A Family Dentist in Leawood: Tips for Back to School Teeth Injuries and Maintenance
Welcome back to school season Leawood families! As your trusted family dentist in Leawood, I know that amidst the frenzy of new uniforms, school supplies and lunchbox planning, your child’s dental health can sometimes take a backseat. But did you know that a healthy smile is just as essential for a successful school year? Tooth pain in Leawood from an untreated cavity can distract your little one from their studies.
Plus, with the return of sports and playground fun, the risk of dental injuries increases. That’s why a sports dentist in Leawood is important to consider as well. It’s crucial to prepare your child’s pearly whites for the school year. From regular check-ups to safeguarding against potential teeth injuries, let’s ensure that those smiles stay bright all year round. 
Here we are making our final preparations to get our children ready to go back to school for another year. Although your main focus might be on getting all the necessary supplies and clothes to get your child through another grade, your children’s oral health should be a top priority as well.
It may seem odd to think that you need to prepare your children’s teeth for the fall but scheduling regular mouth and teeth checkups is critical to a child’s oral health. So, before your little ones go back to school, it would be a good idea to do a mouth checkup.
Even if you can’t squeeze in one more visit to your family dentist in Leawood before school starts, our team at Starting Point Dental & Orthodontics has a few ways you can get your child’s teeth prepared for fall and the new school year.
Family Dentist in Leawood: Replace Your Child’s Toothbrush
A family dentist in Leawood recommends regularly replacing your child’s toothbrush. This is often done by parents when their child’s toothbrush shows extreme wear; however, replacing it earlier is a much healthier option. Bacteria and worn-out bristles are both dangers to preventing teeth from getting fully clean and healthy. During your “back to school” shopping, be sure to grab a new toothbrush for your growing child.
Family Dentist in Leawood: Schedule a Fall Back to School Cleaning
Just like you need to do regular checkups or physicals for your child, their teeth are no exception. When you schedule that back-to-school doctor’s appointment, remember to schedule an appointment with the best family dentist in Leawood to keep their teeth healthy all year. Most dentists recommend at least two appointments per year for a thorough teeth cleaning.
Family Dentist in Leawood: Be Aware of Your Child’s Eating Habits
Avoid those nasty cavities by packing healthy lunches for your child when they return to school. Not only should their lunches be healthy for their body, but they should contain low amounts of sugar to help prevent tooth decay and cavities.
You can include a toothbrush or at least a tiny toothpick in their lunch to quickly clean in-between their teeth after their meal. As a leading family dentist in Leawood, Starting Point Dental & Orthodontics recommends using soft, plastic toothpicks and not the traditional wooden ones. Traditional toothpicks can damage gums if not used properly, especially for kids.
Family Dentist in Leawood: Provide Your Child with Proper Mouth Protection
If your child plays any kind of sports, it’s a great idea to invest in a mouthguard. Playing sports can occasionally cause damaged teeth, and a mouthguard is a great way to prevent this from happening. Mouthguards can be easily molded to fit a child’s bite and specific teeth pattern. If you’re not sure what type of mouthguard is best for your child, reach out to a family dentist in Leawood for their recommendations.
Family Dentist in Leawood: Tooth Injuries and a Sports Dentist in Leawood
Children tend to be much more susceptible to falls than adults, mainly young people have so much energy. With so many activities like sports, chores, and just playing with friends, there’s bound to be an accidental trip, slip, or fall that might result in some type of mouth injury.
An injury to a child’s tooth could either be to a baby tooth or a permanent tooth. A tooth can be chipped, cracked, or completely knocked out as a result of a fall. A damaged tooth can cause significant pain to your child’s mouth, and may require immediate attention. This is when it’s essential to contact a sports dentist in Leawood, like Starting Point Dental & Orthodontics. If your child does get an injured tooth, we have provided a list of things you should do to help.
Don’t Panic
Make sure you remain in a calm state. Children are very impressionable, and If your child sees you panicking, they will likely cry and panic, making the situation harder to manage.
Damage Control
If your child’s mouth is bleeding, it’s important to fold a towel, gauze, or whatever is clean and nearby and place it in their mouth over the injured tooth. Have your child bite down and hold in place until you can get to a sports dentist in Leawood.
Evaluate the Problem and Take Action
Once the bleeding has stopped or slowed considerably, carefully remove the gauze or towel and survey the situation. If there is swelling, you can offer your child a cold glass of water or a cold popsicle to reduce the swelling and minimize the pain.
Once your child is calm, the bleeding has stopped, and swelling has gone down, survey their mouth for any parts of the tooth that could be lodged in their gums, tongue, the roof of their mouth, or lips. Teeth can be sharp, and when they are chipped, pieces can become lodged in other areas. A family dentist in Leawood can easily spot this kind of breakage and remove it in the proper manner.
Get a Visit Scheduled with Your Sports Dentist in Leawood
Make an appointment as soon as possible with a sports dentist and get fitted for dental mouthguards in Leawood. This will ensure that no further damage occurs, the tooth has the best chance at surviving the injury, and the pain is managed and minimized.
If you cannot get into your child’s dentist right away, make sure and keep an eye out for infection, fever, or drainage that would result in an emergency visit to a sports dentist in Leawood.
At Starting Point Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, where we’re not just about straightening teeth, but creating infectious smiles that brighten up Kansas City! If you’re hunting for a kids dentist in Leawood or a teen dentist in Leawood, consider your search over. We offer cavity treatment in Leawood for tooth pain in Leawood, each one tailored to your individual needs – because when it comes to orthodontic care, we believe in a personalized approach. From tiny tots to terrific teens and fantastic families, our children’s dentist in Leawood offers consultations to all ages.
We’re committed to making radiant smiles accessible for everyone. That’s why our services are as wallet-friendly as they are high-quality. We accept almost all dental insurance and offer interest-free payment options. Military personnel and families with multiple braces-wearers even get special discounts. Our sports dentists in Leawood and orthodontists are not only experienced, but also specialized in providing dental mouthguards in Leawood and dental night guards in Leawood. So, request an appointment here or call our clinic at 913-491-5044 and let us add some sparkle to your smile!
