Summertime is a chance to relax, enjoy time with friends and family and soak up the sun. With all the excitement, it can be easy to accidentally neglect dental care. Make sure to follow these six tips so you can keep a healthy smile all summer long!
1. Drink water
Staying hydrated is always good, especially during the summer, but did you know that drinking water benefits your teeth? Drinking water washes away leftover food particles and cavity-causing bacteria. It also fights dry mouth, which could put you at risk for tooth decay.
2. Keep up your routine
It can be easy to forgo your dental routine or let your children slip on theirs while on a trip or during the late nights of the hectic summer months. Nonetheless, it is important to keep up a consistent routine of brushing and flossing. You should be brushing your teeth for 2 minutes twice daily and flossing once daily.
3. Don’t chew on ice
Many people habitually chew on ice, especially during the hot summer months. Chewing on ice may seem harmless, but doing so can cause serious damage to your teeth including damaging your enamel, breaking or chipping a tooth or dislodging a filling. Protect your teeth by avoiding chewing on ice or any other hard substance.
4. Limit sugary and carbonated beverages
As temperatures rise, it is common to refresh with a cool drink. Sport drinks, lemonade, energy drinks and even juice are full of sugar. There is harmful bacteria in our mouths that eat the sugars we consume. The sugar provides energy to the bacteria and in the process, acid is produced. This acid can cause erosion or form cavities.
If you can, swap out these beverages for ones with less sugar like unsweetened tea, diluted juice and water. If you do go for a sugary drink, try to drink it in one sitting so the bacteria can be easily washed away. Swishing with water or eating cheese after a sugary drink can help protect your teeth.
5. Schedule dental check-ups now
Dental check-ups tend to be scheduled right before school starts, but to prevent any dental problems children may have over the summer, go ahead and set up a dental check-up. This way, any potential issues can be addressed and you won’t have to worry about possible problems popping up when you’re out of town.
6. Protect your lips
Most everyone knows how important it is to wear sunscreen during the summer, but the lips are often left out. Lip cancer is the most common type of oral cancer and can be caused by exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays. Because your lips don’t have as much melanin as the rest of your skin, they are more vulnerable. Keep your lips moisturized and protected by using a lip balm with SPF!
Call us to speak with our staff about any concerns or schedule an appointment online.
