The season of weekends at the beach, nights on the porch barbequing, and the annual family vacation is here. It’s summer! To keep your memory-making activities focused on all the fun this time of year has to offer, make sure to maintain an active dental hygiene routine for you and your family. Otherwise, those summer memories will involve trips to the dentist to fix cavities or to get a root canal. Your dentist in Norman shares how to avoid that with these four tips for a cavity-free summer.<
Stay on Routine
During other parts of the year, you and your family have a daily routine that fits in work, school, and extracurricular activities. However, when summer comes that routine goes out the window. Although staying up late and sleeping in is a part of what makes this season so fun, it is important that a proper dental hygiene routine is kept so the annual back-to-school dentist visit isn’t filled with cavities. Throughout the summer, continue to incorporate these good oral care habits:
- Brushing at least twice a day for two minutes.
- Floss daily.
- Don’t skip cleaning your tongue.
- Use mouthwash regularly.
Keep Oral Hygiene in Mind When Traveling
When packing for the entire family, something will inevitably get left behind. However, it is important that packing all the tools you need to practice an effective dental hygiene routine is a top priority. Especially since you likely won’t be spending a lot of time in the room, and your oral care will be limited to lazy mornings and late nights. When packing, keep a checklist of all of the oral care tools your family needs and where you have placed them so that you can find them quickly and keep a pearly, white smile for your whole vacation.
Limit Sugary Drinks and Snacks
When the summer sun is beating down on you, an ice-cold soda can sound so refreshing. Although sugary drinks and snacks are nice treats every once in a while, it is important for them not to become part of your daily routine. While delicious, they can stain your teeth and erode the enamel, leaving you vulnerable to tooth decay and cavities. Instead, opt for vitamin-rich foods regularly and save the sweet stuff for special occasions.
Drink Lots of Water
Did you know that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated? Water plays a pivotal role in helping your body function optimally, and it also helps fight against tooth decay. While water itself may not strengthen your teeth, it can provide much-needed nutrients when it contains fluoride. Plus, water can flush away the debris that clings to your teeth and cause cavities. For your overall health and oral care, make sure to always have a glass of water within arm’s reach this summer.
Summer is meant for relaxing days by the pool, not hours inside a dentist’s office. By incorporating these four tips, you’ll enjoy all that summer has to offer without worrying about cavities!
About the Author
In addition to graduating from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry and completing thousands of hours of continuing education, Dr. Carmen has also achieved member status in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. With his amazing team at his side, Dr. Carmen provides personalized cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentistry to the people of Norman, Oklahoma. For more information on fighting cavities this summer, make sure to visit his website or give him a call at 405-364-2200.