by Writer's Edge

Created on: October 03, 2007

Tired of going to the dentist and having tons of cavities? Think it might be neglecting your teeth after school lunches? Organize your dental care and see the number of cavities go down or maybe even get eliminated.

Dental care items can be brought to school in a zip lock bag. Change the bag often when it gets dirty. The items to bring to school include: toothpaste, toothbrush in its own container, and dental floss. In case I break a tooth, I bring a tube of some kind of desensitizer or a container with temporary filling material. My "dental bag" is kept in the top of my locker with nothing else there. That way I can reach up and grab it.

After lunch, I go to my locker, get the bag and go into the bathroom to floss, brush, and do whatever I need to do to take care of my teeth. I rinse off my toothbrush, put it back into the container and put everything in the zip lock bag. The hardest part is keeping everything clean since many of the sinks are dirty and there isn't a shelf available for keeping the items. So I have to take out one item at a time, use it, and put it back for hygiene sake. Then bring it back to my locker.

No time immediately after lunch? Try during study halls. Think about your day, when can you go to your locker and then the bathroom? Maybe you have to keep your dental kit somewhere else because your teachers won't let you go to your locker and then to the bathroom. You will need to think about this if you can only have a pass for one or the other. Once you get over the time hurdle, you should be able brush your teeth.

Once you have the items handy and find the time, you will be able to brush your teeth more often. What good is that? I went from 13 cavities when I seldom brushed to none, one, or two when I brushed my teeth more often. Is it worth it? You bet!

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