Summer Oral Health

Many people work on their summer bodies and fitness levels, but few people remember to keep their oral health in shape as the summer approaches. Summer is a time for relaxing and fun with the family, so there are bound to be more photos taken. Make sure your smile and oral health are perfect so that your mouth is gleaming for all the summer photos!

Tips for Keeping Your Mouth Healthy During the Summer

Even though summer is a time for fun in the sun, it’s also a time for staying healthy. As you’re on vacation or just visiting relatives, make sure you are keeping up with all the things you do back home, so your smile doesn’t suffer.

Keep Your Routine

When you’re away from home, it can be tempting to not follow your oral health routine. Even when at friends’ houses or a hotel, make sure you bring all your oral health items like toothpaste, toothbrushes, and floss. Set aside time just like you at home for brushing your teeth in the morning and before bed. If you have children, you should also ensure they are staying with the same routine as they do at home for their oral health.

Stay Hydrated

In most parts of the country, summertime brings along intense heat. When your mouth is dry, it can grow bacteria very quickly. By keeping your mouth wet, you can keep bacteria from growing. Water is the best drink to stay hydrated not only for your mouth but for all systems in the body. Water keeps the enamel on your teeth strong while sugary drinks break down the enamel leaving your teeth vulnerable and exposed.

When you don’t have enough enamel on the teeth, your teeth can decay faster because bacteria are able to get inside the teeth and feed off the sugar you are drinking. Try to drink clean tap water with added fluoride or bottled water that adds fluoride as this can keep your teeth healthy.

Visit the Dentist

Going to the dentist for a cleaning appointment might not be on your summer to-do list, but it’s very important. You need to ensure everyone in your family is going to the dentist twice a year or every six months. You should also get x-rays once a year to ensure that the roots of the teeth are healthy. By visiting the dentist as often as you should, you can catch potential problems early and solve them early as well.

If our Orem dentist suggests that you come in more than twice a year, make sure to follow all instructions so your teeth stay healthy for summer and all the seasons to come. Come to our dentist's office in Orem for all your teeth cleaning needs before summer or even during the summer months!

Eat Healthy Foods

Summer is often a time of snacking and going to parties, which means you might be eating some junk food that is not normally in your diet. Eating sugary foods is okay sometimes and for celebrations, but it should not be a regular part of your summer diet. Sugary foods can cause germs and plaque to build up in the mouth. This will lead to tooth decay and make you get cavities easier.

Make sure when you are going on a vacation that you also bring along healthy options for everyone including fresh fruits and vegetables. Even if you are choosing less healthy foods, try to also healthy food along with it to create a more balanced diet.

Protect Your Lips

Applying sunscreen is very important in the summer. Many people forget their lips though. You need to remember to apply a lip balm or Chapstick with SPF in it anytime you are going out into the sun. This helps to protect this delicate part of your body from sun damage and UV rays. When your lips are cracked, bacteria can enter the mouth and lips causing issues in the future.

Try Not to Chew on Ice

When it’s hot outside, you might be tempted to chew on ice to help you cool down and keep your mouth wet. Chewing on ice too much can cause damage to your teeth though. It can also cause your teeth to crack or chip. If the tooth cracks below the gum line, the entire tooth will have to be removed. Anytime you break a tooth, it can be expensive to fix. Instead of chewing ice, you can drink cold water or drink a glass of water with ice in it.

Use a Straw

If you want to drink sugary drinks or alcohol, consider using a straw. This limits the contact the drink makes with your teeth so that less overall sugar gets into the mouth. Make it fun for the family by buying everyone a colorful reusable straw. This makes everyone feel special and also protects the environment at the same time.

Drink Sugar Quickly

If you are drinking a soda or alcoholic beverage with high sugar content, try to drink one quickly rather than sipping on a few throughout the day. Sipping on the drink for a long time can cause the bacteria to spread longer and keeps sugar in the mouth for a longer amount of time. Anytime sugar lingers in the mouth, you are causing the teeth enamel to break down and your teeth can then decay faster. Try not to drink a sugary drink every day even when on a vacation. Limit to a few every weeks or even better, only drink one or two a month.

If you are ready to visit a dentist in Orem UT, give us a call today to make an appointment. We do regular teeth cleanings as well as cosmetic procedures like professional teeth whitening. We are always ready to give you the oral health and smile you deserve.

Our office can be reached at 385-233-9823. Bring the whole family to see us this summer!