With summer in full swing, you’re probably preparing for a vacation, extra time with family and friends, daytime childcare, and everything else that goes with the summer months. Even with most of the country already seeing some extremely high summer temps, people are hitting the roads and airways to get to those summer fun destinations they’ve planned for all year.
Whether you’re taking on summer alone in Burkburnett, Texas, or traveling out of state with kids or grandkids, you must be prepared for everything summer brings. That includes taking care of your oral health. Excellent oral hygiene is linked to overall health and wellbeing, so don’t forget to give attention to those pearly whites this summer as you plan summer fun in and around Burkburnett, Texas.
Make Sure Check-ups are Scheduled Through Summer in Burkburnett
With the hustle and bustle of school ending and summer beginning, it’s easy to forget about medical appointments. One tip for summer tooth care in Burkburnett, Texas, is to make sure those dental appointments are scheduled throughout the summer and the back-to-school checkup is already on the books. Your Burkburnett cosmetic dentist will ensure the aesthetics of your teeth are lovely for the summer, and a Burkburnett general dentist will make sure everyone in the family maintains their routine checkup schedule for teeth cleaning and any maintenance care that may be needed.
Tips for Summer Tooth Care in Burkburnett
There’s nothing like a cold, refreshing drink to hydrate you by the pool or on the beach, but you must avoid chewing the ice that’s keeping your drink nice and frosty. Patients who suffer from TMJ/TMD (temporomandibular joint disorders), especially, have to avoid chewing ice no matter how tempting it may be.
Chewing ice is hard on the temporomandibular joints and can certainly exacerbate the numerous symptoms of TMD, including jaw pain, jaw tightness, ringing in the ears, and clicking noises in the jaw. Chewing ice can also crack a tooth, chip a tooth, or break a tooth off completely. When that happens, you can bet you’ll spend some time in your Burkburnett’s cosmetic dentist’s chair for TMJ treatment and to fix those damaged teeth.
Here are some more tips for summer tooth care:
- Stay hydrated with plenty of water—dehydration results in a lack of saliva production, which means bacteria and food particles stick around and eventually turn into plaque. As much as you’d like a daiquiri or margarita to keep you hydrated, water is the best way. Make sure the kids drink plenty of water in between juice boxes, milk, and lemonade.
- Limit sugary food and drinks for adults and children. Summer treats, including ice cream and snow cones, are filled with sugar. Instead of those treats, add some fresh fruit into your family’s snack time.
- Don’t forget to protect your lips with a lip balm that contains sunscreen. Burnt lips that become dry and chapped are painful and take away from the aesthetics of your mouth. Try to find a lip balm with at least a 15 SPF.
- When traveling, make sure you pack all of your dental hygiene needs, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash, and any other tools of the oral hygiene trade you use at home. Keep toothbrushes stored in a sanitized carrying case or zip lock bag to ensure they stay nice and clean.
- Teach small children the importance of dental hygiene when traveling and make it fun for them to pack their own stuff if they are old enough to do so.
- Never use your teeth as a tool to open bags or bottles. While it may be tempting to rip that bag of chips open with your teeth when you’re tired of traveling but resist that temptation. One wrong move and your tooth could chip, crack, or come out altogether. Broken teeth will surely put a damper on your travel plans.
- If you’re planning an extended stay away from home, please do research and find the names and locations of a couple of dentists just in case you have a dental emergency while on vacation.
Summer Tooth Care in Burkburnett, Texas
If it’s time for a checkup this summer, please contact your general and cosmetic dentist, Dr. Kyle Clark, at Burkburnett Family Dental by calling (940) 569-4901. You can also fill out an online appointment request form, and one of our dental team members will be in touch shortly.
