Sun Sweets and Smiles A Guide to Healthy Teeth This Summer

Written By: Awa Mbye
Supervised & Edited By: Dr. Levy Do, DDS

Summer is one of the best times of the year. There are vacations, pool days, and a bunch of tasty food. However, even though summer is a blast, the season can negatively affect for your teeth if you are not careful. As their are so many sugary treats and busy schedules, dental care is easily forgotten. Which is why it’s super important to still take care of your smile while enjoying your summer.

Sweet Danger

One of the biggest problems during summer is all the sugary foods and drinks. Mouth-watering foods like ice cream, popsicles, soda, and lemonade are everywhere. Even though these sweet treats taste delicious, they have tons of sugar that can lead to cavities. The sugar that they contain feeds bacteria in your mouth, which can damage your teeth over time. A simple way to help is by rinsing your mouth with water after eating sweets or brushing your teeth if you can.

Another great idea is to choose snacks that are better for your teeth. Fruits like watermelon and strawberries are two amazing options, and crunchy vegetables like carrots can actually help clean your teeth while you eat them. Cheese is also a great snack because it can create an environment that inhibits acid erosion.

The act of chewing cheese stimulates saliva flow, which is naturally alkaline and contains bicarbonate that shields your teeth from the acids produced by oral bacteria. Additionally the increase in saliva helps to quickly raise the pH level in the mouth, moving it above the demineralization level of 5.5 where enamel begins to dissolve. Studies have shown that consuming cheese can elevate the pH of dental plaque to around 6.3.

Hydration is key

One more important factor to keep in mind is staying hydrated. When you drink water, leftover food and bacteria in your mouth is being washed away. Water also helps prevent dry mouth, which can lead to bad breath and even tooth decay.

If you spend a lot of time swimming, that can also affect your teeth. Pool water has harmful chemicals like chlorine, and being in chlorine for a long time has the ability to sometimes impact your enamel. Rinsing your mouth with fresh water after swimming can prevent these side effects. Drinking water is always a very fast and easy way to protect your teeth, especially during hot summer days.

Be wary of online trends

Many people want a brighter smile in the summer. While whitening can help, it is important to do it safely. Some trends online can actually damage your teeth, so it is better to talk to a dental professional before trying anything new.

Overall, summer is meant to be fun, and you should enjoy it. Just do not forget to take care of your teeth while you are at it.

We look forward to seeing you this summer. Appointments book up fast with all the kids out of school, so if you haven’t reserved a spot to get your teeth in tip top shape, give us a call today 817-453-8520 or simply click here to request an appointment follow-up call!

Have a great start to summer!