Your Dentist in The Woodlands knows summer means family vacations, cookouts, sitting poolside, and enjoying plenty of sweet treats. With the hustle-and-bustle of summer, it can be easy to forget to practice good oral health. Make sure that this summer you follow these tips to keep your oral hygiene in check while still having fun.
Summer Oral Health Tips
1. Watch Your Sugar Intake
Summer is full of opportunities to grab a sugary soda, frozen cocktail, or ice cream bar. However, excessive exposure to sugar can wear down the enamel of your teeth. Repeated exposure to high amounts of sugar can cause rapid tooth decay, allowing for cavities or tooth abscesses. Sugar doesn’t only affect the teeth, but it can also cause damage to your gums. Sugar allows for bacteria in the mouth that can cause gingivitis and gum disease. Over time, repeated sugar exposure can also cause inflammation and receding gums.
2. Drink More Water
With record high summer temps, water is vital to staying cool and hydrated. Drinking water helps to flush out any food stuck in the teeth as well as rinse sugar and other bacteria away. In addition, water contains fluoride, an important mineral to help slow the process of tooth decay and keep the enamel protected. For children with developing teeth, fluoridated water is crucial to early dental health. While an ice cold water can be refreshing, avoid chewing on ice during the summer. Chewing on hard materials like ice can cause your teeth to chip and crack, leaving you in pain.
3. Stick to Your Dental Hygiene Routine
While summertime is known for relaxation and lounging, avoid getting too relaxed on your normal dental hygiene routine. In order to keep your smile bright and your teeth clean, it is recommended to brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. In addition, mouthwash is a great tool to help strengthen and protect teeth, as well as rinse away any forgotten bits of food.
Even though summertime can be busy, do not forget to have a dental check up every six months with your Woodlands dentist.
Visit The Woodlands Dental Group
If you’re looking to keep your smile and mouth healthy this summer, come visit us at The Woodlands Dental Group. Conveniently located in The Woodlands, Texas, our practice has been voted locally as the Best Dentists for eight years as well as the Overall Business of the Year in 2017. With over 30 years of practice experience, our dentists in The Woodlands offer a wide range of specialities, from pediatric, preventative, and cosmetic dentistry, as well as orthodontics and TMJ treatment. Whether you have a specific dental concern or need referral to a dental provider, we can help you achieve your dream smile.
- Dr. Robert Dernick: General, Cosmetic, Implant Dentistry, and TMJ
- Dr. Mike Freeman: General, Cosmetic, Implant, Sleep Apnea, and TMJ
- Dr. Alisa Reed: General, Cosmetic, Implant, Laser, Sleep Apnea, and TMJ
- Dr. Wade Williams: Orthodontics
- Dr. Nikita Vakil: General, Cosmetic, Implant Dentistry
- Dr. Leslie Blackburn: Pediatric Dentistry