Summer’s here and the time may be right for ‘dancing in the streets,’ but it’s not right for skipping your dental routine. And it’s surely never the right time for experiencing problems with your teeth that will bring your summer fun to a screeching halt. Did you know that more people experience teeth problems in summer than any other time of the year? It’s true! In fact, summer is tops for dental health problems even if you factor in all the sweets folks eat at Halloween and through the Christmas holidays! Why, you ask? Simple. Because summer’s high activity levels—loaded with fun in the sun, parties, and vacations—often have folks like yourself too busy having a good time to stop and think about the foods they’re eating or their oral hygiene routines. That’s why cosmetic dentists in Clearwater have put together this valuable list of dental health tips for summer that will help you keep your teeth just as healthy in summer as in any other season of the year.
Skip the carbonated beverages
Tiny bubbles—they really don’t make your teeth feel fine. In fact, all those bubbles in the carbonated beverages we tend to reach for in summer make our teeth very sad. Carbonated drinks wear down the enamel on your teeth, and once that protective layer is gone, you can’t get it back. Drink water most of the time, and consider a carbonated drink in summer a treat.
Use a straw
Using a straw in your drink is great for your teeth, particularly if you’re into sugary beverages. Drinking those sugar-packed carbonated drinks is bad for your teeth, but if you’re going to have one, by all means, drink it with a straw. Reason? Drinking through a straw sends most of that carbonation and sugar straight down your throat, bypassing your teeth and gums much more so than if you drink without one.
Keep up your regular routine
Brushing twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and eating healthy, crunchy raw foods such as celery, carrots, and cucumbers—these are the keys to keeping your teeth healthy in summer. Another tip for parents of school-aged kids—don’t schedule a dental checkup right before school begins. Rather, schedule a regular bi-annual visit right before summer vacation starts. This way, you know your child’s teeth are healthy for all those summertime activities. Plus, their next 6-month checkup will occur right around the holidays—reassuring you that their teeth are still healthy after all that Halloween candy!
Prevent dental emergencies in summer
If your kids will be swimming this summer, particularly if you have a pool in your backyard, go over the rules before the season starts. Remind them to NEVER do any of the following: run near the pool or on slippery decks, dive into shallow waters, or play too hard near pool ledges where teeth can get knocked out easily. Additionally, it’s important that parents keep on hand an emergency dental care kit at all times. Keep in this kit gauze, clean cloth/paper towel, ibuprofen, a clean container with a lid, and the contact information for your family dentist. Finally, stay in the know about what to do in emergencies. Use warm water and clean cloth/paper towel to clean the area of a dental trauma; use a cold pack to reduce swelling; use gauze to help stop bleeding; use milk or salt water to keep a lost tooth moist until you can get to a dentist.
Don’t have a cruel summer … keep your teeth in tip-top shape with the above dental health tips. In the summertime when the weather is hot, and your mind is on all that summer fun and frolic, it’s easy to skip your regular health routines. But don’t let that happen. Healthy teeth and gums are vital to your overall health. A number of recent medical studies have shown that unhealthy teeth and gums can have a negative impact on your health, leading to breakdown of certain systems of the body. Heart disease and diabetes are just two of the health problems that can occur due to poor oral health. Consult with a cosmetic dentist in Clearwater or your area of the country for more information.
