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As summer winds down and the new school year approaches, it’s crucial to prioritize a dental checkup for your kids before they head back to the classroom. Regular dental checkups are vital for maintaining good oral health and preventing potential issues that could disrupt their school year. Especially since dental pain is a common cause for children to miss school.
Dental problems like cavities or gum disease can cause pain and discomfort, leading to difficulties in concentrating, eating, and speaking, which can negatively impact your child’s academic performance and overall well-being. By ensuring your child has a dental checkup before returning to school, you are setting them up for success. And you may even be reducing their risk of catching colds and flu.
How Oral Health Supports The Immune System
A child’s oral health is a critical and often overlooked component of their overall immune defense system. Emerging research and established health principles indicate connection between the state of a child’s mouth and their ability to fend off common illnesses like colds and influenza.
How Poor Oral Health Weakens the Immune System:
- Chronic Inflammation: Gum disease and cavities are essentially chronic infections. The body’s immune system constantly battles these oral bacteria, creating a state of persistent low-grade inflammation. This ongoing fight can divert and fatigue the immune system, leaving it with fewer resources to combat other pathogens, such as cold and flu viruses.
- Gateway for Germs: The tissues in the mouth can provide a direct entry point for harmful bacteria into the bloodstream. From there, these bacteria can circulate throughout the body, triggering a broader inflammatory response and further taxing the immune system.
- Increased Susceptibility to Respiratory Infections: The mouth and respiratory tract are intricately connected. Bacteria thriving in an unhealthy mouth can be inhaled into the lungs, potentially leading to respiratory infections or exacerbating existing conditions. Studies have indicated a correlation between the presence of dental cavities in children and a higher incidence of influenza.
The Protective Role of Good Oral Hygiene:
Maintaining good oral health through regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups can significantly bolster a child’s natural defenses.
- Reduced Bacterial Load: A clean mouth harbors fewer harmful bacteria. This lessens the chronic inflammatory burden on the immune system, allowing it to be more robust and responsive when faced with new threats like cold and flu viruses.
- Stronger Oral Barrier: Healthy gums and teeth form a more effective barrier against the entry of pathogens into the bloodstream.
- Improved Overall Health: A healthy mouth contributes to better nutrition, as children without dental pain are more likely to eat a variety of healthy foods that provide essential vitamins and minerals for a strong immune system.
In essence, while good oral hygiene is not a foolproof shield against all illnesses, it plays a vital supportive role in maintaining a well-functioning immune system. By reducing the constant battle against oral infections, the body’s defenses are better prepared to ward off common viruses like those that cause the cold and flu. Therefore, parents and caregivers should view consistent and thorough oral care as an essential practice for promoting their child’s overall health and resilience against infections
Do schools require dental checkups?
The requirements for dental checkups before children return to school can vary by state and school district. In some states, you need to show proof that your kids have had dental exams at specific points – such as kindergarten or first grade, third grade, and seventh grade. These exams are intended to ensure that children have no dental issues that could affect their school performance and overall health.
15 states do require that students have dental exams. And the American Dental Association (ADA), strongly recommends regular dental checkups for children before the school year begins. For more detailed information, you can check the guidelines and recommendations provided by your state’s Department of Health or local school district.
What happens at a dental checkup for kids?
During a preventive checkup, your dentist will check your child’s teeth for cavities, tartar buildup, gum disease and bite alignment. You and the dentist may discuss preventive care treatments such as topical fluoride treatments and sealants – which are painted on the surface of the teeth – to ward off tooth decay. Sealants reduce the risk of decay in molars by nearly 80% for two years after application and 50% for up to four years after.
Your dentist can also monitor the spacing and alignment of your child’s teeth and make a referral to an orthodontist if needed.
Dentists and hygienists can also help you and your child understand how to best maintain oral health at home, including careful and consistent brushing/flossing and good nutritional choices. What’s good for your teeth is typically good for your body, so taking care of smiles can result in multiple health benefits!
And, if your kid plays sports, talk to your dentist about mouthguards during the checkup. You can ask about what mouthguards your dentist recommends, or bring in your kid’s current mouth guard to see if it still fits correctly.
The importance of regular dental checkups for kids
Establishing a routine of regular dental visits helps children become more comfortable with dental care, helping to reduce anxiety and fear associated with dental appointments.
Taking the time for a dental checkup before school starts can make a significant difference in your child’s health and confidence. It ensures they start the school year with a healthy smile, ready to engage fully in their education and social interactions. Prioritize their dental health now to prevent potential problems and promote a positive, healthy start to the school year.
If budget or lack of dental insurance is keeping you from getting the health care that your family needs, consider joining a dental savings plan. Plan members report saving an average of 50%* on their dental care.
You can use a dental savings plan to reduce the cost of virtually any dental procedure, at any of the thousands of participating dentists nationwide. These plans activate within 72 hours, have no annual limits, and often include savings on procedures that insurance may not cover, such as cosmetic dental care and dental implants. And while dental insurance often has deductibles and waiting periods for costly procedures, dental savings plans do not. You can start saving within 72 hours of joining a plan, sometimes even sooner.
The quickest way to find the perfect dental plan for all of your oral health needs is with this online dental plan finder — just answer a few questions and you’ll receive a personalized plan recommendation in minutes. Want a quick peek at how much you can save on your dental care right now? Use the calculator below.
*Discount Health Program consumer and provider surveys indicate average savings of 50%. Savings may vary by provider, location, and plan
