Finally, summer is here! Summertime is a time for relaxation, spending time with friends and family, and just having fun. As the weather warms up during this time of the year, it’s important to remember that you don’t forget about taking care of your oral health. Here are 8 summer dental tips to keep your mouth and teeth healthy while enjoying the summer sun.
Even though it’s summer break, it doesn’t mean brushing your teeth should take a break either. Brushing twice a day for two minutes is important to your dental health. To make brushing more fun for the kids, why not use summer-themed charts and stickers, or sing their favorite “brush your teeth song” to remind them to keep up their oral care routine during summer time. By brushing and flossing twice a day, it will keep their teeth and oral health in good condition.
Summer is the perfect time for enjoying treats like ice cream or popsicles. For us, it’s Crumbl Cookies and Mochio Donut! But if you want your child’s teeth to stay healthy during these summer months of indulgence, moderation is key to limiting their sugar intake. If your child eats a lot of sugary snacks, make sure they drink plenty of water to rinse away any excess sugars. Doing so will prevent the bacteria in the mouth from turning the sugar into plaque. If not taken care of, the plaque will erode your tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay and cavities later on. An alternative to sweet treats is to enjoy healthy snacks like watermelon, strawberries, grapes, peaches, oranges, or other healthy summer snacks. Eating a healthy snack is a crucial element to encouraging excellent dental health.
Oops! You probably forget your waxed floss for a summer vacation, right? Well, stop now before you break that great oral hygiene routine. Remember to pack them as they are the most important dental tool: the humble piece of string, your dental floss!
Another solution to ensure you have nothing stuck between your teeth is keeping a pack of dental picks in your car, luggage, or purse. A dental pick is an essential item when traveling because they help remove food particles between your teeth before you can brush them. They also make cleaning easier by removing plaque buildup on surfaces of your mouth where there may not be enough room to reach with your toothpick.
It may seem like an obvious tip, but we see people do this every day. They use their teeth as a tool instead of their hands. We’ve seen our fair share of people come into our Fairview dental office with a chipped tooth or a need to repair broken crowns. While using your teeth can sometimes seem like the quickest way around any obstacle you may have on hand, it is also one of the most dangerous things someone could do if something goes wrong! Your mouth is for chewing food; don’t put any other items between those pearly whites unless necessary!
A mouthguard is the best thing you can do for your teeth if you’re playing sports during the summer break. In fact, we recommend it for any sporting event to prevent injury. There are plenty of reasons professional athletes almost always use them. Accidents happen and can lead to costly and painful injuries such as broken or knocked-out teeth, but if you’re wearing a mouthguard, it can protect you from injury.
Parents looking to protect their kids’ teeth during their sporting activity can either buy a mouthguard over the counter or get fitted for one by your family dentist. Over-the-counter models will not fit quite as well and do less protection, but they’re better than nothing if you’re in a pinch. Your family dentist in Fairview can create custom-fit mouthguards that will protect those competitive summer sporting events. When we make a mouthpiece just right for you, your comfort is taken into account.
If you find yourself craving carbonated drinks, use a straw for drinking them. Drinking with a straw can be an effective way to avoid tooth decay. Straws minimize the time your teeth are exposed to both sugar and acidity, which is key in stopping cavities from forming on your teeth.
It’s important to drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated to maintain your oral and overall health! There are many beverages that we can choose from; however, there is a big difference between drinks that are tooth-smart and those that aren’t. If you want a refreshing drink while staying healthy, try water and milk. These drinks will quench your thirst and is a healthy alternative.
Did you know that carbonated drinks, fruit juices, and even energy drinks have a lot of sugar? Although they may taste delicious, if sipped throughout the day, it can be bad for your oral health, cause dry mouth, bad breath, lead to dental erosion, and be a big factor for tooth decay. So it’s important that you avoid these types of beverages if possible, or at the very least, rinse your mouth with water to rinse it away.
As summer comes to a close and school starting soon, don’t forget to book your back-to-school dental exam and cleaning before school starts. There are only a few summer dental maintenance appointment slots left. Contact us today for your dental visit to ensure you get the best appointment time for your summer schedule.
When new patient walks through the doors of our Fairview dental office, they are met with a friendly, comforting atmosphere that will put any apprehensive parent or nervous child at ease. We provide services like oral care education, fluoride treatment, sealants, other dental services, and routine exams all geared toward making every trip more enjoyable than before!
If you have any questions, want to learn more about our family dentistry, find new ways to keep a healthy smile or schedule a dental appointment at our office, please contact our dental office at 972-468-1440, or leave us a message.
Our practice is located in Fairview, Texas, and our patients visit us from across the surrounding areas, including Allen, Plano, McKinney, and Lucas for their dental health needs.
