The Ultimate Guide to Maintaining Healthy Teeth During Summer
Some sunshine with a ray of smile sums up summertime! Finally, summer is here—and it’s time you make your warm afternoons warmer with a bright smile. Summer could be all about long breaks, pool time, colas, ice creams, and relaxation, but do not go overboard and ignore your oral health. It takes only a few days to develop cavities and gum bleeds, and a lot of it is related to careless food habits. The best dental care in summer needs much more than brushing your teeth twice daily—it requires being watchful of your food and beverages. Read on to discover some quick tips on the ideal oral hygiene routine during the summer.
The Ultimate Guide to Best Oral Hygiene During Summer
Amidst all the excitement of the bright sunny days, it is crucial to remember your proper oral hygiene habits to avoid unnecessary toothaches, sensitivity, and repeated dental visits. Join us as we discuss some obvious yet essential tips for keeping your teeth and gums healthy:
- Limit Fizzy Drinks: Hot, humid days can make you crave summer coolers. These chilled beverages, like fizzy sodas and colas, are yummy and instantly cool you down. But hang in there! These drinks are sugar loaded with carbonated water that tends to make the mouth acidic—slowly and steadily dissolving the tooth enamel. In no time, you will develop yellowish, eroded, and sensitive teeth. No matter how much you love it, keep a check on your fizz consumption.
- Consume Less Sugar: Popsicles, ice creams, beverages like sodas, colas, canned juices, iced teas, cold coffees, and energy drinks could be your go-to this summer, but remember they could be catastrophic after a while.
These tasty treats are essentially sugar dumps with high amounts of preservatives, carbonated water, and synthetic food colors. The residual sugar can linger in your mouth for hours after consumption, producing acids and creating havoc for the tooth enamel and the gums. - Avoid Chewing Ice: Not so common—yet quite an addictive habit. If you are fond of chewing on ice to feel that instant cool, stop and think twice! Your teeth are not meant to bite hard ice cubes, and they may fracture in the process. It’s alright to add crushed ice to your drinks, but it’s best to stay away from the larger ice blocks.
- Quit Mindless Snacking: Summer or otherwise, if you absolutely love munching the whole day, then you’ve got to stop. Popping in sugary, fried, and crunchy snacks all day increases acid production and residual food particles in the mouth. A dirty mouth is a haven for bacterial growth. You’ll soon see multiple cavities, tooth sensitivity, gum bleeds, bad breath, and yellow teeth. Choose healthier snack options like fruit salads, oat smoothies, or sprout bowls instead.
- Brush Your Teeth and Rinse Your Mouth Regularly: Do we need to repeat this? Well! Brush your teeth diligently twice a day—before bedtime and after breakfast—to prevent plaque and tartar buildup. Use an antibacterial mouthwash to disinfect the nooks and crannies of the teeth and gums. Apart from the usual, it would be best practice to floss after larger meals and rinse the mouth after anything that you eat or drink. A regular oral hygiene routine can keep your teeth healthy for good.
- Stay Hydrated and Eat a Gut-friendly Diet: The summer heat can cause dehydration and bloating. This, in turn, reduces saliva flow, induces acid reflux, and causes tooth erosion. Drink copious amounts of water to keep yourself hydrated and your mouth moist and healthy. Eat gut-friendly foods like summer fruits, green veggies, and homemade smoothies to calm the stomach and prevent acidity, gas, and bloating.
- Use Sunscreen for Your Lips: Have you been up-to-date with your sunscreen and skin care? Does that include sunscreen for the lips? If not, then why? Lips are a soft and extremely delicate part of the face that is exposed to the weather round-the-clock. Remember to apply a lip balm with a high SPF number to protect them from the strong UV radiations of the sun.
- Use Mouthguards During Sports: Summer sports are a quintessential part of the weekends. They are fun and energetic, and give you the much-awaited adrenaline boost. However, in the excitement of the game, do not forget to protect your teeth from accidental sports injuries. A mouthguard is a must for sports like rugby and baseball.
Conclusion: Do Not Miss Your Summer Appointments
If summers make you excited, let the world see it—smile like never before. Our dental clinic in Waterdown believes in patient education and awareness. These quick tips for proper oral hygiene in the summer will save you from dental emergencies and unplanned hospital visits. However, remember to attend the scheduled dental appointments to treat any cavities and gum infections as soon as possible and save yourself time, money, and most of all, a toothache!
