Mouth-Healthy Tips for Your Summer Lifestyle
It’s pretty easy keeping up a good oral routine during the winter months. We’re at home more often, in bed earlier and deep in the swing of a hectic school year.
When the weather warms up, school lets out and activities begin – schedules change. There goes your routine! Not only that, but some diet and lifestyle habits often adopted during the warm months can have a negative impact on your smile!
Whether your family is taking a vacation, becoming more active or just indulging in sweet summer treats, don’t forget your oral health!
Here are a few mouth-healthy tips as your lifestyle changes during these fun, warm months:
Sports Drinks
During the summer sports drink consumption spikes! As people become more active and spend time in the heat, they’re looking for ways to quickly replenish their thirst. Unfortunately, sports drinks are marketed as the best way to quench thirst and replenish electrolytes for a “faster recovery” despite being high in sugar and additives.
Drinking sports drinks on a frequent basis triggers more cavities than even the sweetest sodas. Instead, stick to drinking lots of water. It will keep you hydrated and your teeth cleaner! There are also great ways to replenish electrolytes without the added sugar if you need a recovery drink!
Traveling
We tend to do most of our traveling during the summer. It’s the best time to visit your favorite destinations. Just don’t forget that traveling disrupts your routine, making it harder to stay on top of your oral health!
Our favorite suggestion is to get a travel brush kit! Make sure that it includes the essentials – a good toothbrush, floss and toothpaste. Some even include mouthwash, too! These kits can be compact for camping and hiking trips or even fun and flashy for the most stylish traveler in the family. Many battery-powered electric toothbrushes come with travel cases, as well. Either way, these kits make it easy to remember your mouth-healthy essentials whether you leave home for a single night or for a week!
Small, Frequent Meals
The summer months keep us active! That makes the typical three meals a day hard to stick to. It’s easier to grab a nutrition bar, give the kids a quick fruit snack or stop at a fast-food restaurant than make big meals throughout the day.
Losing an eating pattern or eating on the road makes it more difficult to clean your teeth in between meals. This causes bacterial plaque and acids to be active for a longer period of time on your teeth. If you’re prone to tooth decay and gingivitis or want to keep your mouth healthy and white, then it’s important to brush after every meal. Otherwise, the increased amount of exposure can have damaging effects on your dental health.
Popsicles and Frozen Fruit Products
Frozen fruit and ice cream treats are common snacks during the summer. They often contain sweeteners and artificial products and we all know what that can do to your smile. It’s fun to indulge every now and then, but stick to fresh fruits and vegetables as much as possible. Not only are these great for you nutritionally, but they also boost the health of your smile!
If you’re starting to notice certain foods and habits are making your teeth sensitive or causing plaque buildup, then it’s time to schedule a visit with Vacendak Dentistry! Regular check-ups ensure that a change in lifestyle or diet won’t damage oral health down the road.
