Summer is here and your family dentists at WhiteWing Dental are just as ecstatic as you are!
We know that school in the McAllen metro area is letting out for vacation and that means life for many parents is going to change once again for the next couple of months. Perhaps you have some trips planned, want to improve family time around the house, or your children just might have camps, sports, and other programs they plan to participate in.
The increased amount of time around the house – or away from home – can get us and our children out of the regular routines we have. Especially during the summer when our eating habits can undergo a lot of changes.
Whitewing Dental knows that it is easy to put our oral health on the back burner a bit as we enjoy picnics, family gatherings, and other opportunities. Unfortunately, this may mean eating and snacking in a way that is not best for our teeth and mouth.
But no need to worry. WhiteWing Dental has 5 hot tips for you and your family to make sure you are keeping up with your oral health while still enjoying the summer months.
1. Don’t Underestimate the Value of Your Check-up
Like so many other things in life, we can forget to regularly make it a point to go see our dentist. Whether this is done out of fear or forgetfulness, the benefit of having your teeth checked should not be underestimated – especially before you head out on a summer trip.
Having them checked before you leave is best since they are likely to take a little bit more of a beating away from home. Still, if your only option is to go to the dentist after you get back from your trip, make it a point to set an appointment.
Even a simple procedure can go a long way to addressing or preventing any oral health issues.
2. Fruit is Your Friend (And Veggies Too)
We’ve all been told as far back as we can remember that it’s the healthiest choice to not skip out on our apples and greens. The truth is that fresh produce like berries, peppers, and corn to watermelon and tomatoes, are just as good for our oral health as they are for the rest of our body.
Aside from the great and wide-range of tastes they offer, fruits and veggies are also full of vitamins and minerals that strengthen and promote the health of our mouth and teeth. With everything from vitamin C, potassium, and calcium, the right combination of fruits and vegetables can do wonders for your smile. Plus, they make great healthy snacks instead of candies and sweets.
3. Plan Ahead if You Can
As is the case with many professionals, dentists see a rise in the number of visits they get during the summer months. With school being out and people taking time off from work, the number of individuals going to take care of dental issues they might have been dealing with or even just for a checkup, increases.
Unexpected injuries and accidents that can occur during summer sports activities, like chipped or broken teeth, also add to the number of patients many dentists see at this time.
To the best of your ability, try to schedule your appointment in advance to prepare for what is often a hectic season for dentists.
4. Watch What You Drink
Another bit of advice we get all the time regarding what to put into our bodies is to drink a lot of water and avoid sugary drinks. As repetitive as it sounds, it still holds true.
Juices, sports drinks, sodas, and alcohol all have varying levels of sugar and acidic content. Too much of any of them can wear down your enamel and lead to tooth decay or cavities.
So, as often as you can, stick to water when it comes to staying hydrated and refreshed during summer. When you travel, it is also good practice to avoid tap water if you are not sure about the quality of the local water.
Bottled water is the safest choice, regardless of where you find yourself.
5. Protecting Your Lips
There is plenty of awareness about how vital it is to our health to protect our skin from the sun, but our lips are often overlooked in these warnings. The skin on them is thinner than other places on our body and has no melanin, making it much more susceptible to being damaged by the sun.
To avoid this damage, and potential problems that follow like oral cancer, take steps to protect your lips.
Lip balm can help prevent your lips from drying and flaking, whether you are washing your face or simply sitting outside.
If your lips do end up getting chapped, don’t pick at the loose skin or lick your lips. Peeling the skin makes them even more vulnerable and the acid in your saliva can irritate them and dry them out even further.
WhiteWing Dental is here for all your family dentistry needs this summer!
While summer is the perfect season for some much needed R&R, you should still be looking out for your oral and dental health. Being that your oral health is an important part your overall health, it’s important to understand the many different ways that you can protect your smile this summer.
Remember that the team at WhiteWing Dental is here for any issues that arise during the upcoming months (and beyond).
But if something unexpected arises, don’t hesitate to contact us at (956) 686-5577 and let us make sure that your smile never goes anywhere. From family dentistry services to smile alignment, sedation dentistry, and more, WhiteWing Dental will make sure to keep your smile as bright as The Valley sun.