An Inside Look at the Link Between Academic Success & Oral Health

Between purchasing supplies, meeting your child’s teachers, setting up carpools, and everything else on your to-do list, back-to-school season can be a hectic time! Of course, it’s all for one important reason: to help your child have a successful semester. Unfortunately, many parents aren’t aware of how important of a role their son or daughter’s oral health plays in their academic success. To learn all about the link between the two (as well as a few important dental care tips), read on!

What Does the Research Say About Academic Success and Oral Health?

The National Library of Medicine recently reviewed a study from the National Survey of Children’s Health, which looked into the link between academic success and oral health. They studied around 40,000 students and found that dental problems played a significant role in school performance and psychosocial well-being. In short, children with oral health concerns were:

• More likely to have problems at school
• More likely to miss school
• Less likely to complete assigned homework
• More likely to experience shyness, unhappiness, and feelings of worthlessness

How To: Keep Your Child’s Teeth Decay-Free

Before you get discouraged, it’s important to remember that dental problems, like cavities, are largely preventable. With this in mind, here are a few ways you can help keep your child’s teeth decay-free:

• Pack smile-friendly lunches
• Keep their consumption of sugary foods and beverages to a minimum
• Make sure they brush and floss each morning and evening
• Redirect bad dental habits, like biting their nails or chewing on their pencil
• If they play sports, get them a custom-made mouthguard

Don’t Forget This Back-to-School To-Do!

In the midst of the back-to-school madness, it’s important not to forget or put off scheduling your child’s biannual checkup and cleaning. After all, their biannual visits aren’t just routine, they are essential! While the checkup portion allows your dentist to catch cavities in the early stages, the cleaning portion ensures their hygienist can remove plaque, clean the hard-to-reach areas of their mouth, and provide an overall more thorough clean.

Naturally, you want to set your child up for a successful school year. Since that can be quite difficult with a painful toothache, make sure to schedule their routine checkup and cleaning this back-to-school season!

About the Author

Dr. James T. Gray isn’t just a dentist with 30+ years of experience; he’s also a father of three children! So, he knows first-hand how important it is to help growing smiles thrive. He earned his dental doctorate from the University of Texas Dental School at San Antonio, and he’s been helping patients of all ages smile ever since. So, if your child is overdue for their biannual visit or you have a question about how to keep their teeth decay-free, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with him via his website or by phone at (817) 460-4131.