Are you happily sun kissed and water logged from the long hot playful days with your kids? Looking for any shade activities? This has been a record hot summer. Here is a thought. Why not take your kids to a dental check up before they go back to school? OK we feel your exaggerated eye roll, but give us a chance.
One thing that the office will do that you cant do, is teach the kids how to take care of their own teeth. Every time you go into a dental office, your child is trained on brushing and for the right age they are given lessons on flossing. Kids listen better about brushing when it is not mom or dad. As you know this is especially true as they get closer to being a teenager. We see the kids puff up with pride when they know they are cavity free. After their dental visit they are a bit more motivated to brush and this regular check up time teaches them from an early age to take pride in their smile. Bring in your 2-4 year old too since their first check up is usually Free!
If you have a young 9 to 12 year old with pretty crowded teeth or already a noticeable overbite, this may be time to start some orthodontic interventions. There are things like a palatal expansion appliances that help to make room for the teeth. Sometimes this can eliminate full orthodontic treatment later but sometimes it does not. It will however cut down the time and intensity of full Ortho and therefore the cost since the more complex the treatment, the more expensive the treatment.
Do you have a teen that is graduating this year or next year? They need to look their best at prom. It is the most important time for any teenager, a passage of life. Teen Invisalign works! It may be less expensive than you think and most dental insurance with Ortho coverage will cover any child under 19. It is possible your teen can perfect their smile for as little $199 a month? Find out with a Free Invisalign consult. There is still time for this coming years prom. A lot of movement can be accomplished but the sooner you start treatment the more chances that the smile is closer to perfection.
Empowering your childs oral health might just benefit you as well, according to the Canadian Pediatric Society Children who visited dentists early in life were more likely to visit the dentist frequently resulting in lower dental costs over time. We know anything that can help a family's pocket book is a good thing.
And the one thing more finite than money? Time. According to Health Canada Approximately 2.27 million days of school and 4.16 million days of work are lost every year due to dental sick-days or visits. We know that one six month check up during the summer wont make a huge dent in those numbers, but if your kids do have cavities and need more appointments, why not get them done before your child needs to possibly miss school and you miss work.
What about grades? As Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC states: Children who had recent tooth pain were also more likely to have lower grades. Physical distress doesn't help with learning, but a lower grad point average due to oral health issues can have unnecessary long term effects. Why not make a summer dental appointment? Call your local dentist today.