Summer is for sun, fun and smiles! Keep away tooth decay and keep your smile healthy and bright with these summer smile tips, for you and your entire family!
Stick to a Routine | Brush and Floss Daily
With vacations, reunions, social events and more, it can be easy to fall off routine during the summer. But no matter how busy or eventful your summer gets, it’s important to keep to routine for yourself and for your kids. Make a point to set aside a few minutes at the beginning and end of each day to brush and floss thoroughly, so that you won’t be caught unawares by any unpleasant surprises at your next dentist visit!
Wear a Sports Mouthguard
Summer is when we tend to be more physically active, and a properly fitted mouthguard can prevent serious and sometimes irreparable injury to the teeth, gums and jaw. Approximately 40% of all sports-related injuries involve the head and face, and recent studies have shown that sports mouthguards can also lower concussion risk. You and your child should wear a mouthguard any time you are playing a contact sport or engaged in activities in which falls are common.
Schedule Your Dentist Visit
With kids out of school, summer is the perfect time to schedule your child’s dental checkup -- and yours too while you’re at it! It’s a good idea to schedule your child’s back-to-school appointment early to avoid the August rush, and so that your child doesn’t have to miss any classes due to dental issues once school starts up again. And if you’re going on vacation, it’s always a good idea to get any dental issues taken care of before your trip, so that you can enjoy your travels stress-free!
Limit Sugary Drinks and Snacks
Soda, sports drinks, lemonade, juice, BBQ sauce, s’mores, cotton candy, taffy -- these are all great summer standards, but consuming too much can wreak havoc on our teeth! All that sugar makes your mouth a feeding ground for bacteria, which produces acid that erodes your tooth enamel, which is how cavities happen. Enjoy your summer sweets in moderation, and take breaks to snack on toothy healthy options like cheese, carrot and celery sticks with hummus, apple slices, yogurt, and especially water.
Drink Lots of Water!
Nothing refreshes quite like a cold glass of water on a hot summer day, but did you know that water is also very important and beneficial for your oral health? Drinking water helps flush away food particles, bacteria and acid; remineralizes our enamel (when drinking fluoridated water); and helps combat dry mouth, which is a big risk factor for tooth decay and bad breath. Need more reasons to drink water? Water is calorie-free, gives your skin and hair a healthy boost, and keeps your muscles and entire body moving all summer long!
Bonus:
Use Lip Balm With SPF 15+! Lips are a very important part of our mouths, so remember to protect not just your skin but also your lips from harmful UV rays, especially during the summer months with longer daylight and sun exposure!