Summer is finally here, and it is time to enjoy the warm weather, fun vacations, and outdoor activities. It is a great time to enjoy great food and pick up new hobbies. Here at Kaplan Orthodontics, we are ready to help you maintain your braces and protect your smile as you enjoy the long summer ahead.
Summer sports
During summer you are going to be engaged in a lot of outdoor activities such as football, volleyball, and basketball. Ensure you wear a mouthguard to protect your braces and teeth from serious injuries that may cost you a fortune.
Summer treats
Summer is the perfect time to eat plenty of delicious food and drink a lot. However, some foods hard pretzels, corn, ice cream, and candies cause a lot of harm to orthodontic appliances. You should highly avoid them at all costs.
During summer, it is easy to get caught up in all the sweets and treats that are going around. Your sweet tooth craving will be intense because there are plenty of cookies, carnival treats, and pies going around. Such treats can break your bracket or get stuck in your teeth, forcing you to visit a dentist earlier. You can go for sweet fruits like pears and apples and cut them into small bites.
Also, it may be fun to enjoy sweets, but the oral hygiene of your braces and teeth comes first. Eating a lot of sweets leads to cavities that will force you to revisit your orthodontist. If you have to satisfy your sweet tooth, make sure you floss and brush after. Drink a lot of water to make sure your gums, braces, and teeth are free of any food particles.
Summer Sun
Always apply lip balm while you are out in the summer sun to protect your lips. Your lips need protection from harsh UV lights like your skin. The lip balm needs to be SPF 15.
Stick to your routine
During summer, it can be challenging to stick to your regular routine. However, if you want to maintain proper oral health, you need to stick to your dental hygiene routine. Ensure you are brushing your teeth twice or thrice a day. Flossing daily is also important and should be done at least once. We are here to make sure you have the perfect smile this summer.
Summer Camp
As you and your family members prepare for summer camp, you must remember to carry the essential tools for your teeth. Carrying these ensures you can continue with your oral health routine and stick to it. If you forgo this, more serious issues may develop with your oral appliances forcing you to wear them for a more extended period. Make an oral care kit that comprises of the items you need to maintain your oral hygiene and braces.
Here is a detailed list of the items you need:
- Floss
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Toothpicks
- Mouthwash
- Mirror
- Orthodontic wax
All these items can take care of your teeth as you vacation. In case of an emergency, you should acquire the phone number, address, and name of orthodontic offices in the place you are vacationing.
Maintaining oral hygiene
If you want your trip to be more enjoyable, ensure you have scheduled your oral care. It may be hard to stick to the routine with the many late nights out and late morning, but you can adjust it anytime. The bottom line is that the brushing should be maintained at twice or thrice a day and flossing once a day. As you enjoy the outdoors this summer, do not hesitate to contact us for any orthodontic treatment. We are here to ensure you have a smooth summer and the perfect smile.