Summer may pose a few additional challenges to your teeth or your children’s teeth. Check our article for some wonderful summer reading about your teeth!

Summer Tips For Teeth

Ahh…summer in the desert is always a challenge. Here are a few tips that will help keep your teeth healthy.

Lemonade All Day Long

How about that delicious glass of ice-cold lemonade? A glass of lemonade occasionally is fine, but try not to overdo it. Acidic foods will erode the enamel on your teeth, and too much sugar will cause tooth decay. Water is the best alternative. If that’s difficult, try half water and half lemonade!

Sports Drinks

Speaking of drinks, what about all those sports drinks our kids are drinking? Check the labels of the sports drinks you are consuming. Sports drinks are notoriously high in sugar. Sugar offers little benefit to our bodies. The recommended amount of sugar per day is no more than 5 to 10 teaspoons per day! Try alternating your sports drinks with water or better yet cutting them in half with water so your child can distance themselves from the sugary taste!

Ice Cube Chewing

What you love chewing on ice cubes?! A dental horror! We love ice on a hot day as much as the next person, but chewing ice is a hazard to your beautiful, pristine teeth. Chewing on hard items such as ice can break your teeth and damage tooth enamel. If you are overheating and need a cooling off, try putting that ice in a washcloth and putting it on your neck.

Save those pearly whites for the summer photos!

Mouthguards Are A Real Thing

Do you or your children love sports? Whether your child plays sports in school, on recreational leagues, or just out front (think roller hockey here), a mouthguard is hugely beneficial.

Mouthguards are worn on one arch, the upper. Its sole purpose is to protect your teeth from damage. Over the years, we have seen children that have face planted and damaged their front two teeth. What happens?

Many times, we can save the tooth, put the tooth back in their mouth or reposition the tooth, but over time that tooth will gray. We can bleach that tooth internally, but it will never be the same color as the other teeth. A mouthguard can prevent that type of damage. Custom mouthguards are comfortable and reasonably priced. Consider a mouthguard for you or your sports-playing children!

Schedule Dental Visits

Summertime is also a great time to get your dental visits out of the way before school begins (whatever that means for this upcoming year). Appointments are more likely to be available if your child needs any dental care; scheduling will be much easier. Take advantage of the more manageable schedule you have and schedule your child’s dental check-ups.

Prevention Is The Key

No matter what time of the year it is, always take care of your dental health. Parents should typically monitor their children’s care of their teeth until the age of 10. Brush for two minutes twice a day and floss daily. Replace your toothbrush every three to four months and use a toothpaste with fluoride (to prevent cavities). Prevention is the key to excellent dental health.

If we can answer any questions, please call us at (702) 919-6206.