Summertime Threats to Your Dental Health

As temperatures rise and summer offers a welcome respite from work or school, many people make plans to cook out, indulge their sweet tooth, knock back some drinks with friends, and play their favorite outdoor sports. However, if you prepare to join in the fun, make sure your teeth don't suffer any consequences.

Once you have a basic understanding of the specific threats summer foods and activities can present to your dental health, you can avoid these potential pitfalls by adopting some smart preventative habits and menu choices. Start by thinking about the following summertime dental perils.

Barbecue Menu Items

You may find it hard to imagine a summer without barbecue parties or family meals featuring grilled meats and vegetables. Although beef, chicken, pork, and other popular meats don't necessarily pose a direct threat to your dental health in and of themselves, they can sabotage your teeth in other, less obvious ways.

Take care with grilled meats that contain bones. An ill-judged bite into a rib bone, for instance, could easily crack or chip a tooth, a permanent crown, or a bracket on your braces. Fibrous remnants from corn and other vegetables can get jammed between teeth, causing discomfort and attracting bacteria.

Go light on the marinades and sauces when grilling for your summer crowd. These items tend to contain lots of acids and sugars. Look at dry rubs as a seasoning alternative or offer sauces on the side so you and your loved ones can control the serving amounts more precisely.

Sweet Summer Treats

Summer traditions such as fairs and carnivals typically include a variety of snacking options, including sugary treats such as cotton candy, popsicles, funnel cakes, and ice cream. However, as your dentist has probably warned you, excessive sugar consumption can wreak havoc on your teeth.

Choose sugar-free alternatives to these tasty treats whenever possible. If you do indulge in sugar, brush and floss with extra care. Before you do, rinse your mouth with water and give the sugars plenty of time to dissolve. Otherwise, your toothbrush could do more harm by rubbing those substances into your enamel.

Fun in the Sun

Summer fun means summer sports. Unfortunately, they can also mean dental problems if you don't take proper precautions. An innocent game of beach soccer or volleyball can lead to a facial impact that cracks or loosens a tooth. Ask your dentist to give you a custom-fitted mouth guard that you can wear as you play.

Even aquatic sporting activities can spell trouble for teeth. Swimming in chemically treated water can stain your teeth yellow or brown until you can schedule a professional cleaning.

Scuba mouthpiece pressure can cause a syndrome called barondontalgia, with symptoms that include tooth, gum, or jaw pain. Since pre-existing dental issues can raise the risk for this syndrome, schedule a dental wellness exam and get those issues fixed before you so scuba diving.

Favorite Summer Beverages

Beer, wine, and cocktails often find their way into summertime beach parties, barbeques, and other activities. Unfortunately, while these beverages may add to your enjoyment of these events, you may get less enjoyment out of their effects on your dental health.

Alcohol has a dehydrating effect on the body, including a reduction in salivary gland activity. With a protective coating of saliva, your teeth grow more vulnerable to bacterial infiltration, promoting cavities and infections. If you choose to drink alcohol, drink lots of water as well to help counteract the resulting dehydration.

Don't assume that non-alcoholic drinks always offer a safe alternative for your teeth. Many juices and sodas contain high concentrations of acids that can erode your tooth enamel, as well as sugars that feed bacteria and promote decay. Skip these drinks entirely, or rinse your mouth with water after drinking them.

Whether your teeth have already sustained some summertime damage or you simply want to learn more about summertime dental wellness from the experts, Advanced Dental Care can help. You can get the summer off to a healthy start by scheduling that overdue examination and cleaning. Contact our dental office today.