How to Celebrate Summer Holidays without Harming Your Health
Finally, the cold weather is over with and it’s time to have some fun! Even better, there are summer holidays with all the food, friends and family.
But as you’re enjoying yourself during the summer and celebrating summer holidays, you should take certain steps to take care of your teeth. After all, an emergency trip to the dentist or problems at your next dental visit are not something to celebrate!
Protect your teeth
Summer is a great time for getting out and being active, and for playing sports like baseball and basketball. However, activities such as these can cause pain and trouble for teeth. Always make sure to wear a mouthguard when playing sports.
You can visit the best dentist in Silver Spring, Dr. Dana Keith at ICC Smiles, if you need a custom mouthguard made.
And, make sure to avoid bad habits. Chewing on ice may sound like a great way to cool off, but this can actually harm teeth in a number of ways. Ice can wear down tooth enamel, which weakens teeth. This can make teeth sensitive, and worn tooth enamel can increase the risk of cracks and chips in teeth.
Chewing on ice means your teeth are exposed to rapid changes in hot and cold temperatures, which can cause problems with your fillings. Chewing on ice (as well as other bad habits such as chewing on pens and biting fingernails) can damage crowns, veneers and other restorations.
Protect your smile
And while you are taking steps to protect your teeth, don’t forget that there are steps you can take to keep your smile looking good, too!
Stay away from foods and drinks that can stain teeth, such as blue- and blackberries, red wine and cranberry juice. This includes sports and energy drinks, which can erode tooth enamel, causing teeth to look discolored and thin.
Make your dentist proud!
Summer holidays mean lots of tempting treats — ice cream, cake, pies, sodas. Unfortunately, these treats are often packed with sugar. If you just can’t resist these treats, take steps to get that sugar off of your teeth as soon as possible. If you can’t brush right away, rinse the sugar off of teeth by swishing some water around in your mouth. Or, make sure to always carry some sugar-free gum with you as you head out to those summer parties, so you can chew on a piece. This will stimulate saliva, which will rinse off teeth.
You can save room for a piece of apple or a carrot. These also stimulate saliva to wash off teeth, and crunchy foods such as these also help to scrub debris from teeth.
Of course, no matter what time of the year it is, you should always take good care of your teeth! Brush twice a day, floss once a day, and visit the best dentist in Silver Spring, Dr. Dana Keith, twice a year!
If something does happen and your teeth are hurt or damaged, or if you just need a good dental check-up, Dr. Keith and the staff at ICC Smiles can help! Call (301) 302-0920 and make an appointment at the Silver Spring dental offices today!
