Summer is a time for your family to hit the road, relax a little, and enjoy a little downtime. However, these interruptions to our usual routine could create an environment where tooth decay and gum disease thrive. In today’s blog, your Des Moines, IA, dentist explains how to keep smiles of all ages healthy all summer long!
Keep Your Brushing and Flossing Routine
During the summer months, families often stay up later and become lapse in their routines. But no matter how relaxed your summer becomes, please be sure you continue to brush and floss daily. These actions help remove food particles from one and between the teeth, lowering the risk of tooth decay and gum disease in smiles of all ages. Kids and adults should start their day by brushing for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, and end the day the same way. We also need to floss every evening, moving between every tooth to remove what a toothbrush alone cannot reach. Even if you go on vacation, bring travel toothbrushes, toothpastes, and floss with you to keep up with your normal oral hygiene routine.
Watch Out for Sugar
When we consume foods and drinks high in sugar, this leaves behind particles for bacteria to break down, making cavities more likely. Along with the obvious suspects, such as soda, candy, chips, and energy drinks, you should watch out for sports drinks, fruit juices, and energy drinks, all of which contain harmful sugars and acids. Instead, consume more fresh fruits, veggies, cheeses, whole grain crackers, and sugar-free gum. Drink plenty of water too, which cleanses your mouth and helps you stay hydrated on hot summer days.
Checkup and Cleaning Visits
Summer is a great time to visit our team for a checkup and cleaning too! With a checkup, our team will carefully examine your family’s smiles with digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, obtaining a clear image of your smile and providing a diagnosis with accuracy and precision. We then find out if you need treatment, and address these early. We also clean your teeth, which allows us to remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth. A cleaning helps lower the risk of tooth decay and gum health issues, and also fights bad breath and teeth stains.
If you have any questions about how to keep smiles healthy, then contact our team today to learn more.
TALK TO YOUR DES MOINES, IA DENTIST ABOUT KEEPING SMILES STRONG
With the right actions from home, you can reduce the risk of issues like cavities and gum disease. To find out more about the steps we take to protect smiles of all ages, then please contact your Des Moines, IA, dentist, Dr. Burds, by calling 515-244-9565.