Summer is a great time of year to enjoy the nice weather, spend time outside with family and friends, and enjoy yummy snacks. However, there are a lot of popular summer foods that are not so good for your teeth.
Here are some tips that can help you maintain healthy teeth and gums this summer.
Sugary Summer Cocktails
What kind of drinks do you have during happy hours in the summer, while sitting by the pool, or vacationing? Sugary summer cocktails! These cocktails are tasty and fun, but they can cause increased tooth decay. Even artificial sugars are very damaging to the teeth and cause cavities by ruining the enamel.
Tips
– Instead of grabbing the sugary cocktails, try out drinks that aren’t loaded with sugars. There are a lot of healthier options out there for you to try. Just a little research and precaution can help keep your teeth healthy while you enjoy the summer.
– Instead of cocktails, go for cold fruit. This will satisfy your sweet tooth but will cause less damage to your teeth.
Skip the Carbonated Sodas
The hot weather is a great time to enjoy a cool, refreshing carbonated drink, but they aren’t healthy for your teeth. Carbonated drinks have acid in them that erode tooth enamel. Once it’s gone, you can’t get that enamel back! If you can’t avoid carbonated drinks this summer, there are things you can do to still enjoy it.
Tips
– Drink your soda with a straw. This will help prevent too much soda from getting on your teeth.
– Make sure to brush your teeth, floss, and use mouthwash after drinking soda so that the damaging acid doesn’t stay in your mouth for long.
– Try your best to limit your intake. If you can’t cut it out completely, you can certainly cut back.
Ice Cream
No one can imagine summer without our favorite snack, ice cream. However, ice cream is loaded with sugar that is one of the lead causes of tooth decay and cavities.
Tips
– Go for ice creams that are sugar-free or with low-sugar. You will likely not even notice a difference in taste and will be able to enjoy your yummy snack without putting your teeth at risk.
– Avoid ice creams with added syrups like caramel and fudge. These sticky syrups are loaded with extra sugar and get stuck in between your teeth.
– Like with most other food and drinks, try to clean your teeth after eating sugary or sticky foods. This doesn’t always mean you have to brush, as even rinsing your mouth out with clean water is better than doing nothing.
Fruits
Fruits are great if you are looking for a refreshing snack this summer. However, it’s important to choose fruits carefully. A lot of fruits that are popular during summertime are not healthy for your teeth. For example, lemons, limes, grapefruit, blueberries, and pineapples are really popular fruits to enjoy over the summer. However, these fruits are highly acidic and damage tooth enamel
Tips
– Limit your acidic fruit intake. These fruits have a lot of other health benefits that are great to include in your diet. However, make sure you limit their intake so your teeth don’t get damaged in the process.
– When you have these fruits, make sure to rinse out your mouth immediately after eating to limit the amount of acid that gets on your teeth. Also, make sure to brush and floss as soon as possible. Fruit like mangoes can have fibers that easily get stuck in your teeth.
– Eat fruits that are not acidic. Instead of blueberries, get strawberries or blackberries. Instead of pineapple, get kiwi and bananas. Cantaloupe and watermelon are great fruit options to keep you hydrated and healthy while protecting your teeth.
A great dental team is just as important to your oral health as a medical doctor is to your health. Make sure your dental care team has the expertise and experience necessary to deal with any dental issue that could come your way. Dr. Hagerman of Family & Cosmetic Dentistry offers these qualities along with a professional and welcoming environment for every patient. Call (651) 646-2392 to make an appointment today.
