Oral Health Tips for the Summer
Summer is the season of sunshine, travel, sports, and plenty of sweet treats.
While it's a great time to unwind and enjoy yourself, it's also a time when many people, especially kids, let their dental care routines slide.
Between heatwaves, vacations, and a schedule change, it's easy to overlook the small habits that keep your smile healthy. But staying proactive with oral health can help you avoid pain, emergencies, and unplanned visits to the dentist.
Here are some practical tips to help you and your family maintain oral health all summer.
Stay Hydrated — Protect More Than Just Your Body
You've probably heard that staying hydrated is essential during the summer months. But did you know that drinking water is also crucial for your teeth and gums?
When dehydrated, your body produces less saliva, which plays a key role in protecting your mouth. Saliva helps wash away food particles, neutralize acids, and support enamel health.
In the summer heat, habitually carry a refillable water bottle and sip throughout the day. Choose water over sugary drinks like soda, lemonade, or sports drinks, which can feed harmful bacteria in your mouth and lead to cavities.
If you're prone to dry mouth or can't brush right away, chewing sugar-free gum can help stimulate saliva production.
Help Kids Stick to Oral Health Routines
Summer vacation often means looser routines, late bedtimes, and busy mornings; this can lead kids to skip essential oral hygiene habits like brushing and flossing.
To keep dental care on track, create a fun and easy-to-follow schedule.
To make brushing more engaging, use a summer-themed brushing chart or a timer.
Encourage kids to brush twice daily and floss once, just like during the school year. A reward system can also help reinforce consistency.
Summer is also a smart time to schedule routine checkups—before the back-to-school rush. Your dentist can catch any issues early and help your child start the school year with a clean, healthy smile.
Travel Smart: Don't Forget Your Oral Care Essentials
Whether heading to the beach, a national park, or a family reunion, it's easy to forget dental hygiene while packing. But keeping up your oral care routine while traveling is as essential as at home.
Pack the basics: toothbrush, floss, toothpaste, and mouthwash. Consider bringing a travel-size dental emergency kit with dental wax, gauze, and pain relief items. Having your dental provider's contact info handy in emergencies is also a good idea.
While you're enjoying new foods and treats on the road, try to avoid chewing on ice or hard candies, which can crack or chip your teeth.
Be Mindful with Summer Treats
Summer is full of sugary temptations—popsicles, caramel corn, cotton candy, and fruity drinks, to name a few. While indulging occasionally is okay, too much sugar can quickly lead to tooth decay.
Sticky, chewy, or acidic snacks can cling to teeth and feed harmful bacteria. Try to limit these and opt for healthier options like yogurt, cheese, fresh vegetables, or fruit with lower acidity, like bananas or melons.
If you can't brush after a sweet treat, rinse your mouth with water first to help wash away sugar and acid. This simple habit can go a long way toward protecting your enamel.
Protect Your Teeth During Summer Sports
Outdoor activities and summer sports are great for staying active, but they can pose risks to your teeth. Accidents during baseball games, skateboarding, or biking can lead to chipped or knocked-out teeth.
Wearing a properly fitted mouthguard is one of the best ways to prevent dental injuries. These are essential for contact sports or any activity where falls or collisions are likely.
If a dental injury does occur, such as a cracked or knocked-out tooth, don't wait. Contact an urgent dental clinic as soon as possible for the best chance of preserving the tooth.
Watch Out for Poolside Tooth Risks
It might surprise you, but spending much time in swimming pools—especially those with high chlorine levels—can affect your teeth.
Competitive swimmers sometimes risk enamel erosion caused by frequent exposure to acidic pool water.
To minimize risks, rinse your mouth with fresh water after swimming and maintain your regular brushing routine.
One last tip: whatever you do, do not use your teeth as tools. Opening packaging, bottle caps, or snack bags with your teeth can result in painful cracks or chips.
Give STL Urgent Dental a Call
Summer is a time to relax, explore, and enjoy the outdoors, but don't let your oral health take a vacation. With a few simple adjustments to your summer routine, you can protect your smile.
Our St. Louis Urgent Dental team is here to help with your urgent, after-hours dental needs! We are open seven days a week.
Please note that we do not perform regular cleanings. After your urgent dental need is taken care of, we can recommend general dentists throughout the STL Metro area who can proceed with your care.
We are ready to help with dental emergencies, including root canals, crowns, socket grafting, extractions, implants, broken teeth, and more.
Our procedure pricing and other details can all be found here on our website.
Schedule an appointment, and you'll be smiling again in no time.
