It is summer time! And that means no school for all the kids. Now, children have a lot of free-time during this time of the year, which is great for them, but it’s also a lot of work for parents. Cooking, cleaning, driving them to soccer practice, the list goes on; you’re constantly taking care of them during this time of year. To make life a bit easier, we’ve compiled a list of a few dental tips to keep you and your children on track with your oral health.
Avoid Sugary Foods and Eat Healthy Snacks
A kid’s daily routine is thrown out the window when summer rolls around. They don’t have to wake up for school and they can stay up late. The change in routine also means a change in their daily meals. Unhealthy snacks and sugary foods often become a staple within their summer diet, which isn’t ideal. Sugary foods and drinks are one of the root causes of cavities. In order to avoid this, stock the pantry and fridge with healthy snacks. Oatmeal, nuts, fruits, and natural juices are just a few examples.
Hydration
Staying hydrated in the Texas heat is very important. Make sure to bring a water bottle whenever you’re participating in any physical activity outside. Plus, water is a great alternative to cokes and other sugary drinks. But if you can’t help but drink a can of soda, drink some water afterwards. It will help wash away the sugar in your mouth, which helps prevent cavities from forming.
Mouth Guards
Children love going outside and playing with their friends. During recreational activities and sports, whether or not there is physical contact, it’s a good idea to wear a mouthguard. Mouthguards protect your teeth from chipping, prevent your teeth getting knocked out, and prevent concussions. Accidents happen, so be careful when playing sports.
Keep Brushing
As mentioned earlier, kids are going to sleep in and stay up later than they usually do. Since their normal routine is off, they are less likely to brush their teeth twice a day. Keeping a daily brushing chart may help combat this problem.
Wear lip balm with SPF 15+
Let’s not forget about your lips. It’s important to use lip balm with SPF throughout the summer months because UV rays can also burn your lips with long exposure. Lip balms with SPF have more wax than the traditional kind, and they adhere better, which means you don’t have to reapply as often. Girls should also avoid lip gloss. Lip gloss absorbs more sunlight, increasing your risk of burns. So whenever you run out of sun screen, make sure you buy some extra lip balm to ward off those UV rays.
New Toothbrushes
You should only be using your toothbrush for about three months at a time, then replace it. So once summer break rolls around, buy a new toothbrush for everyone in the family. So once school starts back up again, you’ll know you need a new toothbrush. It’s a simple reminder that you can use for every season throughout the year.
