Tips For A Smile-Friendly Summer!

Posted on Jun 29, 2015 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Ahhhh…. summertime! We all look forward to an opportunity to spend time outdoors with friends and family. These outings are often surrounded by food. Here are some helpful tips to keep your mouth healthy.

Being ‘swim suit ready’ has some trying juice diets. Juices are high in sugar and an ideal food for oral bacteria. Sugar also creates an acid attack in your mouth, which can lead to cavities.

Around the grill, take note of the sauce that’s coating your chicken and ribs. That gooey, barbeque sauce is probably heavy on the sugar. Consider having your helping sans the sauce!

Some foods are high in acid, primarily tomatoes and citrus. Since these foods are ‘in season’ in the summer, we tend to consume them more often. In addition to acid’s challenges to enamel, keep in mind that citrus also contains sugar.

Having chips or pretzels and a cooler of drinks are often part of an outing to the pool or lake. Sugary drinks, including colas and sport beverages are most likely full of sugar and also sipped over a long period of time. An acid attack in your mouth will begin with the first drink and last for the duration it’s consumed. Add to that 20 or so more minutes for the acid attack to subside when you’re finished.

The next time you eat chips or other starchy snack, notice how it becomes sticky in your mouth. Bacteria go nuts on these foods because they convert into sugar, their favorite food. This sticky substance can become trapped between teeth, allowing bacteria to indulge even longer.

As you enjoy the warm weather and its fun outdoors, remember the well being of your smile. Here are some tips to help you:

– Drink lots of water! It’s good for you and helps in the production of saliva, which cleanses the mouth.

– Swish with water after drinking or eating.

– An acid attack occurs every time you eat or drink so limit between meal treats. If you want a cola, for example, have it with a meal since an acid attack will already be underway.

– Snack wisely and read the labels on sauces, dressings, etc. Sugar in high content appears in some surprising ways.

– Brush twice daily, however, don’t brush immediately after eating. Wait 30 minutes for the acid attack in your mouth to subside to keep abrasion off enamel.

You CAN prevent the need for dental repairs with simple steps. Also, be sure to maintain your dental exams every six months.