Summer is finally here, which means it’s time to get out the swimsuits, inflate the kids’ swimmies, and fire up the grill! The season of sun invites so many fun activities that you and the rest of the family can enjoy together. Beach vacations, trips to the pool, and baseball games… it’s enough to get everyone excited.

Whether you’re spending quality time with family and friends or you’re gearing up to play your favorite summer sport, Beck Dental Care wants to remind you that there are special ways of protecting your family’s smiles to be aware of over the next few months.

Protect Your Smile This Summer

Yes, you definitely want to stay vigilant all year long when it comes to your oral and overall health. But summer, like every season, brings along its own unique threats to your beautiful, healthy smile.

To keep your teeth and gums in tip top shape for all the pictures you’re sure to capture while making memories this season, we’re sharing some information about how summer can threaten your smile and ways to protect you and your family.

Summer Smile Threat #1: Oral Cancer

You’re well aware of the connection between excessive sun exposure and skin cancer. That’s why it’s easy to remember to add sunblock to your shopping list once summer rolls around. You know about harmful ultraviolet rays, so naturally, you wouldn’t let your kids step foot outside for an afternoon in the sun without proper SPF protection.

But, surprisingly, little is ever said about the risk of oral cancer during the summertime. The delicate skin of your lips need protection, too! You’re at an increased risk of oral cancer if you spend too much time out in the sun without sunscreen. That’s why we recommend using a lip balm containing SPF of 30 or higher and that you keep reapplying it to your lips throughout the day.

Summer Smile Threat #2: Dehydration

Your body needs plenty of water in order to function properly. This is never more important than during the hot summer months. You’re probably spending way more time outdoors, and you’re losing crucial fluids through sweat, even if you’re not running around or playing a sport. The prime heat of the day will drain your body of fluids regardless.

So staying hydrated is so important to your health. It’s equally important to protecting your teeth and gums. The reason is because dehydration causes dry mouth, a condition where you can’t produce enough saliva. Saliva helps rinse your mouth of food particles and starving potentially harmful bacteria that live in your mouth. Without saliva’s protection or its nutritional properties for strong tooth enamel, you’re at a greater risk for bad breath, gum disease, cavities, and tooth decay.

Summer Smile Threat #3: Dental Emergencies

As we mentioned earlier, summer calls us to the great outdoors and inspires all kinds of increased physical activity. While that’s awesome for your health, it does make you more susceptible to dental emergencies.

If you or someone in your family plays a sport during the summer months, you should come to Beck Dental Care before the season begins and get a custom-fit athletic mouthguard. Using a mouthguard will give your teeth and gums the kind of protection it needs to prevent oral injuries such as damage to the soft tissue of your mouth or a knocked out tooth.

Come Visit Our Columbia Dental Office This Summer!

Since summer is the halfway mark of the year, it’s the perfect time to schedule your family’s routine

dental cleanings and exams

. Our team at Beck Dental Care are committed to your oral health and will do all we can to make sure your smiles get healthy and stay healthy all year long.

Make sure to add a dental checkup to your list of summer plans! Call us today at (931) 388-8452 or fill out our

online form

to schedule an appointment. Remember to ask about our athletic mouthguards for the athletes in your family, as well.

Let’s make this summer a great one for your smile!