Is your son or daughter heading back to college this month? They’ve likely packed their bags full of clothes, school supplies, and dorm decor. However, have you made sure they have what they need for a happy, healthy smile? With all of the school work and studying, practicing good dental hygiene may fall off of the radar. Here are a few things you shouldn’t head to college without:

Floss: Flossing is just as important as brushing! It removes plaque in all of the hard to reach areas and helps reduce the risk of gum disease. It also gives you an opportunity to check your mouth for areas that may be swollen or red.

Mouthwash with Flouride: Flouride helps to strengthen tooth enamel. When you use mouthwash with flouride it replaces minerals into the enamel that are leached out by our modern acidic diets and the periodic skipped teeth brushing. Along with brushing and flossing, it helps you keep your healthy smile.

Always Brush Your Teeth Before Bed: Even after pulling an all-nighter studying, brushing is of the utmost importance. This helps protect your teeth from plaque buildup, tooth decay, and gum disease.

Follow Energy Drinks and Coffee with Water: Coffee and energy drinks are loaded with sugar and are high in acid! Following these drinks with water can help balance the pH in your mouth and protect your teeth.

Want to make sure your college student takes care of their teeth? Send them a dental survival kit! They’ll thank you later!