Most of us enjoy spending the summer months with family and friends. You might enjoy spending your days at the beach or grilling in the backyard. Maybe you like participating in recreational sports or reading a good book while enjoying a glass of fresh lemonade. However, it’s also a time when you could unknowingly be putting your dental health at risk.
Whether you’re a child or an adult, make sure you don’t forget about your oral hygiene. Although you might enjoy staying active and indulging in sweets and refreshing summertime beverages, taking certain precautions could prevent a dental emergency. It’s critical that you don’t allow your carefree lifestyle during the hot summer months to cross over into your tooth and gum care.
Choose the Right Drinks to Stay Hydrated
For many, summer means focusing on relaxing, having fun, and attending social gatherings. It also means you expose yourself to not-so-healthy beverages. If you’re active or spending a lot of time in the sun, you need to stay hydrated. However, try to avoid drinks that can ruin your teeth.
Carbonated beverages, such as soda, can wear away enamel, the outer covering that protects teeth. Although enamel is hard, it can crack, chip, and erode from consistently grinding teeth, chewing hard food, and drinking beverages with harsh citric or phosphoric acids.
You would be better off sticking to water. It can wash away any bacteria in your mouth that causes plaque and even prevent bad breath. Tea is also a great alternative if you’re looking for something with flavor. It tastes great, provides various health benefits, and also contains compounds that can slow down gum disease and tooth decay by suppressing bacteria in your mouth. If you absolutely can’t live without soda or acidic drinks, use a straw to reduce how much the harmful substances contact your teeth.
Plan Ahead to Maintain Oral Health
If you’re more active during the summer, there are some risks you might not even know about that can ruin your teeth, gums, and mouth. Follow these tips to avoid a dental emergency:
- Stay safe at the pool – Swimming is a fun activity many people enjoy, but multiple scenarios can lead to injuries. Running on a slippery surface can result in a dangerous fall that can result in broken or chipped teeth. If you encounter a dental emergency, go to the dentist immediately.
- Use safety gear while playing sports – Wear a mouth guard if you or your kids participate in dangerous sports, such as football. Summer sports can lead to mouth and tooth injuries if someone strikes you with a ball or knocks you to the ground. A mouthguard can prevent a broken tooth and damaged gums.
- Schedule an appointment with your dentist – You should already see your dentist for regular checkups, cleanings, and exams. Summer isn’t the time to ignore dental problems because you’re worried it will ruin your fun. If you’re experiencing pain or notice anything unusual, make an appointment immediately. You could potentially prevent a more severe issue down the road if you address it right away.
These tips could help you avoid developing gingivitis, cavities, or another oral emergency requiring costly and painful dental procedures. If you’re proactive about your health, dental and otherwise, you can spend more time focusing on enjoying yourself.
Contact Babylon Dental Care
At Babylon Dental Care, we offer a range of services to keep your mouth healthy and maintain your beautiful smile. We know how stressful and scary visiting the dentist can be. Our team will treat you with compassion and provide the dental care you need in a comfortable environment to put you at ease.
If you want to schedule a routine checkup, need emergency care, or discuss any problems you’re having, call us at (631) 983-6665 for a consultation.
