Oral Health Tips for Summer: Part 2 – 2024 Edition

Did you catch part 1 in our summer oral health tips series? If not, give it a look before or after you browse through this blog post. Here are a few more pieces of dental hygiene advice to apply as we roll through the summer months. Whether we’d like to admit it or not, they’ll be here and gone before we know it!

Protect Your Lips

Protecting your lips is an important part of maintaining good oral health. The skin on your lips is thinner and contains less melanin, making them more sensitive to sunlight and more likely to get sunburnt on sunny days. Too much sun exposure could lead to an increased risk of skin cancer on your lips. 

The most effective way to protect your lips from the sun is to use sunscreen chapstick. When looking for a good chapstick, try to search for something with an SPF of at least 15. SPF chapstick is specially designed to help protect your lips and is easily applied. 

Avoid Chewing On Ice

Have you ever finished an ice cold drink on a hot summer’s day only to begin mindlessly chewing on the leftover ice? Chewing on ice is an incredibly popular bad habit that can be detrimental to your oral health. Chewing on ice can lead to the following problems:

• Damaged tooth enamel: Your tooth enamel is what protects your teeth from sugar, acid, and tooth decay. If the enamel becomes damaged, you are more susceptible to getting cavities.
• Cracked or chipped teeth: Your teeth may not be as tough as you think. Ice is actually hard enough to crack your teeth. If you do ever suffer from a cracked tooth, make sure to put any parts of the tooth directly into a cup of milk and call your dentist right away. This is viewed as a dental emergency and, in some cases, cracked teeth can be saved if repaired quickly enough.
• Damaged braces or dental fillings: Just as ice is tough enough to directly crack your teeth, it can also cause some serious damage to any existing oral appliances like braces or fillings.

If you have a craving for ice, try a softer option like ice shavings or a popsicle, but remember to go easy on the sugar consumption.

Regularly Visit Your Dentist

Regular trips to the dentist are necessary for maintaining your best oral hygiene efforts. Even in the summer when you are busy having fun at barbecues and beach outings, it is important to keep up with your semi-annual dental appointments. 

When going to the dentist, you can expect a thorough cleaning and checkup. Our dental hygienists use specialized brushes and dental equipment to clean those especially hard to reach areas within your mouth, which helps to keep your mouth clean and healthy. We will also check for cavities or signs of gum disease and oral cancer, and help guide your oral hygiene habits to keep you healthy. 

For questions about your oral health, or to book an appointment, contact us – we’re here and ready to be of service to you!