Tips to Keep Your Smile Healthy This Summer

August 22, 2017, Reston Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

Have A DentalCheck-up

You may have a summer checklist of things you and your family want to do, perhaps it’s to visit a new place or to spend time with your family. Is a dental check up with your Reston dentist on your list? If not, it should be. We know that taking time out of your schedule is challenging, especially in the busy summer months, but one of the most important things you can do for your smile is to see your dentist regularly for your exam and cleaning. During these visits we can detect any potentially serious dental issues before they become worse, promising you a better prognosis. Make room in your schedule for us. Trust us—your smile will thank you.

Watch what you Eat and Drink

Summer is the time for BBQ’s and staying cool and refreshed. This may include high sugar drinks such as juices, sports drinks and soda. To make it less likely that you’ll choose the wrong foods, you can start packing some smile-friendly snacks for you and your family. You don’t have to slave away in the kitchen to create delicious snacks; just toss in some fresh fruits and cheeses in your lunchbox and you’ll be good to go! You can also avoid sugar in most current soft drinks and stick to water instead. Perhaps a grandparent once told you that eating too much candy will cause your teeth to rot. While it's true excess sugar can cause tooth decay, this is due to the bacteria they attract, not the sugar itself, that can damage your teeth. Just as you have a sweet tooth, so do bacteria. They love to eat the sticky sugars that linger on your teeth.

Maintain Your Oral Hygiene Routine

Did you remember to pack your toothbrush? There is no excuse to not continue to brush and floss even if you are traveling. You can pack travel kits with all of the things you might need, such as a toothbrush and floss. If your children are participating in sports it’s important to make sure that they are using their mouth guards to protect their teeth.

Why do you need to brush twice per day? While we naturally have bacteria in our mouths, the decay-causing bacteria are able to develop because they latch onto biofilm, a layer of bacteria. Brushing twice per day is an effective method for preventing tooth decay because brushing rids the teeth of biofilm. No matter how busy your day or evening gets, flossing is an important element of any daily oral routine. There’s really no excuse for not flossing daily! Flossing promotes healthy gums and can help remove bacteria and food from hard-to-reach spots that maybe your brush just can’t get.

For more dental hygiene tips -- or to schedule your next appointment -- please call Reston Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Reston, VA. No matter how busy you are, we all have the same 24 hours in which to accomplish all our tasks. When we find ourselves overscheduled, overworked and overtired, it can be hard to keep up with all the things you have to do. Some things, unfortunately, get overlooked; however, don’t let your oral care be one of them.

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