It’s that time of year. The days are longer, the weather is warmer, and school is out for summer vacation. With your kids out of school, it can be more difficult to maintain their oral health. Adventuring outside for fun in the sun can lead to more accidents, and the temptation of fast and easy junk food treats is greater with them being so close at hand. Here are a few tips to help your family keep up with their oral health during their summer break.
Keep up with the brushing and flossing
Summer brings schedule changes, and your kids may keep different hours than normal. Sleeping in or staying up late can lead to them forgetting (or even “forgetting”) to keep up with their oral hygiene. With vacations, trips to the pool, and other activities adding more variety to the schedule, keeping up with this daily routine may require you to remind your kids more than once.
Out With the Old
Remember, a toothbrush should be replaced once every 3 months or so. The beginning of summer is a great time to replace old brushes, stock up on floss, and choose the best toothpaste for your family. Remember, soft bristles are always a good choice. If your kids aren’t their oral hygiene, try making it more appealing with flavored floss, unique toothbrush designs, or some other kid-friendly variation on the theme.
Don’t Slip and Slide
In summer, kids are more prone to running around and indulging in horseplay. While there’s nothing wrong with fun and games, it does increase the risk of injury, to both the mouth and other parts of the body. Most of the dental emergencies that happen in summer occur at the pool. Make sure your kids follow pool safety rules. Running around, diving into shallow water, or bumping their mouths on the edge of the pool can all send you running to call for an emergency dental visit.
Act Fast
Do you know what to do in a dental emergency? It’s important to call our office right away and get here as soon as possible, but you should also know what kind of action is needed to help save your child’s teeth and keep them as comfortable as possible before you arrive. Put together a dental first aid kit, making sure you have floss, orthodontic wax, clove oil, temporary dental filler or cement, cotton pellets, and a cooling pack. You should also familiarize yourself with basic dental first aid practices, so you know what to do if an emergency does strike.
Plan Ahead
You and your family probably have some amazing plans lined up over the upcoming months. Nothing ruins a vacation quite like a toothache. Instead of waiting until the school year is about to begin, schedule an appointment for your kids’ next dental exam and cleaning at the beginning of summer. If anything is wrong, it can be addressed quickly, and if not, your family will have a clean bill of health and won’t have to worry about problems lurking in the future.
Set out Healthy Snacks
When they’re home all day, getting into sugary snacks and treats is a lot easier for kids. Help protect their teeth by making sure there are plenty of tooth-friendly snacks available. Make sure they drink plenty of water, instead of sodas and other sugary drinks, to help them stay hydrated as well, preventing dry mouth and cavities. Provide them with fruits and vegetables, string cheese, and other healthy options.
Summer is here, and we at Family Dental Group want to wish you and your kids a fun, safe, and healthy vacation.