Summer is the best time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. The warm weather, longer days, and the school holiday make the season perfect for fantastic activities, such as vacations, going to the beach, having a picnic, and planning trips. This is why it is time to put your best smile forward. Indeed, a healthy and radiant smile can boost your self-esteem, impact your career and influence your social life. So what can you do to maintain a healthy smile all summer long?
Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Brush and Floss Regularly
Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly is critical to maintaining good oral health. The practices can remove plaque and bacteria from tooth surfaces, effectively helping to prevent cavities and gum disease. No matter how busy or fun-filled your summer may be, make sure to follow a steady oral care routine.
The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth twice a day and floss once daily. Also, experts encourage brushing for two minutes with good quality fluoride toothpaste. Remember to pack your oral hygiene essentials when heading out for an outing or fun event.
Eat Healthy
A good number of people tend to indulge in junk food during the summer months. It is perfectly alright to enjoy ice cream, barbecue, or processed foods from time to time. However, to maintain a healthy smile, you should try to keep a balanced diet. This will promote healthy teeth and gums.
The best foods for a healthy smile include fruits and vegetables, organic fish, cheese, milk, lean meat, and foods with fluoride. You should also choose healthy on-the-go snacks. This will not only help you look and feel great but also contribute to a healthier smile.
Drink Plenty of Water
In addition to eating a healthy diet, ensure you stay hydrated. Drinking water regularly helps to flush away food particles, bacteria, and acid to keep your mouth clean and fresh. Consuming more water when temperatures rise helps to combat dry mouth, effectively reducing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
When it comes to staying hydrated, you should choose pure water. Most tap water contains fluoride, a mineral that is known to strengthen enamel. On the other hand, drinking flavored or carbonated water can result in significant enamel loss and affect your smile.
Be Smart About Sugar
It is common for people to have sugary drinks and snacks in the summertime. However, consuming too much added sugar can wreak havoc on your teeth. Sugar is an acidic substance that can erode the enamel, leading to cavities. Sugar also attracts harmful bacteria that convert it into other types of acids that destroy the tooth’s enamel.
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To protect your summer smile, you should limit the contact sugar makes with your teeth. This will involve avoiding sugary drinks and snacks such as juice, soda, lemonade, and sticky candies. You should also avoid eating sweet things before going to bed, especially after you have brushed your teeth.
Protect Your Smile
Summer makes for a great time for outdoor sports and physical activities. However, some of these activities present the risk of mouth trauma and tooth loss. As you take part in the different activities you enjoy, remember to protect your smile. This is particularly important when it comes to children.
Wearing a mouthguard when participating in contact sports will help to reduce the risk of injuries to your teeth and jaws. This will enable you to avoid a host of dental problems and help to preserve the appearance of your smile. Lastly, be sure to have safe summer fun.
Avoid Lifestyle Habits That Can Damage Your Teeth and Gums
Certain habits and lifestyle choices can cause damage to your teeth and gums. This will in turn affect your smile. Unfortunately, most people do not realize that they are guilty of these daily bad habits.
Some lifestyle habits you should avoid to reduce the risk of harm to your smile include ice chewing, nail biting, grinding and clenching your teeth, brushing your teeth too hard, and using your teeth as a tool. Smoking can cause stained teeth and increase your risk of developing gum disease and oral cancer. As such, you may want to avoid using tobacco.
Use a Straw
Limiting the contact sugary drinks have with your teeth helps to maintain good oral health. During the warm summer months, most people like to drink a soda or alcoholic beverage while lounging by the pool. When consuming a sugary drink, consider using a straw. The straw will help to reduce the exposure between your teeth and the beverage. This will go a long way in protecting your tooth enamel from damage and help you maintain a bright smile.
Schedule Your Dental Visit
Regular dental visits will go a long way in keeping your teeth and gums healthy. During your appointment, your dentist will perform teeth cleaning, a process that helps to remove plaque and tartar buildup. The dental expert will also take time to check for dental irregularities and educate you on proper dental hygiene.
In addition to visiting your dentist twice a year, you can consider cosmetic dentistry to help you achieve the perfect smile. A cosmetic dentist will do a dental exam and suggest the most suitable cosmetic dentistry procedure depending on your unique needs.
Get Teeth Straightening Done
Certain factors beyond your control can affect the appearance of your smile. For instance, your genetics determine a number of things about your oral health. The effects of genetics on your smile may include tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer, and crooked teeth. In case you have misaligned teeth, you should get teeth straightening done to improve your smile. However, you need to choose the right teeth straightening option.
Our customized invisible aligners are the best solution to help you achieve a perfectly straight smile. This option is safe and effective, delivering the results you desire in about six to eight months. To begin your teeth straightening process, order an impression kit, take your dental impression at home, send it back to our team and our experts will create customized invisible aligners for you.
Many factors could affect your smile. This is why you should visit a professional for a dental examination and the appropriate treatment. At ALIGNERCO, we are committed to helping you achieve a beautiful and healthy smile. We offer the best teeth straightening option at affordable prices. Contact us today for a free assessment.
