Summer is almost here in Acadiana! The weather’s warming up, the kids are out of school, and you’re probably already planning family vacations, pool days, or maybe just figuring out how to keep the little ones entertained at home.
Whatever your plans with the kiddos over the summer, our pediatric dental team wanted to share some things you need to know to keep your child’s teeth healthy during these warm months.
Don’t Let Oral Care Routines Take a Vacation!
Summer break usually means there’s nothing to get your child up and moving early in the morning, and it’s so easy for them to start skipping their usual routines, including their oral health routine. This can become a habit really fast, and so can plaque buildup on their teeth.
Be sure to stick with their oral care routine, whether they’re on vacation or just staying at home.
Water First, Sugary Drinks in Moderation
Summer in Louisiana means hot, humid weather, and everyone will be craving something cool and refreshing.
Ice cream, snowballs, smoothies, soft drinks, fruit juice, sports drinks – you name it! They’re all undoubtedly refreshing on a hot day, but also pose a huge risk to your child’s oral health.
Offer your child water first before sugary options. Sugar tends to stick to teeth longer, and if not coupled with proper oral care, it can build up really quickly.
If you do give sugary drinks, offer them alongside meals or have your child rinse their mouth with water or brush their teeth afterwards, if possible.
Read more: How Water Helps Boost Your Child’s Oral Health
Keep Your Child Hydrated
We all experience the hot humidity of summer in Acadiana, and our bodies lose fluids faster during outdoor activities. Adults don’t always realize when they’re getting dehydrated, and kids even less so.
It’s important to keep an eye on your child’s hydration level. Make sure they drink enough water throughout the day, especially if they’re playing sports or running around outside.
We tend to gravitate towards sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade because of the electrolyte content: but what many people don’t realize is that those drinks are loaded with sugar! If drunk with frequency, as with our athletic kiddoes, we see a lot of cavity formation!
The good news: electrolyte water is now commonly available! You get all the benefits without the unnecessary exposure to sugar and dyes! Water has a lot of other benefits for oral health. It fights dry mouth and acts as a natural rinsing agent that washes away food particles and bacteria in the mouth. But water is also essential for their overall health!
If your child would rather drink juice than water, give them fresh fruits or fruit-infused water (not juice). We don’t recommend giving your child fruit juice because it’s basically just sugar water.
Eating a whole fruit, like an apple, is much better for their teeth than drinking apple juice! If you want to learn more about why we don’t encourage fruit juice, check out our blog here.
Prevent Summer Dental Emergencies
Summertime is when kids engage in more outdoor activities, even if it’s just playing with friends outside or with siblings at home. Always supervise playtime. Sometimes it can get too rough, so be sure to intervene if their play gets too intense to reduce the risk of accidents that could result in dental injuries.
Summer’s also a great time for kids to get active and play sports. If they play contact sports such as football or baseball, make sure your child wears a mouthguard to protect their teeth and mouth. Custom-fitted mouthguards from your dentist offer the best protection, but even store-bought ones are better than nothing!
Read more: Is Your Home a Tooth Trap? 6 Household Hazards That Can Cause Dental Emergencies in Children
Don’t Forget Regular Check-ups
Summer is actually the perfect time to schedule dental visits for your child. Without school schedules to work around, you have more flexibility, and your child won’t miss any class time.
Plus, getting a check-up early in the summer lets us catch any problems before they turn into painful situations that might ruin a vacation later on! We can also do a professional cleaning to start the summer off right.
If you’re looking for a local pediatric dentist in Lafayette, Youngsville, Broussard, Breaux Bridge, Carencro, and surrounding areas, we’re here to help! Many parents in Acadiana trust us with their child’s dental care. See for yourself why families choose us as their dental home.
Have questions about your child’s summer dental care, or ready to book that summer check-up? Give us a call today or request an appointment online.