If you’re in Houston or any of the surrounding cities, chances are you’re gearing up to send your children back to school after a long summer break. For most parents, this means stocking up clothes, shoes, and various school supplies. Some parents may even go a step further by scheduling doctor appointments for their children to ensure they are adequately vaccinated. However, many parents fall short when it comes to using this time to schedule a dentist appointment for their children, which enables them to return to school with a bright, healthy smile. One of the best ways to boost your child’s self-esteem is by ensuring that dental problems are corrected ahead of the upcoming school year. Furthermore, scheduling a dental appointment for your child is a great way to detect problems early while they are still relatively easy to treat.

Along with detecting cavities before they evolve into even more serious dental problems, scheduling a dental appointment for your child before they return to school sets them up for academic success. According to a study published by the National Institute of Health, one of the world’s foremost medical research centers and part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, children with good oral health are more likely to do better in school. In a separate study published by ResearchGate, a social networking site for scientists and researchers, children with poor oral health, even if they did not experience painful symptoms, were found to have three times as many school absences, lower self-esteem, and performed worse academically when compared to children with good oral health.

Top 3 Reasons to Schedule a Dental Appointment for Your Child

In addition to boosting their self-confidence and helping them perform better academically, good oral health can also improve your child’s social skills as they will feel less self-conscious and more motivated to befriend other children. After all, they will wear a healthy, radiant smile that they will want to show off to the world. A visit to the dentist will provide your child with the following:

Clean Teeth

Even if your child already practices good oral hygiene habits at home like brushing twice per day and flossing, it may not be enough to remove plaque and tartar build-up that can form along the gum line. These are problems that can be resolved during your child’s visit to the dentist.

Healthy Teeth

In addition to cavities, a visit to the dentist is a great way to detect and treat other dental problems like gum disease, which can be just as common in children as adults.

Fixed Teeth

Similar to gum disease, cavities, tooth discoloration, children can develop chipped teeth and other imperfections that can ruin their otherwise dazzling smile. Fortunately, these problems can be corrected with a visit to the dentist.

Dental Visit Gifts

Going to the dentist represents only one aspect of achieving a healthy, radiant smile. Often times, dentists will give children the following parting gifts at the end of their appointment to help them maintain good oral hygiene habits at home:

• A brand-new toothbrush of their choice
• Cool child-inspired toothpaste
• Flossers

There are a variety of benefits that come with scheduling a dentist visit for your child before they head back to school. Dental visits not only prepare them for the upcoming school year, but also encourage them to practice good oral hygiene habits that can last them a lifetime. While you’re knocking out your children’s dental appointments, it’s a good time to get yours in too. That said, Houston Dentists at Post Oak encourages you to contact our office today to schedule an appointment.