Term time is back, and with it comes a great opportunity to reset routines — including dental ones. Whether your child is starting school for the first time or heading into their final years, the habits they build now will shape their oral health for life. Here's what parents should be thinking about this September.
Packing a tooth-friendly lunchbox
What goes in the lunchbox matters more than most parents realise. Teeth are under attack from sugar and acid every time we eat, and children who snack frequently throughout the day give their enamel very little time to recover. The goal isn't to ban all treats — it's to make smart choices most of the time. Great lunchbox options include water as the main drink (not juice, sports drinks, or flavoured milk), fresh fruit rather than dried fruit (dried fruit is much stickier and more concentrated in sugar), cheese and crackers, plain popcorn, carrot and cucumber sticks, and plain yoghurt. Foods to limit: muesli bars (many are as sugary as chocolate bars), fruit juice, flavoured milk, sticky sweets and gummies, and anything sour. If your child does have a treat, it's better eaten in one go with lunch rather than grazed on throughout the day.
Mouthguards for sport
Spring brings rugby, hockey, netball, and all the other contact sports back onto the field. A properly fitted mouthguard is one of the most important pieces of sporting equipment your child can have. Dental injuries during sport are incredibly common, and many of them — chipped teeth, knocked-out teeth, jaw fractures — can be prevented with a good mouthguard. While over-the-counter boil-and-bite guards offer some protection, a custom-fitted mouthguard from your dentist provides significantly better coverage, fits more comfortably, and doesn't interfere with breathing or speaking. If your child is playing any contact sport this term, come and see us about getting one made. It's a small investment that could save a tooth.
Book a check-up before the year gets away
September is one of the best times to schedule a dental check-up for your children, before the term three and four commitments pile up. Christmas and summer holidays come around faster than expected, and by November most families are running flat out. Getting a check-up in September means any issues can be identified and treated before the year-end rush, and you head into the school holidays knowing everyone's teeth are in good shape. New Zealand children under 18 receive free dental care through the Community Dental Service — make sure your kids are registered and up to date.
Orthodontic assessment: is it time?
September is also a good time to think about whether your child might benefit from an orthodontic assessment. The ideal age for an initial assessment is around seven to eight, when there's a mix of baby and adult teeth present and it's possible to identify developing issues early. Early assessment doesn't always mean early treatment — often it's simply a case of monitoring and knowing what's coming. Signs that it may be worth getting checked include crowding, crossbite, teeth erupting in unusual positions, thumb sucking beyond age five or six, mouth breathing, and difficulty chewing. If you're unsure, just ask us — we're happy to take a look and let you know whether a referral to an orthodontist makes sense.
Building the habit: two minutes, twice a day
For primary-school-aged children, parents still need to be involved in brushing — ideally doing the brushing themselves until around age eight, and supervising until ten or eleven. The two-minutes-twice-a-day rule is the foundation of good oral hygiene, and the evening brush (before bed, after the last food or drink) is the most important. Fluoride toothpaste is essential: it strengthens enamel and significantly reduces decay risk. Use a pea-sized amount for children over three. And don't forget to floss — even for kids. Once teeth are touching, flossing is the only way to clean between them.
Start the term right
Give us a call or book online to get the kids sorted for Term 3. We make dental visits as easy and comfortable as possible — especially for younger patients.