In the coming weeks, you will be picking new outfits for the first day of school. You’ll also be buying supplies for the start of classes.

There’s something else you should do while you and your kids are out and about. You should schedule a checkup at our Johnson City, NY dental office.

A back-to-school dental cleaning and exam may be more beneficial than you realize. Studies have shown that oral health problems are the cause of many absences for students across the United States. Similarly, toothaches can hurt your kids’ success in the classroom.

To help you get ready, we want to share some things you can do to keep your kids’ smiling during the months ahead. To plan your appointment at the office of Dr. Jerry Farrell, call 607-304-3993.

Be Prepared for Day One

You know how busy your life will become when classes resume. You will be shuttling your kids to and from school as well as to practices, games, and other activities.

By calling us today to make your appointment, you can fit in a visit to our family dentist office before things get more hectic than they already are.

Good Oral Health Starts at Home

The best way to keep up your family’s dental health is to encourage good habits at home.

If kids are ready for school, most will be able to brush and floss on their own. Getting them to do so may be a different story, however.

To review quickly, you should brush twice daily for two minutes each time. A pea-sized squeeze of toothpaste with fluoride is all kids (and adults) need to scrub their teeth on all sides.

Each member of your family should floss once per day as well. If standard floss is too difficult to use or they just refuse to use it, consider getting flossers (which have handles that make them more comfortable) or a water flosser instead.

Schedule an Appointment to Avoid, Fix Problems

Nevertheless, more than half of kids will have at least one cavity by age 11. This is one reason it’s important to have professional cleanings a couple times per year.

By visiting us before school begins, we can remove tartar and plaque before decay can develop. If decay is already present, we would much rather fill that cavity today than to wait until it turns into a distracting and painful toothache.

You also can add extra protection with fluoride and dental sealants. Fluoride is a mineral that makes teeth stronger and more resistant to cavities. Sealants become a barrier that bacteria has to get through before they can damage teeth. Both of these services can reduce your children’s risk of cavities.

Don’t Wait Another Day

It’s never too early to take care of your family’s smiles … but it can be too late. Call 607-304-3993 or contact us online now. Schedule an appointment soon at Dr. Farrell’s dental office in Johnson City, NY.

Together, we can help your family start the school year cavity-free.