Summer Smiles

By April Toyer, DDS, FAAPD

More Dental Health Articles

Summer Smiles

Keeping Your Children’s Teeth Healthy During the Summer Months

Summer brings vacations, pool days, camps, and plenty of fun for children. While the break from school offers opportunities for relaxation and adventure, it can also disrupt routines that help keep teeth healthy. More sugary snacks, sports activities, and irregular schedules can increase the risk of cavities and dental injuries. With a few simple habits, parents can help ensure their children enjoy a healthy smile all summer long.

Watch Out For Sugary Treats

Ice cream, popsicles, lemonade, sports drinks, and other sweet treats are summertime favorites. Unfortunately, frequent exposure to sugar feeds the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Sticky candies and gummy snacks are especially harmful because they cling to teeth long after they are eaten.

Instead of eliminating treats altogether, encourage moderation and healthier alternatives such as fresh fruits, cheese, yogurt, nuts, and crunchy vegetables. Water should be the drink of choice whenever possible. Unlike sports drinks and soda, water helps rinse away food particles and keeps children hydrated.

Maintain Daily Brushing and Flossing

Without the structure of school mornings and bedtime routines, children may be tempted to skip brushing and flossing. Summer vacations, sleepovers, and camp schedules can make maintaining oral hygiene more challenging.

Parents should encourage children to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily. Setting reminders or maintaining consistent morning and evening routines can help keep oral care on track. Younger children should be supervised to ensure they are brushing properly and for the recommended two minutes.

Protect Teeth During Sports

Summer often means baseball, soccer, biking, skateboarding, and swimming. These activities are great for staying active but can increase the risk of dental injuries. A fall or collision can result in chipped, cracked, or even knocked-out teeth.

Children participating in contact sports or activities with a risk of falls should wear a properly fitted mouthguard. Custom mouthguards provided by a dentist offer the best protection and comfort, although over-the-counter options are also available.

Schedule a Summer Dental Visit

Summer break is an ideal time to schedule routine dental checkups and cleanings. Appointments are easier to fit into family schedules without missing school, and dentists can identify and treat small problems before they become larger issues.

Children who may need braces or orthodontic evaluations can also benefit from summer appointments, allowing treatment to begin before the busy school year starts.

Healthy Habits For Healthy Smiles

Parents can help children protect their smiles this summer by:

• Brushing twice daily and flossing every day.
• Limiting sugary drinks and snacks.
• Choosing water over soda and sports drinks.
• Wearing mouthguards during sports and recreational activities.
• Scheduling regular dental examinations and cleanings.
• Packing toothbrushes and floss for vacations and sleepovers.

Summer should be filled with smiles and memorable moments. By maintaining healthy dental habits and staying mindful of sugary treats and sports injuries, parents can help their children enjoy a cavity-free summer and keep their smiles bright for the school year ahead.