Access Dental: Back to School Oral Care Routine

Showing posts with label Back to School Oral Care Routine. Show all posts

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Tips For a Successful Back-To-School Routine

School is back in session in most areas or will be soon, so it's time to shake off the laid-back summer days and get back into a productive routine. An established routine not only helps kids to "get back into the swing of things" but it can also help everyone in the home avoid feeling stressed and rushed each morning. Access Dental & Dentures has a few tips to get everyone through the day, from the time you wake up until bedtime.

BEFORE SCHOOL

Don't Hit Snooze
Kids need enough time in the morning to leisurely get ready for a long school day. School items should already be packed and ready to grab on the way out the door. (We'll talk about that below.) Set the alarm for the same time each morning and vow to not hit the snooze button. (At least not more than once!) Giving kids an alarm of their own takes the pressure off you and teaches them responsibility.

Get Dressed
Laying clothes out before going to bed makes getting ready in the morning a lot faster and easier. The outfit decision has already been made and all matching pieces are already there waiting to be put on. Older kids may choose to shower in the morning after waking up (which will cause the alarm time to be set earlier) but it's best to let younger children bathe the night before when you're not in a hurry.

Eat a Nutritious Breakfast
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it gives you the energy needed to get the day started right. Avoid sugary cereals and opt for fresh fruits, oatmeal, eggs, and other foods that will fuel their bodies without a sugar rush to come off of in a couple of hours. Eating breakfast as a family lets everyone talk about upcoming plans for the day.

Brush Those Teeth
Before heading out the door for school, always brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes. Schools generally don't ask kids to bring a toothbrush to school to clean their teeth after lunch and you don't want two meals stuck on their teeth all day long.

AFTER SCHOOL

Stock Up on Healthy Snacks
After a long day of learning, kids usually come home hungry for something to eat. Stock the cabinets with healthy snacks so bad food choices aren't even an option. There are plenty of healthy foods available that are delicious. For example, apples, carrots, vegetables, yogurt, fruit smoothies, and cheese all make excellent snack foods and they're not only good for your oral health but also the rest of your body. Presentation makes a big difference and if these foods are already cut up and ready to eat, kids are more likely to go ahead and enjoy them.

Finish Homework Early
Each person is different, so this part of the routine may vary from child to child. Some kids like to hit the books the second they arrive home to get homework out of the way while others prefer to give their brain a break first before tackling homework. Figure out which way works best for your child and encourage them to stick to that routine each day. The key is to not put it off so long that they end up staying up past bedtime or getting up extra early in the morning to complete it.

Also, parents need to check with their child to see if any papers need to be signed or anything else needs to be done. Do this early in the evening so it's not a "surprise" you hear about on the way to school the next day! This is kind of like homework for Mom and Dad.

Prep for the Next Day
Before going to bed, it's a good idea to pack everything needed for the next school day (books, finished homework, permission slips, lunch money, etc...) into the backpack and set it by the door you leave through in the morning. Shoes, jackets, and anything else that needs to go with your child can all be left here too for a quick "grab & go" before school.

Have a Set Bedtime Routine
A great day begins with a good night's sleep. Choose a bedtime that allows at least 8 hours of sleep with plenty of time to wake up and get ready in the morning without being rushed. It is suggested that children stop having "screen time," meaning mobile devices, computers, and TVs, 1-2 hours before bedtime for a restful sleep. This is a perfect time to read a story together or for older children to catch up on reading for school. They can also use these screen-free time to pick out the clothes they will wear tomorrow.

Last, but certainly not least, your dentists in Southern Missouri have to remind you that an important part of that bedtime routine is brushing and flossing your teeth! If you haven't already done it after dinner, make sure to not skip your dental health routine before going to sleep. Skipping this allows food particles to do their dirty work all night long, causing all kinds of problems for your teeth that can be avoided with just 2 minutes of brushing and a good job flossing.

We hope that these tips inspire you and your family to come up with a routine that works best for your schedules. After a while, the routine will become a habit and help to keep everyone on track for a successful school year.

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile!

1-877-DENTIST

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Springfield Office Rolla Office Osage Beach Office

(417) 501-1048 (573) 426-5447 (573) 348-1466

1701 West Sunshine 416 S. Bishop Ave. 4320 Osage Beach Pkwy

Springfield, MO 65807 Rolla, MO 65401 Osage Beach, MO. 65065

Mountain Grove Office Aurora Office

(417) 926-1160 (417) 308-3534

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Mountain Grove, MO 65711 Aurora, MO 65605

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Tips for Your Child's Back To School Routine

As a number of area schools gear back up for the year, it's important that you have your back to school routine down. From getting ready for bed at night to waking up with plenty of time to get ready, a good routine can help make your mornings flow better. An established routine can help get your child into the swing of things and avoid them feeling rushed or stressed each morning. Take a look below for some quick tips on how to create a good back to school routine for your little learners!

BEFORE SCHOOL:

Solidify a Morning Schedule

Establish a routine before school starts back up. Ensure each item on your list of things to do has adequate time for your child to complete them. It can be helpful to break down a clock or have a prominent list of when your child should be completing each task.

Eat a Nutritious Breakfast

Start your child's day right with a healthy and delicious breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal and should never be skipped. A good breakfast can help give your little one fuel to get them through the morning part of their day.

AFTER SCHOOL:

Prep Your School Items

After your child gets home from school, it's time to start preparing them for the next day. Pack a healthy lunch for them to take the next day unless they eat lunch at school. Also, go through their bags with them and make sure they work on any needed homework and re-organize their bag after they are done. Ensure their backpack is in it's designated area for easy location in the morning.

Set a Bed Time

Setting a bedtime is the easy part, sticking to it is the hard part. Try to hit the bedtime each night with your children. A little before time for bed, try to help your child perform any night-time self-care and get their pajamas on. This is the ideal time for your child to start winding down from the day.

It's important to incorporate oral care into your morning and night time routines. Ensure your child brushes their teeth two times each day and flosses at least once each day. Make teeth brushing a part of your little one's morning and evening routines.

Now that you've learned about these back to school routine tips, you're ready to put them into place and create a less stressful morning for everyone! Our southern MO dentist stresses starting and ending each day with brushing teeth to help keep your child's teeth healthy. Many children will miss school due to dental-related issues and we want to help you get ahead of the game with proper oral care. If you do have a little one with a toothache, please contact us at 877-DENTIST right away. Here at Access Dental & Dentures, we work hard to get your child in as fast a possible so they can receive some much-needed relief from oral pain!

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile!

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Springfield Office Rolla Office Osage Beach Office Mountain Grove Office
(417) 501-1048 (573) 426-5447 (573) 348-1466 (417) 926-1160
1701 West Sunshine 416 S. Bishop Ave. 4320 Osage Beach Pkwy 921 N. Main St.

Springfield, MO 65807 Rolla, MO 65401 Osage Beach, MO. 65065 Mountain Grove

Friday, August 11, 2017

Tips for Back to School Oral Care Routines

It's that time of year again....the school year is gearing up for many students across southern Missouri. With new morning routines for your family, it's important to make time for oral care. Especially at the beginning of the year, it can be easier to incorporate proper oral care as you start to create a new routine for your family. The best dentist in Springfield, MO is here to help with pointers for successfully getting a new routine started.

Wake Up With Plenty of Time

In order to fit your new morning routine in, be sure to wake up on time. Hitting snooze can start your day off on the wrong foot and lead you to rush through your routine. Allowing your family extra time to relax and take their time when brushing and flossing is a great idea.

Brush, Brush, Brush

While it can be easy to loose track during a rushed morning, ensure all of your kids brush their teeth. Some evenings can be just as hectic as a morning and it's also important to make sure they stick to your brushing routine. A fun way to get kids excited about brushing is to buy a new toothbrush for the start of school. It's a great way to gear up for a great school year!

Add a Fun Timer

Although brushing is an important step in the oral care process for your family, don't forget the length of time spent brushing is just as vital. If your children need a little extra encouragement, a fun timer can help lengthen the amount of time spent brushing. Remind your kids to brush their teeth until the timer runs out to ensure they get every tooth scrubbed.

Floss Each Day

Just like brushing, flossing is a huge piece of the oral care puzzle. When you and your kids don't floss, 40% of the tooth surface goes untouched. Remove any food particles and bacteria from in between your teeth by flossing.

Start The Day Right

In addition to a good oral care routine, it's also important to get a good breakfast. Especially before school, a well-balanced and filling meal can make a big difference in your child's morning. Get this school year started off right by having a good breakfast to start each day!

Now that you've seen the tips for incorporating a new oral care routine, you're ready to start implementing. In order to make your families' morning routine easier, it's a good idea to practice BEFORE the first day of school. This can help start getting the kids used to the way things will go, as well as give you a good idea of how long it will take to get everyone ready and out the door. If you haven't scheduled your child's dental check up yet this summer, spots are filling up quickly. Be sure to contact Access Dental & Dentures today to get in!

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile!

Springfield, MO 65807 Rolla, MO 65401 Osage Beach, MO. 65065 Mountain Grove