Awww…summer…
It’s a time of family get-togethers, vacations to the familiar or the exotic, long days playing on the water, and even longer nights lying by the pool sipping your favorite beverage—adult or otherwise. In many ways, it truly is a season of paradise – whether figuratively and/or literally.
Summer can be the season of poor oral health as well. Do we sometimes forget to take care of our dental hygiene throughout the year? Of course. It’s only natural to have momentary lapses! During the summer, however, we tend to not only become busier and more distracted, we change what we eat and drink as well—often to the detriment of our teeth.
So, how do we stay on top of our health—especially oral health—during the months where it’s so easy to get caught up in everything else? A good start would be to follow these five tips for healthy teeth during the summer!
Drink Water
We know, this tip is on almost every list involving health and wellness. While you could choose to be frustrated or annoyed by that fact, we recommend you take that as a sign—drinking water is incredibly important.
During the summer, remembering to drink the good old H2O will not only keep you hydrated, which is vital on hot days spent outside, it will also help keep your teeth in tip-top shape. Drinking water is vital for several reasons. Some of these reasons are as follows: it helps keep your teeth clean of stubborn food particles, it is a great replacement to the ever-tempting sugary drinks that call out your name, and certain water (such as tap water) includes fluoride that can strengthen your pearly whites.
Maintain Your Routine
You’ve worked all year to keep your teeth aesthetically pleasing and as healthy as possible, so why let that effort go to waste? Instead of allowing even a little slip in your oral health routine, practice consistency. Maintain your brushing habits, remember to floss, use mouthwash, and continue your healthy habits.
One omission in your routine can easily snowball into several, and so on. Not only will the state of your teeth suffer, your dentist might disown you—or, more realistically, you might have to reestablish all those habits you worked so hard to incorporate into your daily routine.
Visit Your Dentist
Yes, summer is a time of travel, adventure, and nearly constant activity. It can difficult—not impossible—to schedule important appointments like the ones with your dentist. After a season of less-than-obsessive dental care (we won’t say neglect), it is always a good idea to visit your dentist.
Call it a back-to-school visit, or simply schedule it six months in advance so you don’t forget—or have any excuse. Your dentist can check on the state of your teeth, give them a thorough cleaning, perform or schedule any maintenance that needs to take place, and give you advice on how to best care for your teeth over the next few months. It’s a good time to check in and make sure everything is as healthy as can be!
Resist Crunching on Ice
Trust us, we understand the craving. You’ve just finished your ice-cold tea and you want to enjoy the last few bits of flavor and refreshing coolness, so what do you do? You tilt the glass high and start chomping on the remaining ice.
It’s a natural thing to do, but it can wreak havoc on your teeth. Chewing on hard foods like ice can damage your teeth directly and indirectly. If you already have weak teeth, you could end up chipping or otherwise hurting your teeth. Even if your teeth are strong, you may weaken them to the point of vulnerability. So, no matter how strong the urge—put the ice down.
Choose the Right Drinks
We aren’t going to sit here and tell you to not drink a single soda, mixed drink, or otherwise tasty beverage this summer. Not only is that unrealistic, it would be torturous. Instead, we recommend you consume such beverages in moderation and replace them with healthier alternatives whenever possible.
Water is a superb option—you can even try it infused with fruits. This is a flavorful and healthy substitute for sodas. Also, consider dairy products—preferably unsweetened—as they can change up any monotony you feel drinking water and contain important vitamins and minerals to strengthen those teeth!