Good Oral Health Leads to Academic Success!

With summer nearly over, parents are gearing up for the back-to-school season. In particular, many are helping their kids buy new supplies, learn class schedules, and prepare for coursework. However, there’s another way to give your youngsters an edge this semester: Have them visit the local children’s dentist for treatment! As it turns out, good oral health can translate to good school grades. To learn more, here’s a summary of the connection between healthy teeth and academic success.

How Could a Good Smile Lead to Straight A’s?

Doing well in school depends on student focus. After all, you can’t expect kids to excel if they can’t pay attention to their assignments or class lectures. Constant distractions would take away from their ability to learn and perform as necessary.

Well, it seems poor oral health can cause such distractions. In a 2012 study published by the Journal of Pediatrics, researchers found that dental conditions lead to poor schoolwork. Because tooth and gum problems can be painful and distracting, they make kids miss school, have classroom issues, and skip homework. Even worse, having unhealthy smiles can reduce their motivation, triggering feelings of unhappiness.

Back-to-School Oral Health Tips

If you don’t want your child’s teeth to conflict with school, ensure they get the proper care. Do so by considering the following tips:

Visit the Children’s Dentist

In the days before school fully starts, have your tyke get a dental checkup. A dentist can examine, diagnose, and treat any tooth-related problems they might have. Not only would that lead to a better-looking smile, but it’d also head off oral health issues that could distract from classes.

Get Involved in Their Dental Routine

Consider teaching your child about brushing and flossing with a fun approach. By relying on visual and verbal cues, you could show them that teeth cleaning is essential and enjoyable.

One example is the so-called “Tell Show Do” method. Put simply, it has you *tell* your kid how to brush and floss, *show* them how it’s done, and *do* help them try it themselves.

Pack Mouth-Healthy Lunches

School lunches with excess sugar will only hurt your student’s teeth. More specifically, the sugary foods will create acids that erode their tooth enamel.

In the future, pack nutritious foods for your child’s lunch. Good examples are products high in protein, fiber, and dairy — think meat, cheese, and fresh fruits.

There’s obviously no substitute for studying when it comes to school. Still, tips like those above will give your child a smile that doesn’t get in the way of excellent academics.

About the Practice

Springhetti Dentistry is based in Carmel, IN. As led by Dr. Aaron Springhetti, the practice ensures each patient receives quality, personalized dental care. To that end, its staff can perform preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency dental treatments. The team further guarantees its results thanks to using the latest dental technology. For more information or to book an appointment, you can reach them at their website or by phone at (317)-875-7645.