How Your Summer Eating Habits and Diet May Be Affecting Your Teeth

Don't Wreck Your Smile This Summer: Easy Tips for Avoiding Common Summertime Cavity Causes

Summer is a time for sharing amazing foods with friends and family in the sunshine. Rest assured that this is something your dentist would never want to take away from you. However, your dentist does wish that more people knew about the link between tooth decay and many popular summertime treats. Let's make sure you're ready to go into fall with a clean, bright, and healthy smile. Here's a look at our favorite tips and strategies for maintaining good oral health during the summer from Dental Arts of South Jersey.

Some Summer Foods That Are Great for Oral Health

Wondering how to enjoy fresh, satisfying foods all summer long without feeling like your teeth are suffering? Pile your plate with crunchy, crisp foods that have some self-cleaning qualities for your teeth. Yes, foods like apples, carrots, and cucumbers actually help to neutralize acids and stimulate saliva production to naturally reduce bacteria in your mouth. Cheeses and yogurts are also amazing summertime treats because they are full of calcium and phosphates that boost tooth enamel and balance your mouth's pH. Anything that is naturally hydrating is also a great choice. For example, watermelon is sweet and delicious while also promoting saliva production and keeping your mouth hydrated. Finishing a meal with watermelon is a great way to flush food particles from your mouth.

Summer Treats That Can Be Challenging for Oral Health

Strawberry shortcake with whipped cream, ice cream sundaes, ice pops, and other desserts and frozen treats are full of sugar that can lead to bacteria and enamel erosion if we're not careful. In addition to enjoying these summertime delights in moderation, consider rinsing your mouth with water and waiting at least 30 minutes to brush your teeth in order to protect your teeth instead of damaging your enamel.

Sports beverages, sugary drinks, sweet tea, lemonade, and other sugary and fuzzy summertime refreshers also pile sugar and acid onto teeth. While enjoying a drink here and there is perfectly fine, sipping these drinks throughout the day can quickly lead to decay. We also highly recommend that you do not chew ice to cool down! Unfortunately, our office has seen its fair share of cracked teeth caused by this common summertime habit.

Our Favorite Tips for Keeping Your Smile Healthy This Summer

You can enjoy everything you love to eat in summer! Just make sure you're staying balanced and prioritizing clean, debris-free teeth with your snacking and sipping habits. These are some of our favorite tips:

• Snack Wisely: You don't have to skip snacks just to keep your teeth sparkling this summer. Just prioritize fruits, chesses, nuts, and other naturally low-sugar snacks.
• Drink Water: Pure water keeps your mouth moist and free of bacteria on hot days.
• Be Consistent: While your schedule may be different in the summer, your commitment to brushing and flossing at least twice daily needs to be firm.
• Don't Skip Your Summer Cleaning: Fit in a summer cleaning to make sure you don't fall behind on oral health.

The best part about working hard to keep your smile healthy during the summer is that you'll go into the fall and holiday season with total confidence in your smile! Need to schedule a cleaning before summer ends? Our office is happy to help you. Just call at (856) 324-3361 or visit us online to book an appointment.