The days are getting longer. The weather is getting warmer. That means one thing: summer is here! Whether you’re planning on traveling out of town for a family reunion, taking a road trip along the East Coast, or flying to a completely different country, a dental emergency isn’t on your itinerary. To prevent one from arising, keep reading to learn three summer activities that can harm your smile (and how to prevent that from happening).
1. Swimming
You already know the importance of pool safety, including walking instead of running to help prevent a chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged tooth from a bad fall. However, that’s not the only thing you need to keep in mind. A condition known as Swimmers Calculus can also occur if you swim six or more hours a week, which results in pigmented yellow and brown stains developing.
The solution: Keep your mouth closed while you swim to help prevent the chlorinated water from affecting your teeth. If you notice anything abnormal, like dental discoloration, then schedule an appointment with your dentist ASAP.
2. Participating in Contact Sports
Over the summer, are you or your child considering taking up a sport? If so, it’s important to wear the proper protection – even if it’s a non-contact activity like running or skateboarding. If you don’t, then the chances of a dental emergency, like a knocked-out tooth, skyrocket.
The solution: Wear a mouthguard! If you don’t have one, don’t opt for the ones at your local sporting goods store. Instead, have your dental team make a custom one. That way, it’s comfortable and effective.
3. Drinking Lemonade (& Other Sugary Drinks)
When the temperature rises above the 90s and the humidity kicks in, there’s nothing quite like a glass of refreshing lemonade. Unfortunately, this beverage is often packed with sugar, which is one of the leading causes of tooth decay. For the same reason, we don’t recommend over-indulging on fruit juice or soda either.
The solution: Drink water! Not only will this keep you hydrated, but it will also help prevent dry mouth and remove food particles and other debris from your teeth and gums.
About the Practice
Part of the reason we offer evening appointments, provide a wide-range of restorative services, and have an in-house endodontist is because our team at Dudley Family Dental wants to be here for you when you need us most. That said, we know how overwhelming handling a dental injury can be, which is why we also want to share all of our tips and tricks with our patients on how to prevent them. If you have any questions for our Dudley dental team or you’d like to schedule an appointment, you can reach out to us via our website or by phone at (508) 943-7001.