As a parent, you want to prepare your high school grad for the exciting and often challenging college life ahead. While a lot of focus is placed on academics, living arrangements, and emotional readiness, one often overlooked aspect is oral health. Our Central Park South dentists delve into why a tooth cleaning before heading off to college is a crucial step in ensuring your child’s overall well-being.
#1: Prevent Potential Oral Health Issues
One of the biggest reasons to get a pre-college dental cleaning is to ensure that we can check and address any existing issues.
- Cavities
- Tooth fractures
- Plaque buildup
- Gum disease
Early intervention can prevent more severe problems. For instance, the Journal of Clinical Medicine reports that aggressive gum disease is on the rise in young people. Fortunately, the damage is reversible with treatments like dental deep cleanings.
Our Central Park South dentist can also use conservative treatment options for cavities and cracks when we catch them early. All this saves your child from the pain, cost, and stress of emergency or invasive care.
#2: Boost Self-Confidence
A bright, clean smile can significantly bolster your child’s self-esteem as they navigate new social settings. Knowing their teeth are in top condition can help them feel more comfortable, positively impacting their overall college experience. Park South Dentistry can even provide a post-graduation teeth whitening session on top of their cleaning.
#3: Recognize Common Oral Health Challenges
College students encounter new experiences and responsibilities, many of which can unexpectedly affect their oral health:
- Teeth Grinding: Academic pressures and adjusting to a new environment can stress them out. This can cause bruxism, which can, in turn, lead to tooth wear, fractures, and jaw pain.
- Unhealthy Eating Habits: Fast food, midnight snacks while studying, and sugary drinks can become staples in a college student’s diet. This can cause cavities and gum disease.
- Lack of Routine: High school’s structured schedules give way to the more flexible and unpredictable routines of college life. This shift can disrupt oral hygiene practices like brushing and flossing.
- Erratic Dental Care: Many students don’t have access to a regular dentist, having moved away from their home base. This can make it harder to keep up with preventative care.
- Substance Use: For many college students, socializing often involves alcohol. Regular consumption can cause dry mouth. This reduces saliva and heightens the risk of cavities and gum disease.
Obviously, a tooth cleaning before college won’t mitigate all potential dental issues. However, an appointment with our Central Park South dentist can help stress the importance of dental hygiene. We provide your child with a clean slate. This gives them a jumping-off point for maintaining a healthy, confident smile throughout their academic journey.
#4: Schedule Future Appointments
At Park South Dentistry, we can schedule your college student’s cleaning appointments in advance. This helps eliminate a common barrier to care for college students—no access to a dentist. They can leave for school with their biannual appointments already scheduled for their school breaks.
Schedule with a Central Park South Dentist Now
Don’t wait to set up a tooth cleaning for your college-bound student. Contact Park South Dentistry to make an appointment and leave enough time for all the care they need, including follow-up treatments. Give them the gift of a bright, healthy smile before they leave the nest. Contact us today!
