The start of the new school year is just weeks away, which is a great reason for you to schedule a checkup at our family dentist office in Newburgh, NY.

As a parent, you know that a good education can do a lot to help your children throughout their lives. Likewise, good oral health can affect their quality of life, too.

What you may not realize is that their poor oral health can interfere with a child’s education. The American Dental Association has reported that students across the United States miss 51 million hours of school every year due to dental problems.

By getting a dental checkup before classes begin, you can prevent issues or treat them while they are small. It’s also one less thing for you to worry about. Call 845-670-5423 to make your appointment at Smile Design Dental.

Seeing The Effects

Even if your child is in the classroom, a dental problem can become a distraction. A toothache can interfere with their ability to take in the day’s lessons or affect their focus when they are asked to perform assigned tasks.

Just as important, a painful tooth may affect how much your child eats before school and during lunch. If eating is uncomfortable, your child simply may not have the energy needed to stay alert throughout the day.

There also is evidence of a connection between poor oral health and lessened academic success. The Children’s Dental Health Project gathered information on various studies related to kids, education, and oral health. The reported that:

  • A study of teenage students found that those who reported dental pain were four times more likely than their peers to have below-average grades.
  • A separate study found that children with dental pain were three times more likely to miss school.
  • The report also noted that a survey of 6- to 12-year-olds found that 1 in 7 (around 14 percent) if kids reported having a toothache in the previous six months.

Good oral health does not mean every student would get straight A’s. Nevertheless, poor oral health can keep a child from doing their best in school.

Take A Proactive Approach

You encourage your kids to work on long-term projects a little at a time. You also know how stressful it is on everyone when they put off telling you about an assignment until the week or the night before it’s due.

Well, healthy mouths are like a long-term assignment than never ends. The easiest and most effective way to maintain your family’s healthy smiles is to get regular dental cleanings and exams. Cleanings remove plaque and tartar that can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. An exam can identify those problems in the early stages when treatment is easier and less invasive.

For some extra credit, you also can get fluoride treatments (which make teeth stronger) and dental sealants (which create a barrier to protect teeth from harmful bacteria).

Start The School Year With Healthy Mouths

You want your kids to have great teeth on picture day, but more importantly, you want them to have healthy smiles year-round. By visiting our family dentist office in Newburgh, NY, we can help your loved ones start the school year with healthy smiles.

Call Smile Design Dental at 845-670-5423 or contact us online.