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Protect school-age smiles from common dental problems

Back-to-school season brings a lot of change, with new classmates, new teachers, and new excitement. As a parent or caregiver, you want to see your child smile through it all — which is why it’s so important to keep that smile healthy all year long!

Children with oral health problems are more likely to miss class and experience challenges at school.

Watch out for these oral health issues

One way to support your child’s oral health is to watch for a few conditions that are especially common among school-age kids. These include:

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    Bad breath: Strong-smelling breath could potentially embarrass your child. It occurs when your child needs to brush and can also be caused by dry mouth or foods like onion or garlic. 
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    Canker sores: These small, raw sores on the inside of the mouth can cause your little one pain. They can stem from poor nutrition, viruses and bacteria, food allergies, or trauma such as biting the inside of the mouth, among other reasons.
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    Toothache: Toothaches can cause school absences, distract your child while they’re in school, or cause them to avoid eating. The source of the ache could be many things — tooth grinding, tooth decay, gingivitis, or trauma to the tooth, to name a few.
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    Sensitive teeth: Sensitivity may make it harder for your child to eat or brush. It is sometimes difficult to determine the cause of tooth sensitivity in children, but your dentist can evaluate your child’s teeth and provide any necessary treatment. This condition may not have an underlying cause, unlike the others on this list.
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    Tooth decay: Cavities, even in baby teeth, are an avoidable but unfortunately common problem among school-age kids. Developing good oral health habits and keeping their teeth and gums clean while they are young will set them up for a lifetime of healthy smiles! 

If your child experiences any pain due to an oral health problem or has an issue that doesn’t improve after one or two days, consult your dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

Easy ways to reduce risk

You can protect your child’s oral health and lower their chances of developing any of the problems discussed above. It just takes a little diligence and a strong daily routine!

To maintain their oral health, make sure school-age kids:

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    Brush twice a day for two minutes each time with a fluoride toothpaste. You can make the brushing session more fun for younger kids with music, silly dancing, or short videos.
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    Floss once daily. If your child struggles with standard floss, try using a water flosser or floss picks.
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    Stay hydrated with water to help prevent dry mouth and to wash down any food or drink that has stuck to their teeth.
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    Limit starchy foods like pretzels and chips, and sweets like candy and sugary beverages. Sugar feeds the bacteria in the mouth and can contribute to tooth decay. They can help breed mouth bacteria and cause cavities.
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    Consume a well-rounded diet that includes oral health-friendly fruits and veggies.
    • Crunchy options like apples, carrots, and celery kick-start saliva production, which reduces risk for dry mouth and helps keep your child’s mouth clean.
    • Strawberries and broccoli are high in vitamin C, which supports healthy gum tissue.
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    Stop pacifier use and thumb-sucking after age 2 and avoid nail-biting. Thumb-sucking and pacifier use can cause problems with tooth alignment and speech patterns, and nail-biting can lead to a higher risk of cavities or tooth and or gum tissue injury damage.
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    Consider dental sealants. Quick and painless, dental sealants help prevent cavities in the back teeth — if your child doesn’t have sealants in place, ask your dentist if they would benefit your child. 
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    Wear a mouth guard while playing sports to protect their jaws, teeth, and gums.

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    Visit the dentist for regularly scheduled cleanings so your child’s dentist can look for any issues and monitor their oral health progress.

86% of adults agree that having dental insurance is essential to protecting oral and overall health.1

Keep your kids in school and smiling

Nothing compares to seeing your school-age child smile. Parents and caregivers, watch for common dental problems and work with your kids to keep their oral health strong!

1Delta Dental, The 2024 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report (2024) from https://www.deltadental.com/us/en/state-of-americas-oral-health-report.html

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