Summer break is in full effect, but that doesn’t mean you need to take a break from good oral hygiene habits too!  Follow these summer tips to maintain your healthy smile over these next few warm months.

Cut down on Sugary Drinks/Foods

Summer heat brings about barbecues, parties and being outdoors more than usual.  Often at these social settings, sugary drinks and foods are served, such as ice cream, popsicles, sweet tea.  Try to avoid these sweet treats and stick to fruits or water.  If you still crave that frozen treat try substituting frozen fruits, such as bananas and grapes, for your favorite popsicle or ice cream!

Swimming

Rising temperatures make swimming a perfect summer activity for all ages.  Swimming for extended periods can cause brown stains to start appearing on teeth.  To avoid this make sure your children know proper breathing techniques while swimming.  Also brushing off plaque before swimming can help prevent these stains.

Prevent Dental Emergencies

School being out means plenty of time for children to enjoy lots of outdoor activities.  Riding bikes, swimming and playing sports can all lead to dental trauma.  To avoid injuries to the mouth have your child wear a mouthguard when engaging in physical activity.  When swimming, make sure they obey rules such as no running and horse playing in the pool.

Sunscreen

With the sun ablaze most of us remember to put sunscreen on our skin.  It is important though to remember to include your lips as well.  Your lips are a part of your skin that are easily forgotten but can also get skin cancer.  There are several lip balms on the market with SPFs out there to help protect against harmful UV rays.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration can occur easily over the summertime.  If you don’t drink adequate amounts of water, dry mouth can become an issue.  Dry mouth is a very large cause of cavities so when the temperatures rise to make sure so does your water intake.

Schedule an Appointment

Daily schedules loosen up over the summer with school being over.  August becomes a mad rush to get kids in before school starts.  Avoid losing out the most wanted appointment times by scheduling over the summer.  Give us a call today to schedule your appointment and we hope these tips help you to stay healthy and cool over the summer!