4 Great Back-to-School Tips for Your Next Dental Exam

As a student, you may be prepping for the upcoming Fall semester. That means you’re buying school supplies, learning your class schedule, etc. Still, don’t let these tasks distract you from crucial oral care habits. It’s best to start the new school year with a beautiful, stellar smile! Luckily, your Columbus dentist is here to keep you on track. To that end, here are four great back-to-school tips for your next dental exam.

Stick to Good Oral Hygiene

Perhaps you neglected teeth cleaning over the summer. If so, the new semester is a great time to re-establish oral hygiene routines.

In particular, make sure you follow the dental care essentials. These include:

• Twice-Daily Brushing – Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, brush your smile twice daily for two minutes at a time.
• Once-Daily Flossing – Whether with traditional floss or flossers, floss between your teeth at least once a day.
• As-Needed Mouth Rinses – To ensure fresh breath and low plaque levels, rinse with fluoridated mouthwash often.

So long as you stick to these morning and nightly habits, you’ll reduce your risk of cavities, gum disease, and more.

Avoid Sugary Foods & Drinks

While tasty, school lunches packed with sweet treats aren’t a great idea. Overly sugary foods and drinks will erode your tooth enamel. From there, they can cause cavities, toothaches, and worse.

As an alternative, try to have lunches with nutrient-rich items. Lean proteins, leafy greens, and dairy products are especially good for teeth. Thanks to their vitamins and minerals, they can strengthen your enamel even as they fill you up.

Opt for a Mouthguard

Smile protection is a must if you’re on a school sports team. That being the case, consider getting a mouthguard before classes begin.

Remember: Sports are notorious for causing dental injuries. Such incidents can involve tooth chips, fractures, and even knocked-out teeth. With a sports mouthguard, though, your pearly whites would be protected from harm. The appliance would shield your smile from forces that’d otherwise break it.

Replace Your Toothbrush

Summer vacation doesn’t always leave you with time to switch dental tools. Since it’s now ending, though, go ahead and replace your toothbrush.

You see, it’s vital that you get a new toothbrush every 3-4 months. Your current one will wear out over time and become less effective. As such, failing to replace it regularly will cause oral problems – cavities, gum disease, infections, etc.

With the right back-to-school tips for your next dental exam, you’ll pass the checkup with flying colors. So, remember to follow the ones above!

About the Practice

Third Street Dental is based in Columbus, OH. Led by its talented trio of dentists, our practice offers high-quality dentistry for each and every patient. That means we perform preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services tailored to your unique smile! As such, we’re able to help you with everything from dental checkups to dental implants. For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (614)-228-4850.