Good Dental Health = Better School Performance

Back to School Tips from Our Dentist for Children in Lincoln, NE

In our article we’ll cover:

Is it normal for kids to snore? Our dentist for children has answers.

Your child may have the latest, coolest wardrobe, tons of fancy new school supplies, and sports equipment for the upcoming school year, but do they have a healthy mouth and all the skills and tools they will need to maintain it? Searching for a dentist for children near me? Look no further, our Lincoln, NE Dentist for Children, Dr. Christine Bergman, shares her ideas on preparing kids for school and assuring that dental problems will not interfere with school performance.

Our Lincoln, NE Dentist for Children says: “According to the American Dental Association, an examination for oral health performed by a dentist is just as important as the immunizations and booster shots children need. Therefore, a dental exam and cleaning should be incorporated into the checklist parents make to prepare for the upcoming school year. Tooth decay affects U.S. children more than any other chronic infectious disease as noted by statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a matter of fact, nearly 20 percent of children ages 2 to 19 years old have some form of untreated tooth decay. Furthermore, dental discomfort and or disease can lead to difficulty in many tasks. Tasks affected may include eating, speaking, playing, and learning. This can equate to  countless hours of missed school.”

1. Regular, routine dental examinations to diagnose, treat, or prevent any dental problems. Catching dental problems early on can save your child from pain and missed school and in turn, save parents money. Often, parents and teachers may not realize there’s a dental problem, so regular checkups are very critical. Your Lincoln, NE Dentist for Children may suggest things such as fluoride treatments or sealants that can help prevent decay. Routine brushing with fluoride toothpaste along with flossing can help to prevent further decay. If you want more information, just search for “dentist for children near me” and find a location convenient for you. We would love to see you and your child!

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2. Make life easy and while you are out shopping for school, be sure to head for the dental care aisle. Do this either before or after getting those awesome new notebooks, binders, and pencils. If parents buy several toothbrushes at a time, it’s much easier and more convenient to have their child change to a new toothbrush roughly every three months. Especially, after being ill. If remembering when to change toothbrushes becomes a daunting task, replace it every time your child’s report card comes out. Your Lincoln, NE Dentist for Children or any children dental clinic can also give you recommendations on timelines for changing your child’s toothbrush.

3. Pack healthy lunches and snacks. Include portable, healthy lunch items and snacks in your child’s sack lunch. Typically, this may include grains, milk, cheese, raw vegetables, yogurt, or fruit. If your child eats in the school cafeteria, review healthy, balanced food choices. This is important to do with your child before the first day of school. Cut back on sugary foods and soft drinks.

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4. Wearing a properly fitted mouthguard while participating in organized sports, PE classes, or playground activities. We make custom, affordable mouthguards at any of the Nebraska Family Dentistry locations, just search for “dentist for children near me” to find the location closest to you. The price for a well fitted, a custom mouthguard is only $75. We often get questions from parents about snoring, bad breath, or needing mouth guards. Below you can find common questions and answers.

Generally, small children under the age of 9 years old have limited dexterity and sensory capabilities. As a result, this makes it difficult to do a thorough job of brushing and flossing their own teeth. At this age, it is important for parents to help them brush on a daily basis. For children, ages 6 months – 5 years old, parents should brush twice a day for them, as well as floss teeth that are touching at least 3-5 times a week. Often young children are not cooperative for brushing and flossing. We want to encourage parents that restraining children during brushing and flossing are sometimes necessary to thoroughly clean the teeth and prevent cavities. If a routine is followed, eventually the child will cooperate. At age 6-9 years old, children can brush independently in the mornings, and parents can brush and floss for them in the evenings.

Teaching children to follow a consistent brushing and flossing routine will help them maintain healthy habits as adults. Ultimately, it will help them avoid having to receive a lot of costly dental work in the future.

Keeping baby teeth healthy is important for proper growth and development. If children suffer from extreme tooth decay and begin losing baby teeth too early, it can affect their ability to chew. Chewing, especially healthy foods, can help develop the muscles and structures of the jaw and face normally. Losing teeth too early can lead to crowding and orthodontic complications. Consequently, children who lose baby molars too early often struggle with maintaining good oral health throughout their lives due to orthodontic problems. If you have questions, simply search “dentist for children near me” and let us help you!

Bad breath in children is not typical, but if you have noticed that your child has bad breath, there are a variety of potential causes. Many children suffer from allergies and have a tendency to breathe through their mouths due to nasal congestion. As a result, this creates more opportunity for plaque and tartar to adhere to the teeth and results in a higher concentration of bacteria that can cause a bad odor. If a child has untreated tooth decay, gingivitis or tonsillitis, they may suffer from bad breath. It is a good idea to have regular dental exams to rule out dental problems. Some dental problems can contribute to bad breath. If there are no dental problems, your child may benefit from a physical with their pediatrician to address any systemic causes.

Which sports should use mouthguards?

Trauma to the teeth is one of the main causes of dental emergencies for pediatric patients. In general, kids are more likely to take a fall from bikes or climbing on playground equipment. However, children who play contact sports are at a higher risk of sustaining trauma to the head and face. Sports like baseball, football, basketball, volleyball and soccer pose a risk of injury to the face. Mouth guards can be purchased over-the-counter and made to fit, otherwise your dentist can create a custom-made sports guard.

Children who are between the ages of 4-13 often grind their teeth at night. This is a very normal part of development. As permanent teeth develop and erupt below the surface of the gums, they create a feeling of pressure in the jaw, which can then cause children to involuntarily grind their teeth during the night. It is a very normal part of growth and development.

Your child snores, what does it mean?

Children may snore at night because of enlarged tonsils or sinus congestion, which can be caused by allergies. Some children with extensive crowding of the teeth may not have adequate space for the tongue to relax when laying down. Without enough space, it may cause the tongue to fall to the back of the throat and partially obstruct the airway. If your child snores, talk to your dentist and pediatrician to rule out any potential causes. Children need to have restful sleep to grow and develop properly, and snoring is typically linked to poorer sleep quality.

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We love helping kids to have healthy teeth and grow up enjoying seeing dentists. We hope to see your kids at any of our locations soon.

The information on this page was written by
Dr. Christine Bergman.

This gentle Lincoln, NE dentists says: “My team and I will go out of our way to ensure you feel at home. We take the time to understand all of your concerns because we genuinely care. Let us help improve your health with the most advanced dental techniques in a soothing, relaxing environment. We are the gentle dentists in Lincoln, NE.”

You can schedule with this Lincoln, NE dentist, or her partners, online 24/7 at a Nebraska Family Dentistry Location near you. This “dentist near me” serves the local communities close to Lincoln. Some of the communities include Waverly, Davey, Raymond, Garland, Ceresco, Greenwood, and Malcom, Roca, Bennet, Firth, Crete, Hickman, and many more!

Your Lincoln, NE Dentist for Children,

Dr. Christine Bergman