The backpacks are packed, school supplies are labelled, and another school year is just around the corner. As Calgary families get ready to return to the classroom, it’s also a great time to make sure healthy dental habits are part of the plan.
These back-to-school dental tips can help make the transition a little easier. From re-establishing morning routines to knowing what to do about a toothache during the school day, a little preparation can help keep dental problems from interfering with learning, activities, and all the excitement of a new school year.
Get the Morning and Bedtime Routine Back on Track
Summer often means later nights, sleepovers, vacations, and less predictable schedules. If brushing and flossing became a little less structured over the holidays, the return to school is a natural time for a reset.
Try connecting brushing with parts of the school-day routine that already happen every day. In the morning, that might mean brushing after breakfast and before leaving the house. At night, make brushing and flossing part of getting ready for bed.
Children should generally brush twice a day using fluoride toothpaste. Younger children may still need some help or supervision to make sure they're reaching all surfaces of their teeth.
The goal isn't to create a complicated new routine. It's to make taking care of their teeth as automatic as packing their backpack or getting dressed for school.
Back-to-School Dental Checkup
The beginning of the school year can be a convenient time to make sure your child's dental care is up to date.
Regular dental exams allow your dentist to monitor your child's teeth and gums as they grow and identify potential concerns such as cavities before they begin causing discomfort.
After-school calendars can fill up quickly with homework, activities, and family commitments, so booking dental appointments ahead of time can also make scheduling easier.
If your child has been mentioning a sore tooth, sensitivity, or another dental concern over the summer, it's especially worth having it looked at rather than waiting for the problem to become more noticeable during the school year.
Pack School Lunches With Teeth in Mind
School lunches and snacks can mean several opportunities to eat throughout the day.
There's no need to create a "perfect" dental lunchbox. Instead, aim for a balanced variety of foods and be mindful of foods that stick to the teeth or expose them to sugar repeatedly throughout the day.
Depending on your child's preferences and your school's allergy policies, lunchbox options might include foods such as:
- cheese
- plain or lower-sugar yogurt
- fresh vegetables
- fresh fruit
- sandwiches or wraps
- other nutritious foods your child will actually eat
Sweet treats can still be enjoyed. What matters is the overall pattern of eating and how frequently teeth are exposed to sugar.
One thing to watch for is grazing on sugary or sticky snacks throughout the entire school day. Every time we eat carbohydrates or sugars, bacteria in the mouth can produce acids. Frequent exposure gives the mouth less time to recover between eating occasions.
Make Breakfast Part of the Dental Routine
Busy school mornings can be hectic, especially when everyone is trying to get out the door at the same time.
If your child eats breakfast at home, try to leave enough time for their usual dental routine before school.
If breakfast includes something acidic, such as citrus fruit or juice, don't have your child aggressively brush immediately afterward. Acidic foods and drinks can temporarily soften the surface of enamel.
If mornings are particularly rushed, preparing lunches, choosing clothes, and packing school bags the night before can leave a little more time for breakfast and brushing.
What If Your Child Gets a Toothache at School?
A toothache can make it difficult for a child to concentrate in class, eat their lunch, or participate normally in the school day.
Children don't always describe dental pain clearly, either. Watch for signs such as:
- repeatedly complaining about the same tooth
- avoiding foods on one side of the mouth
- sensitivity when eating something hot or cold
- pain when biting or chewing
- swelling around a tooth or gum
- difficulty sleeping because of tooth pain
If your child tells you their tooth hurts, ask when they notice the pain and how long it lasts.
A toothache doesn't necessarily tell you exactly what's wrong. It can have several causes, which is why persistent or significant dental pain should be assessed rather than simply managed at home.
What Happens If a Baby Tooth Falls Out at School?
For younger elementary-school students, losing a tooth during class can be a very exciting event!
Baby teeth naturally become loose as the adult teeth underneath prepare to come through. If a loose baby tooth falls out normally at school, a small amount of bleeding from the area is generally expected.
Having your child gently bite on clean gauze can help.
A tooth that comes out because of a fall or injury, however, is different from a baby tooth that was already loose. If you're unsure whether a tooth came out naturally or because of trauma, contact your dental office for advice.
And, of course, make sure the tooth makes it safely home if the Tooth Fairy is expected that evening!
Teach Kids What to Do If They Hurt a Tooth at School
Falls and bumps can happen anywhere — including the classroom, playground, or schoolyard.
Children should know that if they hurt their mouth or teeth, they need to tell a teacher or another adult rather than simply carrying on with their day.
If a permanent tooth is completely knocked out, getting dental advice quickly is important. Pick the tooth up by the crown — the white part you normally see in the mouth — rather than touching the root.
Dental injuries vary, so contacting a dentist promptly can help determine what should happen next.
Check What's Hiding in the Backpack
Backpacks can accumulate a surprising collection of forgotten snacks, wrappers, lunch containers, and other treasures over the course of a school year.
Giving backpacks and lunch bags a regular clean-out isn't just good housekeeping. It can also help parents notice whether lunches and snacks are actually being eaten.
If the crunchy foods your child normally loves suddenly start coming home untouched, for example, it may be worth asking why. Sometimes children change how or what they eat because a loose tooth, sore gum, or sensitive tooth is bothering them.
Help Kids Become More Independent With Their Oral Health
As children get older, the school years are a great time to gradually give them more responsibility for taking care of their own teeth.
Younger children will still need help, while older children and teenagers can begin taking greater ownership of brushing, flossing, and remembering their dental routines.
Rather than only reminding them to brush, help them understand why they're doing it.
Building those habits during childhood can help make good oral hygiene feel like a normal part of everyday life rather than another chore parents have to enforce.
Start the School Year With a Healthy Smile
The beginning of a new school year is full of fresh starts. It's also a useful opportunity to reset routines and make sure your family's dental care hasn't been forgotten during a busy summer.
Simple back-to-school dental tips like returning to regular brushing and flossing, being thoughtful about school lunches, keeping up with dental visits, and paying attention when a child complains about tooth pain can help keep their smile healthy throughout the school year.
SkyPointe Dental welcomes children, teens, adults, and families from SkyView Ranch, Redstone, Cornerstone, CityScape, Cornerbrook, Country Hills, and surrounding Northeast Calgary communities.
Is your family due for a dental visit? Contact SkyPointe Dental to book an appointment and start the new school year with healthy smiles.