Parents eager to support their children’s academic achievement may want to add an unusual item to their back-to-school to-do list: visiting the dentist for a free exam at Touro Dental Health, the clinical education center of Touro College of Dental Medicine.
This is because there is a significant relationship between oral health and success in the classroom according to this study from the University of Southern California.
The link between good grades and dental health may come as a surprise to parents, but the study’s research points to some of the reasons for the connection: toothaches, cavities and other painful dental problems not only cause difficulty concentrating, but can also lead to lost time in school and ultimately poor student performance.
“If left untreated, cavities can lead to pain, problems eating, difficulty speaking, and ultimately, absences from school,” explained Melissa Levine, DDS, Director of Pediatric Dentistry at Touro College of Dental Medicine.
The best way to help your children avoid these problematic and painful conditions is to seek regular preventive care by visiting a pediatric dentist twice a year.
Unfortunately, financial concerns can prevent many families from getting regular dental checkups, which is a big reason for Touro Dental Health’s free dental care initiative. From now until September 26, all new patients age 14 and under are eligible for free dental care at Touro Dental Health, including exams, x-rays, cleanings, fillings, sealants, fluoride and more.
“Our new program helps ensure that children from diverse backgrounds have the opportunity to get tested and start the school year off right,” Levine said.
Located on the campus of New York Medical College in Westchester County, Touro Dental Health’s 32,000-square-foot dental facility is committed to providing affordable and accessible oral care to patients of all ages in a modern, technologically advanced environment that makes dental care more comfortable and convenient. This is the second year in a row that Touro Dental Health has offered free school exams for children.
Of course, a dental checkup is only one step toward maintaining good oral health, and it’s up to patients to maintain good dental hygiene habits between visits. To ensure your children are on the right path to a future of healthy teeth, an exam is a perfect opportunity to ask your dentist for advice on establishing and maintaining these good habits.
For example, while many parents know that they should encourage their children to brush their teeth at least twice a day from a young age, some do not realize that even children as young as seven should receive help with brushing, as they often do not they do they have the dexterity to do a thorough job on their own.
Additionally, Touro Dental Health suggests avoiding putting anything sticky in your children’s school lunches, as it will be a long time before your child brushes their teeth again.
“While raisins and ‘fruit snacks’ may seem like a healthy choice, these sugary foods will stick to the teeth for unnecessarily long periods of time and can lead to tooth decay,” explained Dr. Levine.
Other strategies include encouraging your child to use straws if they drink sugary juices and soda, and limiting snack times to reduce exposure of teeth to acid erosion—it’s better to eat one large snack than several smaller ones.
After all, good oral hygiene is an exercise in self-control and self-pride, which are qualities kids can apply to all aspects of their lives — including the classroom. If kids work to develop these skills while keeping their mouths healthy and pain-free, they’ll have plenty of reasons to smile brightly all year long.
For more information on the importance of oral hygiene and patient care, visit Touro Dental Health online.
Members of the USA TODAY Network editorial and news staff were not involved in the creation of this content.
