Ace Your Dentist Exam - 8 Back-to-School Tips For Healthy Smiles

Ace Your Dentist Exam - 8 Back-to-School Tips For Healthy Smiles
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Simmons]Sarah Simmons

It's that time of year again! While most kids are thinking of new clothes and new supplies for the upcoming school year, it's also an ideal time for parents to reinforce good health habits, including ways to keep your kids' teeth in tip-top shape. Follow these back to school tips for maintaining healthy smiles:

1. Schedule a trip to the dentist. Getting an exam taken care of at the beginning of the school year will save you the hassle of scheduling a visit to the dentist around school hours or after-school activities. Add a dental exam to your back-to-school preparation list: new clothes, new supplies, new dental exam!

2. Make a dental care kit for school. Brushing after lunch is the new standard! A dental care kit should at least contain a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss. Let your son or daughter pick the bag, just make sure it has a zipper closure and plastic lining and fits easily into a backpack.

3. Give your kids healthy snacks. Instead of cookies, chips or packaged snacks that contain cavity-causing sugars, give your kids wholesome goodies like fresh fruit, low-salt nuts, celery or carrot sticks and even cottage cheese or low-fat plain yogurt to eat at home or school. Your dentist will thank you for it!

4. Replace sodas and sports drinks with water. Most sodas, sports or energy drinks and even "vitamin" waters are loaded with sugar. Give your kids bottled water to take to school. For an eco-friendly option, get them reusable water bottles -- some even have built-in filters!

5. Get custom-made mouthguards. Have your family dentist create custom-made mouthguards for your kids to wear during gym class or after-school activities. This simple device can protect their teeth from being broken or knocked-out by a ball, a fall or rough play.

6. Buy new toothbrushes. Make oral hygiene fun by starting off the new school year with new toothbrushes! Younger kids can pick toothbrushes with designs of their favorite cartoon characters, glitter, stars and so on. Older kids might enjoy the switch to an electric toothbrush.

7. Start a reward system. If your kids get a good report card at the dentist, treat it as an accomplishment. Rewards don't have to be extravagant or expensive: make a giant tooth or star and hang it on the fridge for little ones, plan a trip to the movies for teens or just let your kids stay up an hour later!

8. Brace your kids for braces. Young teens may find out that they need braces. While this can be traumatic for some, there are now many braces options that look better and take less time. Be sure to get informed about speed braces and Invisalign. braces -- two popular choices for teens today.

Since 1986, 1-800-DENTIST. has been matching consumers with the right [http://www.1800dentist.com/]dentists and advertising the importance of regular dental visits to millions of consumers nationwide. Visit http://www.1800dentist.com to find a dentist as well as consumer dentistry information, practical dental tips, and fun dental games.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Ace-Your-Dentist-Exam---8-Back-to-School-Tips-For-Healthy-Smiles&id=2869752] Ace Your Dentist Exam - 8 Back-to-School Tips For Healthy Smiles