Dental Health Tips for Summertime
It may not be as easy to keep your dental hygiene routine during the summer. Summertime just feels like you are more free and less encumbered by schedules and routines, It is a time to relax by the pool, travel, enjoy a vacation, be outdoors swimming, camping, and having cookouts with friends and family. Whatever your activities involve, they can interrupt your normal routines and you may veer from your regular oral health regimen as a result. At Hamby Family Dental Center, your Fuquay-Varina dentist, we care about our patients and their oral health all year. In this article, we have some tips for you to follow to stay on the straight and narrow during summertime and keep your teeth healthy.
Maintain Your Dental Hygiene Routine
Try your best to stay on track with your regular dental hygiene routine. Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a day is the easiest way to keep them healthy. During the summer, you may be ingesting more sugary foods and beverages which makes it even more important to keep up your brushing and flossing. Don’t forget to use toothpaste with fluoride and a soft-bristled brush to safeguard your teeth. And, even though it is summertime and “the living is easy,” be sure to maintain your bi-annual dental exams.
Eat Healthy Foods
It’s easy during the summer to slide on your diet by eating more sweets like ice cream. Sugary foods can cause plaque to build up, leading to cavities and tooth decay. Be preemptive by stocking up on fruits and veggies that are in season so you always have healthy snacks available.
Don’t Chew Ice
It’s tempting to chew ice in the summer to stay cool. However, crunching on ice can chip and crack a tooth, causing significant harm to your teeth. If a tooth splits below the gum line, it will need to be extracted. Instead of chewing ice, drink a glass of cold water.
Protect Your Lips
Protect your lips just as you do your skin with sunscreen. Your lips lack the same amount of melanin as the rest of your skin and are more susceptible to injury. Using lip balm with SPF keeps your lips hydrated and protects them from the sun’s damaging UV radiation.
Drink Water
Choose water instead of sugary, carbonated drinks. Keep hydrated to keep your mouth moist and inhibit harmful bacteria from getting established on your teeth. Carbonation breaks down the enamel on your teeth and, in so doing, leaves teeth vulnerable to tooth decay.
Pack Oral Care Tools When Traveling
When traveling, be sure you pack your toothbrush, floss, and dental picks, if necessary. It’s easy to forget these items when you hurriedly pack. If this happens, find where you can purchase them wherever you are. And, be sure to pack your toothbrush properly so bacteria do not start to grow. Keep it as dry as possible and don’t leave it in a closed container for longer than necessary. When you get to your destination, let the brush dry upright.
Stay on Schedule with Your Regular Dental Exams
Seeing your dentist at least twice a year keeps you on track in keeping up with oral health by checking for signs of tooth disease and damage. The summer’s activities can impede your routine, including dental checkups. But, summertime is an excellent time to visit your dentist, especially for children since school is out. Be sure to continue to visit your dentist regularly to maintain your teeth cleanings and detect dental problems early.
Contact Us Today for Your Dental Checkup
The professional team at Hamby Family Dental Center cares about you and your dental exam experience. We are attentive to making you comfortable while providing the best care possible. Reach out to us today for a checkup this summer. Call us at 919-552-2431 or complete our contact form below.