Keep your smile shining this summer

With the end of school right around the corner and day-to-day schedules loosening up, it can be easy to give oral hygiene a summer break. In fact, according to a nationwide survey by Delta Dental, nearly 30 percent of parents say summer vacation is the most difficult time to get their children to keep up good oral health.

Combine this with easy access to sugary, warm-weather treats, outside contact sports and UV rays, summertime can be hard on our smile.

To help keep you and your family’s smile shining this summer, follow this helpful tips:

• Travel Set: Grab a travel size toothbrush, toothpaste and floss to keep handy for vacations, slumber parties and day trips.
• Replace Your Toothbrush: Start summer by grabbing a new, summer-colored toothbrush. Remember, toothbrushes should be replaced every 3-4 months, so it will be perfect timing to get a new one at the start of the school year.
• Start a Motivational Chart: Reward kids for keeping up on their brushing. Remember—brushing for 2 minutes, twice a day is what’s recommended.
• Add Oral Hygiene to the Summer To-Do Lists: Along with cutting the grass and cleaning bedrooms, add brushing and flossing to the list of summer chores.
• Stock a Healthy Kitchen: Satisfy summer sweet cravings with healthy options like pre-cut strawberries, watermelon, pineapple and cherries. Pre-made yogurt parfaits, layered with blueberries and strawberries, are also a great snack to stock in the fridge.
• Avoid the Ice: It’s easy to chew on ice during hot days, but it can be hard on your teeth. Use ice to chill drinks . . . not as something to eat.
• Wear a Mouth Guard: Whether on the soccer field, or rollerblading in the park, a properly fitting mouth guard can reduce the chance of even the most common dental injuries by up to 60 times.
• Water is Best: Soft drinks, lemonade and sports drinks can quench your thirst on hot days, but their contents can damage teeth. Enjoy them in moderation and rinse with water after drinking to wash away the soft drinks sugar and acid.
• Protect Your Lips: Don’t forget your lips when applying sunscreen, protecting them from the sun’s harmful rays and reducing the risk of cancer.
• Schedule Your Regular Check-ups . . . Now: Avoid the back-to-school and end of summer rush and schedule your orthodontic or dental appointments today.

 

Related Articles and Tips:

Time for Braces? 4 Reasons Why Summer is Best!

Associated Orthodontists Recognizes National Facial Protection Month

Nutrition and Your Oral Health

Soft Drinks and Your Teeth—A Bad Combination