Summer is a season for being outdoors and enjoying the beautiful weather and all the activities available, especially if you are a kid. However, ensuring your child maintains good oral health can be trickier when there are so many interesting things to see and do. Here are some easy tips to ensure your child’s teeth stay healthy all summer.
Stick to a Regular Brushing and Flossing Schedule
During school term, it’s easy to remember to brush and floss every day, but everyday routines are far more flexible during the summer holidays. However, it’s important to ensure your child sticks to cleaning their teeth first thing in the morning and last thing at night and that they floss at least once a day. One strategy is to set up a tooth care calendar which can be great for younger children, or older children can have phone reminders.
Healthy Summer Snacks
We know it’s tempting to have lots of ice cream or fizzy drinks during summer to help cool you down, but these tasty treats are often laden with sugar. When your child consumes something sugary, the sugar interacts with bacteria in their mouth and increases the risk of cavities. The more frequently they snack on these foods, the greater the risk. Instead, ensure your child has a range of healthy, tooth-friendly snacks, including fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese, sugar-free yoghurt, nuts, and hummus.
Choose Water over Sports Drinks
Energy drinks, sports drinks, and juice are popular choices to keep hydrated during long hot summer days. However, these sugary drinks can play havoc with oral health, and plain water is a far better choice. Choose a refillable water bottle with your child and make sure it is topped up regularly so they can remain well hydrated.
Be Prepared for Dental Emergencies
Sports are a great way to get plenty of exercise, but they can increase the risk of your child taking a blow to the mouth, especially if they play contact sports. The best way to avoid or minimise this risk is to have a custom-fitted sports mouthguard. We can fabricate a sports mouthguard for your child, ensuring it fits securely and comfortably and providing maximum protection for their teeth and jaws.
Otherwise, contact us immediately if your child chips or cracks a tooth or knocks out a tooth. It’s especially urgent if they knock out a tooth, particularly an adult tooth, as if you act quickly, it may be possible to save it, if you can get them to a dentist within an hour of the accident. We can provide lots of useful advice over the phone and ensure your child sees our dentist quickly.
If you are going on holiday, be prepared by storing our number in your phone, as we can still provide advice and book a dental visit for your child when you get back. It’s also worth having a dental kit that includes pain relief, a small container with a tightly fitting lid and saline solution (to preserve a knocked-out tooth until you can see a dentist), gauze, and cotton balls.
