take to get your child back on track to have a healthier and more productive school year. Here are some easy tips:
Get Back into the Back-to-School Flow
Now is the perfect time to initiate some good dental hygiene habits so they can carry over into the school year. You can start by making sure your child is brushing and flossing in the morning and at night before going to bed.
Make Brushing Fun
Kids love shopping for new items, so you can encourage good dental hygiene habits by taking a trip to the store to purchase his or her favorite toothbrush, toothpaste and other supplies.
Stay Involved
Whether it involves dental hygiene or performance in school, students with parents who are involved tend to have better results. It helps to pay attention to your child’s technique when brushing and flossing, as it allows you to make important corrections before any bad habits develop.
Schedule a Dental Appointment Before School Starts
By scheduling a dental appointment before the school year gets underway, you can have an idea of where your child’s oral health stands. It’s no secret that children and adults who maintain preventive care dental visits are more likely to have better dental health and avoid the more costly and painful problems that can arise from dental negligence.
With the implementation of the above suggestions, you can feel more confident that your child will be able to have the most productive school year possible. Even better, he or she will have a beautiful smile to place on full display!