The end of school is near, and summer is looming large on the horizon. Parents and teachers breathe a huge sigh of relief at the prospect of waking up without an alarm clock, having some free time, and relaxing a little. As schedules relax and routines unwind, it is important to remember your teeth!
This blog will help you remember the most important things to do for your teeth this summer
Do not Slack Off with your Oral Hygiene
The biggest problem with summer comes with the relaxed schedules and lack of enforced bedtimes for many. This can cause you to lapse into poor, or even nonexistent, oral hygiene routines. The heat of summer may cause you to drink more cold beverages that contain sugar or have an acidic pH. This makes keeping up with your oral hygiene even more important during the hot summer months.
Without the morning routine of getting ready for school, you might miss morning brushing. This is not a great habit to fall into, but it is not as bad as missing the nighttime routine. Make sure you and your kids are brushing, flossing, and using an anti-cavity mouthrinse every night before bed.
Watch What You Drink
If you or your children tend to knock back lots of Gatorade and sparkling water from June to August, you should make it a point to stay on top of your oral hygiene routines. Some may take advantage of lazy days by the poo and indulge in some tasty alcoholic drinks. These are usually loaded with sugar and can greatly increase your risk for cavities. After a frosé or margarita, rinse your mouth with plain water to help wash away some of the sugar and return the pH of your mouth to neutral.
Sipping on cold drinks throughout the day can help keep you cool. But if they contain sugar or acid, they can also give you cavities. The best thing to drink for your teeth is plain old water. Prosper tap water has a lovely alkaline pH, so it will counteract the acid in many drinks.
Add an anti-cavity mouthrinse to your oral hygiene routine before bedtime. The fluoride will strengthen the enamel on your teeth against all those acid and sugar attacks!
Schedule That Dental Work You’ve Been Putting Off
We know that life can get a little crazy during school days. Many people put off important dental treatment until the schedules slow down. The problem is that the last thing you want to do when you have finally slowed down is make a bunch of appointments and fill your schedule right back up. We recommend scheduling your needed dental work early in the summer so you can get it over with and enjoy the rest of your time off.
Another important reason to schedule early in the summer is that our schedules become completely booked during the month of August. Everyone who has forgotten to make their appointments calls in an attempt to get an appointment for them or their children before school starts. By that time, we are already full.
Check Your Chapstick
Okay, so this tip is not for your teeth. But it is a very important summer dental tip. First of all, check your chapstick to make sure it has at least SPF 15. Secondly, use it! Many people forget that you can get skin cancer on your lips. When you put sunscreen on your face, make sure you are also putting SPF 15 or higher chapstick on your lips.
Treat your chapstick just as you do your sunscreen. Reapply when it has been more than 3 hours or has rubbed off. You should also keep it out of direct sunlight so that it doesn’t melt in its tube.
More Questions about How to Care for Your Teeth This Summer?
Call 972-347-1145 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jill and Dr. Cara. They can assess your specific risk areas and give you great advice for having a healthy summer.
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