Denton Dental Smile wants nothing more than for patients to get vaccinated and get outside this summer! With things finally achieving a level of normalcy that looks far more familiar, Dr. Balington encourages you to be active outdoors and take advantage of the warmer months.
With that said, if there’s one thing that no one wants to experience, especially following the pandemic, it’s an emergency. Depending on what activity you’re participating in, you may be at higher risk of having a dental emergency in particular!
That’s why today, the practice is happy to explain what you can do to make sure you don’t have to cut your summer outing (or vacation) short.
Is Your Smile Protected from Bad Falls?
While many dental emergencies occur due to untreated tooth decay, one of the most common causes also involves physical injury while playing sports.
Does your child enjoy baseball, biking, skateboarding, karate, flag football, or another sport where the risk for impact is high? If you answered yes to one or more, your child is far more at risk of walking away with a damaged tooth.
That’s where custom-made sportsguards come in. Not only are they designed to fit inside the mouth exactly, but they offer better protection and longevity as a result! That’s certainly not something you can say for boil-and-bite mouthguards at your local sporting goods store. Additionally, your child will actually want to use their mouthguard when they’re active (rather than “forgetting” it at home when it’s time to go out!)
Enjoy Cold Treats But Hate Sensitive Teeth?
Who doesn’t enjoy the occasional ice cream or frozen fruit bar? Unfortunately, it’s rare that your teeth do, even if your tongue does! If you’ve ever eaten frozen treats before, chances are you’ve run into tooth sensitivity along the way. Teeth sensitivity can happen for many reasons, but extreme temperature changes are one of the most common.
Even worse, sensitivity could be a sign of an untreated cavity or exposed tooth roots. If your tooth sensitivity doesn’t go away shortly after you stop eating your frozen treat, you should call our office. Furthermore, if you have not been treated for a dental issue that you know you have, such as a cracked or damaged tooth, it’s likely the cause of your sensitivity.
In the meantime, here are a few of the best ways to avoid tooth sensitivity:
- Switch to a toothpaste made for sensitive teeth (and avoid whitening toothpastes)
- Never use hard-bristled toothbrushes to brush your teeth
- Don’t brush too hard (or for too long, two minutes is fine)
Stay Hydrated Without the Sugar
Hydration is crucial not only during the summer, but all year-round, especially for your smile. Water keeps the mouth moist and improves saliva production, which is a crucial component of washing away food debris and harmful cavity-causing bacteria. Of course, the benefits quickly dwindle when you opt for beverages that contain high amounts of sugar, including sports drinks, sweet tea, soda, and lemonade.
While we recommend cutting these drinks out entirely, a good way to indulge responsibly is to only have them with meals (when saliva production is high) and drink water afterwards to prevent them from sticking to teeth for too long. Avoid sipping them throughout the day too!
We hope you find these summer tips helpful and make time this season to visit Denton Dental Center for your regular checkups. We’re open, safer than ever, and can’t wait to see you again for your routine professional care!