Recent studies have established a complex connection between children’s academic success, like the number of school days they’ve missed and their grades, to their oral health. As a parent, you want what’s best for your child, and what if that means doing something as simple as taking them in for their checkup and cleaning before school starts? Read on to learn about the connection between academic performance and children’s oral health.
What Do the Studies Say?
Studies published in recognized academic journals, like The Journal of Pediatrics and the Journal of Dental Research have uncovered connections between unmet dental health needs and reduced academic performance.
In the 2012 study in The Journal of Pediatrics, researchers analyzed data of between 40,752 – 41,988 children collected in the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health. Specifically, they looked at dental health ratings and school performance, as well as psychosocial wellness. What they found was that children that had dental problems, like cavities or toothaches, were significantly more likely to experience lower school and social performance, including missing school and not completing required assignments. These oral health issues were also shown to be connected with unhappiness for teens between 15 and 17 years old.
Tips to Boost Your Child’s Oral Health
By taking advantage of your dental insurance coverage and helping your child build good dental hygiene habits, you can help them feel more confident and capable in school! Here are some tips to help keep your favorite grin as healthy as possible:
- Take them into their regular checkup and cleaning with their children’s dentist before school starts.
- Supervise tooth brushing and flossing every morning and night, helping them keep plaque and tartar from building up.
- Pack their lunch with tooth-healthy snacks and beverages, like a reusable water bottle and fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Protect their pearly whites from cavities with fluoride treatments.
- Help them break habits that can impact their dental alignment, like thumb-sucking.
As your child grows up, their smile will change, but with a solid foundation of good dental hygiene habits both at-home and from their dentist, you can provide them with the tools they need to keep their grin healthy for a lifetime. This will help them perform at the top of their game.
About the Author
Dr. Zachary Brice is a father himself, so he understands the importance of establishing a great relationship with parents and children as a dentist. That’s why he’s happy to provide a wide range of services, allowing entire families to trust him as their go-to general dentist that can fulfill a spectrum of needs. In addition to offering more complex services for problems like tooth loss, he also offers children’s dentistry, ranging from fluoride treatments to routine checkups and cleanings. For questions or to schedule an appointment, visit Brice Dental’s website or call 210-680-3611.