Dental Care Tips for Summer

  

The weather is heating up, the days are getting longer, and summer vacation is just around the corner.  Nothing says summer like a dazzling, joyful smile on your child's sun kissed face.  Here are some tips from your Salinas Family Dentist, Dr. Russell Cureton, for keeping your child's smile looking and feeling great all summer long:

Schedule a dentist appointment

Get the summer started out on the right foot by taking a trip to see your Dr. Cureton before you fill up your vacation calendar.  With the kids out of school, there is no better time to schedule an appointment than early in the summer season.  Getting a check-up in ensures that you and your kids are on track for healthy smiles all summer long.  There is nothing worse than when a child gets a toothache or other dental emergency while on vacation or away at camp, but taking the kids in for a cleaning and oral exam can help to prevent any problems from arising.

Keep up the routine

During the school year, brushing and flossing is likely part of your family’s daily routine, but when the summer months hit and schedules change, even the healthiest of habits often get forgotten.  Don’t let oral hygiene practices be ignored, regardless of the season of the year. Give your kids frequent reminders to brush their teeth throughout the day and to floss each night.  If you find that your kids are resistant to brushing, consider using music or a timer to turn the oral hygiene process into fun all summer long.

Plan ahead

Summer is a time when you and your kids will likely be on the go, so keeping your kids’ teeth healthy can require some planning.  Going on a trip or away to camp often means stocking up on travel sized toothpaste, grabbing a few extra toothbrushes, and refreshing the floss supply before you even leave the house. Last minute trip?  Keep a few travel toothbrushes in your car just in case a toothbrush gets forgotten at home.  For those fun filled day trips, grab a pack of disposable toothbrushes, like Colgate Wisps, to keep the whole family feeling fresh and clean no matter where the day takes you.

Go for healthy alternatives

Summertime always means lots of snacking- but it is possible to keep those snacks healthy for your body and your mouth.  Sugary foods might have great crowd appeal, but they also attract bacteria that can lead to tooth decay.  Instead of grabbing a cookie or candy bar for a snack, encourage your kids to select a refreshing piece of fruit or a handful of fresh vegetables.  Sodas and sports drinks might sound like a great way to quench your thirst on a hot, sunny day, but they are also highly acidic. Foods and beverages that contain lots of acid can cause tooth erosion, so switch out the soda for a glass of cold water.  Healthy snacking can keep your family healthy and happy throughout the summer months.

Prevent problems

As the summer heats up, kids tend to get a whole lot more active.  Between pool time and soccer practice, bike rides and playdates, a lot of fun and a few accidents are likely to take place and could put your child’s teeth at risk.  Many summertime dental problems are preventable, so be sure talk to your kids about how to stay safe while enjoying themselves throughout the summer.  A large number of tooth-related accidents take place in or around pools, so be sure to remind children to always follow pool rules.  Children should be careful not to run in a pool area, refrain from diving in shallow water, and be sure to be aware of the space they are playing in to keep from knocking out or chipping teeth.  Kids who are participating in sports that involve contact might consider wearing a mouthguard to keep their teeth intact.  Lastly, any time a tooth is cracked, chipped, or broken, you should contact your dentist immediately to ensure that no further damage is able to take place.

The summer is a great time to get some extra time in with the kids, but make sure that it is also a time in which your whole family maintains a healthy routine for dental health.  By keeping up on oral hygiene, making smart food and beverage choices, visiting the dentist, and playing it safe, your family will be all smiles all summer long.

To schedule a summer cleaning for you and your kids, or for help answering any of your other oral hygiene questions, call your Salinas Dentist, Dr. Cureton today.