How Your Summer Eating Habits and Diet May Be Affecting Your Teeth
How Your Summer Diet Can Affect Your Smile
Whether you’re spending your summer in the city or you’re headed off for a summer getaway, your summer plans shouldn’t be sidelined by dental problems. You can still enjoy plenty of fun in the sun with cool, refreshing summertime treats. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of the season.
It’s Getting Hot in Here: Healthy Cool Down Snacks
As summer temperatures soar, you’re more likely to reach for icy drinks and snacks. That’s a good thing! Your body needs more hydration to stay healthy. Water and watermelon are both great ways to stay hydrated, and watermelon and other summer melons are especially good for stimulating saliva flow, which can help rinse away particles and remineralize teeth.
Other great summertime snacks include crunchy, fibrous, or juicy fruits and veggies. Consider pears, apples, carrots, celery, and cucumbers. These fresh, juicy treats are full of fiber and naturally scrub your teeth. They also stimulate your mouth to produce more saliva, which neutralizes oral acids and rinses away bacteria. Win-win!
No summer picnic is complete without some cheese and grapes. Cheese is rich in enamel-building minerals and phosphates and is low in bacteria-feeding sugar. It can even help improve oral pH levels. Yogurt is another great dairy option. Try frozen yogurt with berries for a cool, naturally sweet ice cream-like treat to curb cravings without guilt.
Cavities, Don’t Steal My Sunshine!
Not all summer treats are equally enjoyable for your teeth. While you can safely indulge on occasion, you do need to moderate your intake of some of these hot-weather goodies, including:
- Sports drinks, lemonade, and sugary soft drinks: Hydration is important, but not at the cost of your teeth. Sports drinks and other sweet drinks are high in sugar and acids, and they can quickly erode enamel. Use a straw to limit contact between the drinks and your teeth, and limit your overall intake.
- Sugary snacks: County fairs, amusement parks, and bonfires are top summer hotspots, and they tend to be filled with goodies like cotton candy, funnel cakes, s'mores, and ice cream bars. Sweets and frozen treats are almost a hallmark of summer, but they feed cavity-causing bacteria and can send oral acid levels soaring.
- Barbecues: You might think of barbecue as a more savory treat, but those sticky sauces are often high in honey, brown sugar, and other sweet ingredients that can stick to your teeth and increase the acidity of your mouth.
You don’t have to say no to your favorite summertime treats, but indulging wisely can keep you walking on sunshine all summer long. After enjoying a sugary or acidic snack, rinse your mouth with water, and wait about half an hour before brushing your teeth.
Final Tips to Keep You Smiling in the Sun
Hydrate
It’s hot, so drink up! Water is your and your smile’s best friend. Add ice if you like, but don’t chew it! Biting and chewing ice can crack your teeth.
Snack wisely: Fresh produce, cheese, and nuts are all great choices. Limit your intake of packaged and processed foods.
Dental Hygiene
When it comes to brushing and flossing, aim for twice a day every day. Schedule a professional cleaning during the summer. Your dental care professional can reach spots you can’t, and they can catch potential dental issues earlier when they’re at their most treatable.
At our dental office, we’re all about summer’s good vibrations, and we can help you get, and keep, your summer smile on track for great health all season and all year long. Visit us online to schedule your appointment.
