Summertime means holidays and trips with family and friends, festivals, barbecues, and ice cream sales are four times higher than they are in the winter. Even cool-down drinks like juice and lemonade, cupcakes, brownies, and candies are common at food gatherings during this time. While summertime not only brings out a more active lifestyle for most of us, we should not forget our oral health especially after consuming sweet treats that are major culprits that lead to tooth decay. Your Ft Pierce dentist will help you make the most of your summer months by giving you tips on how to properly care for your oral health during your routine dental visits.
Summer months is what everyone is looking forward to especially if you have already planned the activities you’d want to enjoy with family and friends. Having a toothache, tooth infection, or a broken tooth can mean summer is ruined for you. Sugar is the food mouth bacteria needs to form plaque. You have constantly heard by now how sugar will rot your teeth. This statement is not an old wive’s tale that you should shrug off.
If you’re consuming too many sugary treats, the sugars in your food get eaten by mouth bacteria that creates an acidic substance that sticks to your teeth. This substance is called plaque that breaks up minerals in your teeth. Bacteria then get in crevices and tooth cracks causing infection and decay. Limit your intake with sugary foods and beverages such as ice cream, brownies, pies, cakes, and cookies, alcohol, lemonade, and juices this summer. Plaque acids will wreak havoc to your teeth and that is something to think about.
Keeping your summer smile healthy is not something complicated to do. Practice good oral hygiene throughout the summer by brushing, flossing, and gargling with alcohol-free mouthwash to keep bacteria at bay. When traveling, it is best to plan your meals ahead so you’re not constantly munching on candy bars or gas station foods. Keep yourself hydrated by choosing water over-acidic drinks and don’t forget to take a travel kit with you.
Smooth Sailing Dental educates and provides dental services to keep our patients dental health in tip-top shape. If you want to talk to a Ft Pierce dentist today for any dental issues you are having, contact us today for a consultation.