It’s Back to School time, which means getting back into a new routine. Schedules will be busy with school activities, after school sports and clubs, homework and hopefully a bit of downtime to let the kids recharge their batteries. One important part of your school routine that we recommend putting in place as soon as the first day of school starts is smart snacking.
Healthy Habits Start at Home
It is important that you make sure your child is eating healthy foods while at home, especially since you can’t always control what they are eating while at school. One of the best ways that you can get your child into healthy dental habits is to watch and control the types of foods they are eating for breakfast and dinner, and always serve healthier snack options at night. A lot of natural foods also contain lower sugar amounts that are less damaging to the teeth, and this is important to keep the teeth as clean as possible. You should also remember that the first way to get your kid to eat healthy while they are at school is to eat healthy at home, which sets up a pattern and a good foundation for them to jump off of.
Pack a School Lunch with Dairy and Fruits
With school back in session, children will be eating school lunches or packed lunches, and obviously, you want your kids to eat healthy while out and about at school. A lot of parents don’t think about how much dental health plays into lunch options for the kids, but remember not practicing healthy dental habits can result in your child getting a lot of cavities, which in turn may result in missing school.
It is essential that you pack your child more natural products than processed foods, and this means a lot of dairy and fruits. Instead of packing popular snacks that are unhealthy, you need to pack snacks that will be good for dental health, such as carrots or apples. The fruits will help satisfy your child’s craving for sweets, but won’t be as damaging to them as something like a piece of chocolate, sticky snacks or a pudding. The fruits will also give your child essential vitamins and minerals that they need to continue growing strong. A string cheese or a carton of milk is a great addition to the lunchbox, because it helps keep cravings in check and it also makes the teeth stronger.
Practice the Motto: “Don’t Rush the Brush!”
As always make sure that your child is brushing 2 minutes, twice a day. By sticking to this schedule early on in the new school year this habit will just remain part of your every day routine.Best of luck in the New School Year and Happy Brushing,
