Tooth Calendar Blog
Dental Checkup Before Winter Break and Snack Rules During It: A Cavity-Smart Break
Get the checkup in before break starts, and set snacks at 1 or 2 fixed times a day during it. Tips to protect teeth when routines slip over winter break.
At a glance
- Get the checkup in before break starts
- Snacks at 1 or 2 set times a day, water in between
- Even on late nights, don't skip bedtime brushing
When school break starts, kids and parents can finally relax, but it's a slightly risky time for teeth. Bedtimes get later, snacks increase, and some days brushing gets skipped. Here's what's good to do before break, and the daily rules worth keeping during it.
Why do cavities form more easily during break?
During the school year, meals, snacks, and bedtime mostly follow a set schedule. But during break, kids spend more time at home, and snacking tends to happen more often. Nibbling chips while watching TV or sipping a sweet drink kept nearby become more common.
Cavities are closely tied to how often kids eat sweets, more than how much. Bacteria in the mouth make acid every time they get sugar, and saliva needs time to wash the acid away and help teeth recover. Frequent snacking gives teeth no break.
During break, kids may also spend more time home alone or with grandparents or a babysitter. When the caregiver changes, snack rules can change too, so it helps to share the rules you've set at home.
More late nights are a problem too. When kids are tired, it's easy to skip brushing before bed, but during sleep, saliva drops and can't rinse the mouth as well. That's why the most important brushing of the day is the one before bed.
Before and during break, here's what to do
It's best to get the checkup in before break starts. If the checkup shows treatment is needed, you'll have the break to fit it in without rushing. Appointments tend to fill up once break begins, so booking ahead is easier. If treatment can't be done in one visit and needs to be split over several, break also lets you schedule it without missing school. A checkup before break is a chance to go over the rules for break with the dentist, too.
- If it's been close to 6 months since the last checkup, book one before break.
- If the checkup recommends a filling or sealants (a coating that fills the grooves on the chewing surface of the molars to prevent cavities), finish it during break.
- Limit snacks during break to 1 or 2 set times a day. In between, water only.
- Even on late nights, don't skip bedtime brushing. Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
- For younger children, a parent finishes the job after the child brushes.
- Pack the toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste first when you travel. Keeping the same bedtime brushing routine at a hotel or relatives' house as at home means less pushback from kids.
Try setting snack times together with your child. Clearly set times like "morning snack, afternoon snack" and post them on the calendar or fridge. Then when your child asks for snacks at random times, it's easy to say, "Let's have it at snack time." Putting that day's share in a bowl instead of handing over the whole bag helps too.
A common mistake parents make is dropping every rule "because it's break." Bedtime can slide a little, but keep just two things: bedtime brushing and set snack times. Also, putting off treatment until it hurts lets the cavity grow in the meantime, which tends to mean bigger treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Do checkups really have to be every 6 months?
The dentist sets the checkup interval based on your child's cavity risk. Kids at higher risk may come in more often than every 6 months.
My child doesn't say anything hurts. Do they really need the treatment?
Early cavities often don't hurt. Waiting until it hurts means bigger treatment, so finish any recommended treatment during break.
What about days when we can't brush while traveling?
Have your child rinse with water, and be sure to brush that night. Rather than worrying about one missed day, just get back on track the next day.
What are good snacks for break?
Sticking to how often matters more than what kind. Rather than snacks that stick to the teeth, give snacks at set times that can be eaten and finished like a meal.
See the dentist before break when
- It's been close to 6 months since the last checkup
- Your child hasn't had the treatment recommended at the last checkup
- Your child says their teeth feel sensitive when eating sweets or cold foods
- You see brown or black spots, or chalky white, dull areas on the teeth
- Food often gets stuck between the molars, and it hurts
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Sources
The information in this article is for general educational purposes and does not replace professional dental care. Talk to a dentist about your child's condition.