Summer’s officially here. Dr. Ladimer, the best dentist in all of Raleigh, NC, couldn’t be more excited! I hope you’re equally pumped now that the season’s in full swing.
The sweltering days of summer are a fun time for parents and children alike. This is your chance to relax by the pool, umbrella drink in hand, as you soak up the bounteous rays of the sun. Summer also means that there’s going to be a cornucopia of sweet treats like gooey S’mores, mouth-watering popsicles, and delicious banana splits tempting both your taste buds and those of your kids.
Of course, all these sugary confections aren’t the best thing for your teeth. And children, with a whirlwind of exciting outdoor activities waiting for them, often forget the dental hygiene habits they carefully cultivated the rest of the year.
Dental issues can rear their ugly head in the fall after weeks of overindulging in sugary snacks and drinks. Here are just a few strategies to prevent that from happening:
- Emphasize Outdoor Safety
For many, summer is a time of greater activity. You and your kids are probably going to be at least somewhat more energetic. This means there’s a higher risk of losing or chipping a tooth.
That’s why you need to emphasize to your kids just how incredibly important outdoor safety is. Many summertime dental emergencies happen because kids are mindlessly roughhousing around the pool instead of swimming responsibly.
- Follow the Right Steps in a Dental Emergency
If your child suffers an emergency, it’s imperative to immediately flush the area with warm water. If there’s any bleeding, use gauze to stop it. If there’s swelling, apply an ice pack to reduce it. If your child loses a tooth, carefully place it back where it was. If that’s not possible, put it in saltwater.
This will keep it moist until a dentist can decide if it can be replanted.
- Step Up Your Reminders
Being outside in all that fresh air can make your kids tired and sleepy. That, coupled with the endless diversions of the summer season, makes it more likely that it’ll totally slip their mind to brush their chompers before going to bed.
Giving your kids more reminders in the summer to brush and floss will keep them in the tooth brushing habit all season long. This will also help avoid an excruciatingly painful dentist visit come autumn.
- Make Tooth Brushing Fun Again
Transform what many kids see as an unbearably tedious ritual into something enjoyable. That way, your kids will be more likely to brush their teeth despite summer’s endless distractions.
One way you might do this is by brushing your teeth with them. You can also have them create their own brushing calendar with fun pictures. Every time they brush or floss, they get a gold star!
- Book Your Back-To-School Appointment Early
A dental checkup is an integral part of getting your child school ready for school. By getting your kid to the dentist before school starts, you’ll help her to avoid having to take a sick day because of an unexpected dental emergency.
Kids miss more than 51 million school hours each year due to this painful problem. It’s best to book your back-to-school dental appointment early to avoid the late August rush. August is one of the busiest of all months as far as dental visits go.
- Have Healthy Snacks on Hand
Stock your fridge and pantry with an abundance of healthy snacks. That way, your child will be more likely to grab them. Instead of offering them snacks, let them tell you when they’re hungry. This will help limit in-between meals, which gives your kids’ mouths a much-needed break from eating.
Then, saliva will have a chance to wash away food particles, resulting in a healthier mouth and a more luminous smile!
- Limit Sugary Drinks
Limit your kids’ intake of juice, soda, lemonade, sweetened non-dairy drinks, sports drinks, and other sugary beverages. Encourage them to drink plenty of water that contains fluoride instead. However, if they happen to guzzle liquid refreshment of the unhealthy sort, urge them to wash out the bacteria-causing fluids with fluoridated water followed by vigorous brushing and flossing.
That goes for you too, parent!
Substitute tea for a drink saturated with potentially harmful sugar. Tea contains compounds that eliminate bacteria, which helps prevent tooth decay and reduces your risk of gum disease.
- Stay Hydrated
Drinking lots of water helps you stay hydrated and rinses away plaque-causing bacteria. Plus, this helps to eliminate the causes of bad breath. Tap water with fluoride in it is ideal because fluoride strengthens your enamel, making your teeth more resistant to decay.
- Use a Straw
Use a straw when you’re drinking a sugary concoction. Drinking through one means the liquid will have less contact with your teeth and less chance of causing decay.
If you’re environmentally conscious (and who’s not these days?), buy a reusable one.
Final Thoughts
Summer doesn’t mean it’s time for you or your kids to ditch dental habits meticulously maintained over the winter months. However, it is time to be more vigilant about protecting your smile so it remains as radiant as the glorious summertime sun.
If you’re looking for a dentist in Raleigh, NC to help you do that, give us a call today!