How to Put an Oral Care Routine in Place

With schools back in session, families are quickly falling into a routine. Bedtimes are getting earlier and weeks feel shorter. Many households plan annual physical and eye exams that are required by schools. Taking care of your oral health should be part of this routine. Sadly, more than 50% of children ages 5 to 9 have at least one cavity or filling and tooth decay is the number one chronic illness in America for children. There are many things you can do to help your entire family avoid this fate. Putting an oral care routine in place is a great place to start.

Make Annual Oral Care Appointments

There’s no question that life is busy. Getting pulled in multiple directions for work, school, activities and issues that crop up can leave you exhausted by days end. Calling a doctor, optometrist or dentist for an appointment often takes a back seat until an issue arises. Don’t wait until you feel tooth sensitivity or have difficulty seeing distance or a nagging allergy to see a professional. At Foundations of Health Dental Care, bi-annual dental cleanings and annual check-ups are recommended. Just like your car or air conditioner, maintenance of your oral health is important.

 Not only does a cleaning keep your mouth in great shape, but x-rays and dental exams can catch issues early on before they escalate.

Make it a routine to schedule your next appointment oral health appointment before leaving your current visit. The friendly staff at the front desk makes it easy. Once these appointments are set for the whole family, there’s no need to worry about calling or planning time for them in the future. Keep them in your family or Google calendar and plan other events around them.

Oral Care Routine on a Daily Basis

As the family routine and schedule fall into place this time of year, make oral care a priority. There are things you can do daily, weekly and monthly to keep your mouth healthy.

• Brushing & Flossing – 2 times a day preferably morning and evening
• Limit Sugary Beverages – make these drinks the exception, not the norm
• Mouthwash – an additional layer of cleaning that can be used daily or occasionally
• Toothbrush Replacement – typical replacement should be every 3-4 months or earlier if bristles are worn or sickness occurs
• Tongue Scraping – an added cleaning benefit that can reduce halitosis up to 70%

All of these pieces of your oral care routine are essential for maximum health benefits and leading by example can help children learn how important it is. Let your children see you brush and floss daily. Set them up right for this school year with all the tools they need to succeed. Create healthy habits that will last a lifetime. The earlier they start, the better their overall health will be!