After a long year of working and school, you and your kids may be excited to take some time for yourselves this summer! You may be enjoying food at a barbecue, feeling the ocean water on your legs, or possibly taking a nice, long vacation to celebrate all the hard work you all did! However, the more relaxed nature could catch you or your little one off guard and cause a dental emergency. To help ensure that this doesn’t happen, here are three tips to help safeguard everyone’s smiles this summer.
1.) Enforce Pool and Sports Safety
A popular summertime activity is to cool off in the pool. It does feel great against the hot sun, but swimming pool accidents can happen quickly, especially on a slippery pool deck. Keep an eye on your kids and make sure they avoid running around them or diving into shallow water. That way, you can avoid having to deal with a chipped or loose tooth!
Other fun pastimes can be sports or biking, but they can also cause oral injuries when the proper precautions aren’t taken. A mouthguard is a great investment if your kids play contact sports, as it creates a barrier that protects your little one’s pearly whites from injury. It’s a small step that can save a lot of pain down the road.
2.) Stock Up Healthy Summer Snacks
It is the season to let your family indulge in their favorite cold drinks and sweet treats, but it’s important to be aware of how it can impact their oral health. Sugary foods can erode your child’s tooth enamel, increasing their risk of cavities or toothaches.
To keep things healthy, try making some smoothies or shaping fruits and vegetables into fun designs to make them more appealing! While your kids may still crave a sweet treat, encourage them to drink water afterward to help wash away the sugars and acids that can harm their teeth.
3.) Monitor Their Summer Oral Hygiene Routine
With the hustle and bustle of summer fun, it can be easy to neglect routine oral care. However, it’s important to let your kids know how brushing their teeth twice and flossing once daily is beneficial for them. They may see it as a chore, but you can make it a more enjoyable activity by turning on their favorite song or trying out a different, fun-flavored toothpaste (just make sure it still has fluoride!).
You can also schedule a dental appointment for your family as the season starts, especially if you’re planning on traveling! Your dentist will be able to check your little one’s smile and find any problems or harmful habits before they become something serious.
Keeping these simple tips in mind while you and your family are on a summer journey can ensure you avoid any urgent trips to your pediatric dentist. The season should be filled with smiles and laughter, so take the steps you need to avoid any mishaps or emergencies while out exploring.
About the Practice
At Purdy Pediatric Dentistry, we have been serving families in the Bakersfield community for over 25 years. Our team of skilled dentists wants your little ones to have the best oral health they can by ensuring they get the care they deserve. We will also help you get the tools you need to feel confident about creating an excellent at-home oral routine.
If your child has a dental emergency, we are proud to offer same-day appointments, so they can get back to having summer fun as soon as possible. To learn more about how you can protect your family’s smiles this season, schedule an appointment for them or call us at (661) 832-5530.