Summer is the time for getting outdoors, having fun and adventures - but it's important to protect your oral health at the same time! There are a few unique threats to your teeth which are common in summer. It's important to keep them in mind, whether it's for your own sake or to help protect your children's teeth as they grow.
Five Ways to Keep A Healthy Summer Smile
1 - Stay hydrated
Dehydration in the summer can be a health threat in many ways, and that includes your teeth. You need a good amount of saliva in your mouth to protect your teeth and prevent bits of food or sugars from drying out while stuck to your teeth. These can encourage cavities and other oral diseases. So be sure to drink plenty of water!
2 - Avoid sugary drinks
When you're thirsty, it's tempting to reach for a bottle of sugar-water, but that's terrible for your teeth. Dark sodas are even worse due to their high acid content, which can actively eat away at your teeth.
Water is the best thing you can drink, both for your health and for your teeth. If not, at least try to stick to sugar-free drinks with low acid content.
3 - Drink through straws
If you can't entirely get away from sugary or acidic drinks, at least drink them through a straw. This allows the liquid to mostly bypass your teeth, and will reduce the amount of damage done.
4 - Always wear a mouthguard for contact sports
This is more important for children, but adults should think about it too. Any kind of contact sport, or anything involving large flying objects like balls, is a risk to your teeth. A single impact to the face can do significant damage!
Mouthguards may be a bit uncomfortable, but they do their job of protecting your teeth in case of impact. Otherwise, that fun neighborhood football game might end in a trip to the dentist.
5 - Rinse your mouth after swimming
If your summer plans include swimming pools, especially public pools, be aware that the water contains a lot of chemicals. These are generally good, since they stop the pool from turning into a swamp, but they can be a problem for your teeth - especially the muriatic acid used to kill microbes. Always rinse your mouth, or brush, after a trip to the pool.
Plus, don't forget your yearly dental checkups! If it's been too long since your last cleaning, call Plainsboro Dental Care at 609-799-4422 to schedule a check up now.