Summer Smile Hazards: Protecting Your Dental Health for the Season

Summer is a time for fun and adventure, but some activities can pose risks to your dental health. From contact sports to sweet seasonal treats, it’s important to be aware of how summer fun can affect your smile. Read on to find some common summertime activities that could damage your teeth and tips for preserving your grin.

Participating in Sports

The sunny season is perfect for outdoor sports like basketball, soccer, and baseball. However, these pastimes come with a risk of dental injuries. Falls, collisions, and equipment accidents can result in chipped, broken, or even knocked-out teeth. Here are some simple preventive steps you can take to protect your pearly whites:

• Wear a mouthguard during contact sports and activities with a risk of falls or impacts.
• Make sure your mouthguard fits properly and is comfortable.
• Drink water to keep saliva flowing so you can avoid dry mouth and dehydration.

Swimming

Swimming is a popular summer activity, but spending a lot of time in the pool can affect your teeth. High chlorine levels can cause enamel erosion, making your teeth more susceptible to decay and sensitivity. However, there’s no reason you can’t swim all you want and keep your teeth happy; just follow these guidelines:

• Ensure that the pool you swim in has balanced pH levels. (The pool manager should be able to tell you.)
• Rinse your mouth with clean water after swimming.
• Avoid clenching or grinding your teeth while treading water or diving.

Consuming Sweet Treats

There’s hardly anything better during hot summer days than indulging in cold, sweet treats like ice cream, soda, and popsicles. While delicious, these snacks can leave sugar on your teeth for hours while you savor them. This can easily lead to cavities without proper management. Here’s what you can do:

• Decrease how often you indulge in sugar.
• Rinse your mouth with water or brush your teeth after sugary foods and drinks.
• Chew on healthier snacks like apples, carrots, and celery between sugar sessions to clean your teeth.

Indulging in Backyard Barbecue

Barbecues are a summer staple, but some commonly found foods can damage your teeth if you’re not careful. Tough foods like ribs and crunchy vegetables like corn on the cob are hazardous to your dental health. They can cause damage if you bite down too hard or get them lodged in your teeth. However, there are some things you can do to keep the damage to a minimum and enjoy the food of a gracious grill:

• Cut hard foods into smaller, manageable pieces.
• Be mindful of bones in meat that could cause chips or cracks.
• Brush your teeth and floss after eating to remove stuck-on food.

By being aware of these summer activities and taking steps to protect your dental health, you can enjoy the season without compromising your smile. A little caution can go a long way in keeping your teeth safe and healthy all summer long!

About the Practice

If a dental emergency takes you by surprise this summer, our team at Tzagournis Dental Group of Westerville can help you stay cool and find relief. We use state-of-the-art dental technology and techniques to diagnose and treat painful dental issues effectively and efficiently. Call (614) 882-4032 to schedule an emergency appointment or visit our website to dive into a full menu of treatments and services we offer.