Keeping Teeth Healthy This Summer

~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

It’s SUMMER!

Thank You Mommy and Daddy, I love my beautiful Smile

School’s out, Camp and Vacations are in. Long lazy days, family traditions, and fun times are here!

While you’re having fun you can also keep up your families good habits (or tweaking not so good ones) like your balanced diet and oral hygiene routine. This way those eagerly awaited treats taste extra special.

Keep a Routine

Start with putting together your summer dental kit – toothpaste, floss, tooth brush, finger brush, wash cloths.

While you’re doing your regular grocery shopping be on the look out for their fun flavor tooth paste or a tooth brush with their favorite character.

This way if schedule changes disrupt your habits you’re prepared and can start up where you left off.

Also keep in mind that bottles and sippy cups may be good for comforting a tired child, however falling asleep with one in their mouth increases their risk of cavities.

My toothbrush is in my Daddy’s knapsack

Healthy Diet = Healthy Teeth = Happy Family

Those fun foods your child always looks forward to are a special part of summer. Adding them to their healthy diet of fresh fruits, fresh veggies, whole grains, plain milk and water, go a long way to helping you decrease their cavity risk. And they are an incentive for your child to eat the way you want them to (Added Bonus!).

Sticky, Gooey, Chewy

Gooey, sticky and chewy are fun to eat, not so much fun to brush away from teeth.

Yes it’s about those candy apples from the specialty shop you always seem to go to, and the taffy at the seashore which are talked about for days before you get there. Or it’s the ice cream cone with the crunchies on top from the ice cream man coming down the street playing his familiar and anticipated summer tune that your child looks forward to every day.

While these are amazingly delicious and we all love them, the stickier, gooey, chewier and crunchier foods tend to stick into the nooks and crannies of teeth and are really hard to brush out and away.

What to do? Let’s face it when your child is enjoying these treats it is not always at a time you can take out the floss and tooth brush. When you can it is definitely best to do so. If changing your fun food selection is not possible then drinking water will help dilute all that sugar and also help wash away the food on the surface. Perhaps your child is okay with trying something else (think new family tradition), then chocolate (with no mix ins) is a good option since it is smooth and will slide off their teeth.

What’s Most Important?

Keep a consistent daily routine that can be done in a fun way and which you can continue in the summer.

Do something fun to keep their attention while flossing and brushing —

Talk about the great stuff they did today and build anticipation for tomorrow.

Floss and brush together and have a brush-a-thon to your child’s favorite summer tunes.

Make a summer sticker chart and sticker the chart every morning after brushing (2 Minutes) and every night after flossing and brushing (2 Minutes).

Above all, don’t stress, have fun and make wonderful memories.

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!

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Published by kidstoothhotline

As a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist with over ten years of experience practicing Pediatric Dentistry, I understand that parents and caregivers are in need for information to care for their children's oral health. You may not have your normal lines of communication open or you cannot easily call or visit your child’s Dentist and obtain answers to your questions. Some families may not yet have a Pediatric Dentist to call. My expertise and knowledge can help serve as your source as I provide answers with information that is current, informative and the Gold Standards of Care which are the practice Guidelines approved by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. I want to help you access this important information by answering your questions through this site. You may want to submit your own individual questions or you can view my postings and answers to other families questions that may apply to your child's needs. I am committed to helping you stay informed, after all it is all about your child.