Public News Service: Back to school in NC means opportunity for good dental routines

Medical experts said oral health is important to a person's overall health and attention should be paid to kids' teeth from a young age. One in three children in North Carolina experience preventable tooth decay before kindergarten, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Dr. Naomi Lane, a pediatric dentist in Greensboro and member of the North Carolina Dental Society, said kids in school may have fallen out of their regular routine over the summer.

"Brushing twice a day is important," Lane emphasized. "After that breakfast in the morning that kids brush before they go to school, and then also at the end of the day to remove all the food debris from things that they've had, snacking and dinner and whatnot. The last thing that should touch the teeth at night is the toothbrush before they go to bed."

Lane suggested having something visual is a helpful reminder for kids, such as keeping a toothbrush in the kitchen so kids remember to brush before school. She pointed out parents can model good behavior, too. Lane noted flossing is important and younger kids may lack the dexterity to do it properly, so parents might need to help.

Lane stressed diet is important for oral health as well.

"Trying to be mindful about the amount of sugar, their frequency of sugar that is consumed throughout the day," Lane advised. "Be mindful when you're packing lunchboxes or snacks to avoid things that are high content of sugar."

Lane underscored parents should ensure their kids have a regular dentist.

"It's really important to have an established dental home and to have periodic visits," Lane recommended. "Typically, that's an every six-month visit schedule for children as they're growing so that we can identify things on those periodic visits that might be at risk or to establish that relationship with kids and their parents too."

Lane added kids should wear mouth guards to prevent sports-related tooth injuries.