If you’re a parent, August points to more than just the (near) end of Summer. It also marks the start of something else – the back-to-school season! With that said, you’re likely helping your kids by gathering pencils, notebooks, and various other supplies. However, you may want your children to get dental checkups, too. The reality is that good oral health promotes academic success. To learn why, let your Las Cruces dentist explain. Here, then, is how oral health and school success relate.
Better Teeth, Better Schooling
You might think a person’s teeth wouldn’t affect their schoolwork. Truthfully, though, poor oral health causes one’s grades to dip. Children with dental problems struggle on exams, don’t learn well in the classroom, and even act out against teachers.
The reason for this dilemma is that oral conditions are distracting. According to a 2012 study from the Journal of Pediatrics, kids with dental issues can’t focus well in school. They’ll thus neglect their coursework and fall behind academically. Worse yet, the pain from their mouth problems will lower their motivation to learn and make them unhappy.
Raise Grades with a Dental Checkup
Given the facts above, send your child (or children) to a dentist before school starts. A quick dental checkup could do wonders for their future grades.
You see, dentists are experts at preventing and reducing oral pain. Their goal, after all, is to detect and fix underlying mouth problems. Doing so leads to kids having healthy and non-distracting smiles. From there, your students will have better concentration and academic performance.
Keep Clean Smiles at Home
Of course, checkups aren’t the only way to keep mouths problem-free. You can help a child’s oral health (and thus their schooling) with home dental care. In particular, try using the tips below:
- Improve Their Oral Hygiene – If you don’t already, tell your kids to brush their teeth twice daily and floss once daily. You could also suggest that they rinse their mouths with mouthwash as needed.
- Change Your Child’s Diet – Since sugar causes tooth decay, limit your child’s intake of this carb in their daily eating. Instead, set them on a diet of mouth-healthy foods and drinks that strengthen teeth. Potential meals might include lean proteins, leafy greens, and dairy products.
- Get Involved as a Parent – Another idea is to read your kids fun books about oral health. Doing so will encourage them to take their teeth and gums more seriously.
Since good oral health does promote academic success, use it to your advantage. Have your kids visit the dentist soon for a successful school year!
About the Practice
Painted Skies Dental Center is based in Las Cruces, NM. Led by Drs. Natalie and Ramon Ortiz, our practice wants to give every child a healthy smile. We thus perform top-notch preventive dental care, offering everything from standard dental checkups and sealants to fluoride treatment. Our team is also ready to help kids with mouthguards and emergency oral care. For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (575)-521-8720.