Special offer for children as return to school looms – Free Dental Check-up for Children
August 3rd, 2019
Dental Care Ireland is offering a free dental check up for children with all adult examinations booked during August. Here, we also give some tips on children’s oral health.
It always seems to arrive sooner than we think – or would like – but that time of year is almost here again. Most schools reopen in the last week of August, so the rush to get everything sorted starts now.
This, of course, includes buying uniforms, school books, stationery and all the other sundry items that your children will need for the year ahead, such as school bags, lunchboxes, sports uniforms and equipment.
Back-to-school
Another important consideration that shouldn’t be overlooked is the care of your children’s teeth. No matter what age they are, it is crucial for the development of strong, healthy teeth that you make sure your children look after their teeth themselves as well as getting a regular dental check up.
To assist with this, Dental Care Ireland is offering a free back-to-school child’s check-up with all adult examinations booked during August. This offer is available in all our practices around the country (*excludes Callan Dental). You will find a list of practices and their contact details on our website.
Prevention
It is worthwhile bringing your children to the dentist before the school term begins. This way, you can see what stage they’re at, get advice from a professional on brushing methods, and plan a schedule of appointments for the year ahead.
“Prevention is always better than cure, and that also applies to children’s teeth,” says Dr Paul O’Dwyer, Group Clinical Advisor at Dental Care Ireland. “So, in order to give your children the best chance of avoiding problems, make sure they clean their teeth properly and get regular examinations with your local dentist.”
Good habits
Dr Suzanne O’Connor of Dental Care Ireland Knocklyon agrees: “Problems with teeth, such as discomfort and pain, can create various problems for children during the school year, including difficulty eating, playing and learning. It can also lead to missing time from school. This is why we recommend examinations so that these issues can be avoided where possible.”
Our dentists can also tell your children how to brush properly and encourage them to clean regularly. Often, it is beneficial for a child to hear this from a professional so they don’t think it is just their parents ‘nagging’ them.
It is also an excellent time to get children used to going to the dentist. Thanks to our friendly yet professional approach and the latest technology, a trip to the dentist is not something to be anxious about. However, to avoid that occurring, it is vital that children can see how easy and painless it is from a young age.
Eating and drinking
During the summer months, children do tend to eat more treats – including ice-creams, of course – and drink more juices and other sweet drinks. With school about to restart, it is worthwhile keeping an eye on what they’re eating and drinking.
You have control over their lunchboxes, so make sure you are avoiding too many fruit juices and smoothies which have high sugar content. Instead, opt for water or milk. Also try to put in a good balance of grains, milk, cheese, raw vegetables, yoghurt, and fruit.
And it is good to replace sugary snacks – chocolate bars, granola bars, etc. – with healthier options such as vegetables (celery, carrots) or cheese. As we all know, they will get plenty of treats at parties and around Halloween and Christmas, so it’s best to minimise these during term time.
Sport
We all love to see our children competing in some sort of sports activity during the school year, whether it is a team sport such as football, hurling or soccer or just regular physical education (PE).
However, making sure their teeth are protected at all times is also very important. We recommend that children get mouth guards or gum shields fitted just for their teeth in order to get the best protection possible.
Our dentists ‘custom-fit’ mouthguards are molded so that they are the perfect fit for each individual’s mouth and stay in place securely. Children also need these checked each year to make sure they are still fitting properly.
Find out more about Dental Care Ireland mouth guards today.
To find a Dental Care Ireland dentist near you, visit our website: https://www.dentalcareireland.ie/practices/
