There’s something about summer that is unlike any other season. The activities are endless, from the late-night ice cream runs with family to picnics at the park with your neighbors. But with those activities comes a surplus of sugary snacks and drinks that can wreak havoc on your oral health. Follow these tips from Radiance Family & Cosmetic Dentistry to keep your teeth pearly white and cavity-free this summer.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!
With the summer heat pounding down, it’s more important than ever that you keep your body hydrated. If you aren’t drinking a sufficient amount of water, you could be dehydrating your body, resulting in dizziness, headaches, and even fainting.
But water does more than just hydrate your body — it helps to cleanse your mouth of bacteria and plaque that builds up after eating sugary foods! It can also help dislodge food particles that can cause cavities to form between your teeth. When enjoying a cold glass of water, don’t rely too heavily on carbonated beverages such as seltzer water. Although it will help hydrate your body and keep your mouth bacteria-free, too much exposure to carbonation can damage your enamel.
Create a New Routine
During the fall, winter, and spring, your family likely has a routine consisting of going to school, attending sports games or piano lessons, having a family dinner and getting ready for bed. But summer often throws you for a loop, and you need to scrap the entire routine.
Since school is out, you’re likely dealing with a different schedule that requires you to be more flexible with your day-to-day activities. Although your family may be doing things a bit differently in the summer, some aspects of your routine shouldn’t change — including brushing and flossing your teeth daily. Skipping your oral hygiene routine can have a lasting impact on the overall health of your mouth, which is why it’s important to continue making time for brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.
Watch What You Eat
What are some of your favorite activities to do throughout the summer? For many individuals, those activities often revolve around food. The summer treats seem to be never-ending, from eating funnel cake at the carnival, going on a late-night ice cream run, or eating dessert at a backyard barbecue.
While these sugary snacks seem like a good idea at the moment, they’re harmful to your teeth if you don’t thoroughly brush and floss afterward. Limit how often you and your family enjoy these sugary treats, making it a special occasion for everyone to look forward to rather than indulging every day. To ensure you’re keeping your oral hygiene up, brush right after eating dessert. You can also look for other low-sugar snacks to bring to the next barbecue, such as vegetables, hummus, crackers, nuts, and cheese.
Schedule Preventative Dental Care with Radiance Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
Although the summer is hectic, take a break from the hustle and bustle and schedule a preventative dental visit with Radiance Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. Instead of waiting for school to start up again and needing to plan the family’s dental visits around school, sports, and other extracurriculars, it’s a great idea to get an appointment on the schedule towards the end of the summer. We’ll give your smile a thorough cleaning and leave you feeling refreshed so you can show off your pearly whites at the Labor Day barbecue.
Here at Radiance Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we specialize in preventive dental care for your entire family. If any family member needs a dental cleaning this summer, give our team a call to schedule an appointment.
