As the weather warms up, it’s easy to tell that your child’s summer vacation is right around the corner! While they may be excited to relax, hang out, and have fun, it’s important to keep an eye on their oral health. No one wants their summer break interrupted by a toothache or cavity. Here are five tips from your Columbia dentist that can help keep your little one’s smile sunny all season long!
Tip #1: Practice Daily Dental Care
Whether your family is planning on relaxing this summer or taking an exciting vacation, don’t let your child’s dental routine get left behind. They should still be brushing their teeth for a full two minutes twice a day and flossing between their teeth daily. While this simple habit can be easy to put off or forget, it’s the number one way to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues.
Tip #2: Keep Those Smile Safe
Warm temperatures mean fun summer sports and time by the pool. However, if you don’t take a few extra precautions, your child’s summertime fun may be cut short by a trip to your emergency dentist! Your son or daughter should always wear a properly fitting mouthguard while playing sports. While at the pool, teach them not to run on wet surfaces or jump into shallow areas.
Tip #3: Choose Healthy Summer Snacks
Summertime is full of sweet treats like ice cream, popsicles, and soda, which means your child could easily get a cavity before fall. Lower your little one’s risk of tooth decay by keeping sugary snacks out of sight and stocking up on healthy foods instead. In fact, you can even improve their oral health with a few tasty additions to their daily diet. Calcium-rich foods strengthen teeth and snacks with a lot of vitamin C promote healthy gum tissue.
Tip #4: Don’t Forget to Drink Lots of Water
Soda, juice, and sports drinks are all popular beverage choices for children during summer. Unfortunately, all these drinks are sugary and highly acidic. This means they can easily burn through enamel to cause cavities, especially in baby teeth. Instead, encourage your son or daughter to drink more water. Not only will this clean out their mouth and lower their risk of tooth decay, but it will keep them hydrated more effectively as well!
Tip #5: Start & End Summer with a Dental Checkup
Summer is the perfect opportunity for many activities, including dental checkups! With the busy school year out of the way, it’s much easier to schedule an appointment. Additionally, your little one’s dentist may be able to treat small issues before they develop into larger problems while you’re on vacation. Then, at the end of summer, another checkup can help your little one feel confident about the upcoming school year.
These five easy yet effective tips from your Columbia family dentist can help keep your family’s smiles happy, healthy, and bright all summer long!
About the Practice
At Beck Dental Care in Columbia, TN, our highly trained dental team can help you overcome nearly any oral health issue. However, their main goal is always to prevent problems from developing in the first place! That’s why they encourage their patients to come in for a dental checkup and cleaning every six months or so. Routine visits are an excellent opportunity to ensure your child’s oral health and dental development are on track for a beautiful smile. If you’d like more summertime tips, feel free to contact them via their website or at (931) 388-8452.