For most Canadians, summer is a season to look forward to throughout the year. We can finally get active outside, enjoy the warmer weather and savor delicious icy treats. While it’s personally one of our favorite seasons, summertime can also wreak havoc on our patients’ oral health due to the changes of routine that come along with being on holiday, and, the safety hazards involved with outdoor sports. Read on to learn how to maintain your dental health throughout the final dog days of summer.
Limit Your Sugar Intake
Did you know that sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay? Unfortunately, this means that ice cream – most people’s favorite summer treat – isn’t the best food choice when it comes to maintaining oral health. Consider opting for sugar-free or low-sugar ice cream instead of the regular variety. If you can’t find alternatives, try to avoid add-ons like caramel or syrup and brush your teeth or rinse your mouth after consuming ice cream to remove sugars from your enamel.
Don’t Mistake Your Teeth For Tools
We all have that one friend who opens a bottle of beer with their teeth at a summer barbecue. While it might initially seem like an entertaining party trick, using your teeth as a tool can be incredibly harmful and expensive to repair in the event of a chip or crack.
Stay Safe While Having Fun Outdoors
Summer is the season for soccer, football and more. Even if you’re not playing a contact sport, use a mouthguard to protect your teeth during outdoor activity to avoid any impromptu trips to the dentist’s office as a result of injuries. Likewise, stay conscious of safety at the pool – especially when it comes to children. They’re easily susceptible to slipping and hitting their teeth on outdoor pools’ concrete ledges. To avoid this, we suggest giving your kids a list of rules to follow (#1 being: no running!) to avoid injury.
Establish a Routine
It’s all too easy to forget about brushing and flossing while you’re on summer vacation and not adhering to your typical year-round routine. Without the structure of school or work, many of us can easily skip our usual dental hygiene steps in the morning and evening without even realizing it. Stay conscious of this by taking care of your teeth first thing in the morning, and right before you go to sleep.
In need of a check-up before you head off on your end of summer holidays? Give us a call at 613-746-6666 to book your appointment.
