- Pencils – Check!
- Paper – Check!
- Backpack – Check!
- Dentist Appointment – ………
With so much to do when it’s time to head back to school, it can be easy to forget about a dental checkup. But did you know that many states now require proof of a dental screening or exam before a child can be registered for school? Not required in your state? Keep reading – even if a dental visit is not required for school, oral health is important to every child’s success in school.
Studies have shown a link between a child’s oral health care and performance in school.
Believe it! Oral health can impact a child’s ability to perform well in school in a number of ways, including absence from school, dealing with pain, inability to chew properly, being unable to focus, and feeling self-conscious.
- In one study, children with poor oral health were nearly 3 times more likely than their peers to miss school as a result of dental pain. Interestingly enough, the same study found that absences due to pain were associated with poorer school performances, where absences for routine care were not.
- For children and teens in families with lower incomes, the kids who had a toothache within the last 6 months were almost 4 times as likely as their peers to have an average GPA below a 2.8. (National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center)
- Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease for children ages 6 to 19. (CDC website)
The Good News: Preventative dental care can make all the difference!
Make sure your child is prepared to succeed in school and in life by helping them to stay healthy. For their oral health, this means brushing twice a day and flossing daily, eating a balanced diet, and seeing the dentist regularly. We’d love to see you before school starts!
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