After foregoing having a normal, fun summer last year, you’re more than ready to enjoy yourself this year. While you should definitely enjoy a break from reality with rest and relaxation, you still need to take care of your smile. After all, the last thing you want to deal with when you get back from a much-needed vacation is an oral problem like a toothache. Here are some helpful tips that’ll keep you smiling whenever you think about your time away from it all.
Drink Plenty of Water
Is there anything more refreshing on a hot summer day than a glass of cold water? Whether you’re on a beach, camping or hiking, or enjoying the backyard, you need to make sure you stay hydrated. Although you may be tempted to reach for a lemonade, sports drink, or other beverage, water is definitely the most healthy option for both your teeth and for your body overall. It contains no sugar at all, so you can drink it without worrying about how it will affect your smile.
Use a Straw
If you need to have acidic soda or other sugary drinks like juice or sports drinks, make sure you drink them through a straw. That way, the potentially damaging liquid bypasses most of your teeth altogether. Also, try to drink them quickly and swish your mouth with water afterward to shorten your teeth’s exposure to harmful bacteria.
Choose Smile-Friendly Sweet Treats
Summer just wouldn’t be the same without enjoying some delicious treats. Although ice cream and popsicles are popular, instead go with frozen yogurt, which can give your body calcium to strengthen teeth, without the sticky toppings. Also, try to bring along more mouth-friendly snacks like cucumbers and watermelon for a more balanced diet. These foods have high water content and taste great for outdoor adventures.
Maintain Some of Your Routine
While out on vacation, you may stay out later than you typically do, do more eating out, and throw your usual schedule out the window. Unfortunately, bacteria don’t take vacations! It’s important to keep up your daily oral healthcare even while you’re out adventuring. Brushing and flossing every day can protect your smile and make sure that damaging plaque doesn’t have a chance to accumulate and cause cavities, gum disease, and other problems down the road.
Regardless of your summer plans, your smile needs to stay strong. Keep your oral health on track with these simple tips, and you can make lifelong happy memories when you have a healthy, bright smile.
About the Practice
For more than 20 years, Beach Dental has served Westhampton individuals and families, even through the pandemic. We take pride in the quality of our work and the relationships we establish with our patients. Along with years of advanced training, Dr. Jason Parli and Dr. Alexis Gersten share a deep passion for helping everyone achieve their best, healthiest smile. If you would like to learn more about healthy oral habits, you can contact Beach Dental through our website or by calling 631-325-0731.