What Can You Do To Protect Your Family's Dental Health During The Summer?

Summertime means fun in the sun, hanging out with friends, and cookouts. Unfortunately, the summer can be extremely hard on your family's teeth. As you are planning your family's summer, here are some things to remember when it comes to maintaining good oral health. 

Why Is Summer Bad for Dental Health?

During the summer, most families are on the go. Less stress is put on maintaining a balanced diet, which can mean trouble for teeth. Even the most seemingly harmless activities can result in challenges to dental health. 

For instance, if you take your children to the zoo, before you leave, they could have ingested their fair share of sweetened drinks and candy. Unless you leave the zoo and head straight for home so they can brush their teeth, the sugar from the drinks and candy is allowed to linger on their teeth and eat away at the enamel.

What Can You Do?

Luckily for you and your family, you can keep everyone on track with their dental health with some planning and smart choices. 

One of the most important things you can do to preserve your family's dental health is to buy everyone a travel size toothbrush and toothpaste kit. No matter where you and your family are, everyone can brush their teeth so that harmful sugar and bacteria are eliminated. 

Another good decision you can make is to pack healthy snacks and drinks for the family. Instead of eating sugary snacks and drinks when you go out, your family can eat the healthier choices. For instance, instead of buying candy, you can opt for nuts, apples, or yogurt. 

If you are hosting a cookout this summer, look for foods that are good for the teeth. For instance, dairy products, such as milk and cheese, can be easily incorporated into your cookout and provide the calcium your family's teeth needs. 

Instead of handing out toothpicks to guests, you can hand out dental picks. Wooden toothpicks are too sharp and can pierce the gums. When this occurs, bacteria can easily get into the gums. 

If your children like to chew gum, look for sugar-free gum that is sweetened with xylitol. The natural sweetener helps to increase saliva production without leaving a sticky, sweet residue on the teeth. 

As part of your planning for the summer, consult with your family dentist. He or she can also provide you with great ways you can safeguard your family's dental health throughout the summer months. Visit http://www.cresthillfamilydental.com for more information.