Summer is filled with plenty of great foods and outdoor activities to enjoy. While gathering together for family cookouts and barbecues is all part of the fun, it’s important to make sure those gatherings are safe and that you’re prepared in case of a dental emergency. To protect your teeth from injuries and cavities this summer, follow these four tips:
1.) Prevent Injuries
Classic summer activities like swimming or playing team sports, like softball, are a great way to spend time with friends and family. But keep safety in mind when you’re having fun! Make sure children don’t run around the pool area, where it’s easy to slip and get injured. Prevent mouth injuries during softball games too by wearing a mouth guard when playing. Wearing a mouth guard significantly reduces the chances of teeth injuries like chipped teeth or losing a tooth.
2.) Watch What You Eat
Eating corn on the cob is practically required at a summer get-together, but for those who wear dentures or braces, it could cause dental issues. Corn can get lodged between braces or dentures and could lead to plaque buildup or an infection. Scraping the corn off of the cob first is a better option to prevent this outcome.
3.) Watch What You Drink
It’s easy to enjoy sports drinks, sodas, alcoholic beverages, and smoothies on a hot summer day. But all of that sugar can increase the chances of tooth decay and lead to cavities on teeth! Alcohol can also limit the mouth’s saliva production, and less saliva means more plaque buildup on teeth. Make sure to incorporate plenty of drinking water between summery drinks to keep you hydrated and rinse away sugary buildup.
4.) Be Prepared!
Being outdoors sometimes means you don’t have all the equipment you need. But if you forget a bottle opener at your next cookout, don’t try to improvise by using your teeth! Using teeth to try and open items is an easy way to chip a tooth.
It’s also important to be prepared for injuries. If you have a first-aid kit, be sure it contains items to treat a mouth injury. For example, packing extra gauze, a washcloth, and even a small container in case a tooth falls out are all good items to have on hand in case of a dental emergency. If an emergency dental situation does occur, call the family dentists at Dakota Dental to find out what you need to do next.
By taking care of your teeth and taking a few extra steps in preventative dental care, you can be sure to have a long and enjoyable summer vacation. From all the family dentists at Dakota Dental, we hope you have a safe and fun-filled summer!