Summer is here, and that means sunny skies, day camps, and wild schedules for your family. It also means a whole new set of challenges to getting your kids to eat right and keep up strong oral hygiene. While summer is the time to kick back, relax, and soak in some rays, we at New York City Endodontics have a few tips for making sure your children can still enjoy their summer without damaging their oral health.
Oral Hygiene is as much about keeping up a strong routine as anything else. During summer, the scheduled activities of school and sports teams give way to camps, days at the pool or beach, and vacations, so it’s easy to see why routines are something many kids throw out the window come June.
Don’t be shocked if you have to remind your kids to brush and floss frequently throughout the summer months, but you can help them out tremendously by investing in new, fresh brushes, and stocking up on travel-sized toothpaste and floss for family trips and sleepover camps.
Summer is a great time for all sorts of medical checkups because your children are now available during the week, but don’t put those appointments off until August. Getting in a checkup right after school ends will help prime your child for better oral hygiene during their break and decrease the likelihood for a toothache popping up while you’re away on vacation.
From a food and drink standpoint, those long days of summer easily lend themselves to an onslaught of sugar and acid on your children’s teeth. If kids are home all day, they’ll be snacking nonstop, so stocking your kitchen with fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, and other healthy snacks will help mitigate the chance of cavities caused from guzzling soda and gorging on candy and sweets.
While many people don’t think of it, summer days full of physical activity and around a lot of young moving bodies, can lend themselves to potential dental emergencies. Getting ample outside time is great for your kids, but a flailing limb or an unfortunate fall can cause dental problems in a hurry, if they’re not careful. So prepare for the worst with these tips:
Follow the “pool rules”: Many summer dental emergencies happen on the pool deck, where running on slippery surfaces, diving into shallow ends, and bumping into ledges can cause any number of dental injuries.
Know Your Steps. If something does happen, make sure to get to your dentist right away. On the way, use warm water and cold packs to clean the injury and reduce any swelling, then apply gauze if necessary to stop any bleeding. Place any lost permanent teeth back in the mouth if you can, if not, use salt water or milk to keep it moist as you travel to the dentist.
Summer is a necessary and exciting break from your everyday routine and by following these health tips from New York City Endodontics, you can make sure your kids return to school with great oral hygiene.