Tips for Teens Healthy Summer Smiles: Staying on Track During Break

The summer vacation is a time of rest, fun, and relaxation, but that doesn’t mean you can forget about taking good care of your pearly whites. If you don’t, they might not be as ‘pearly’ or ‘white’ when you return to school. Summer is in full bloom, and it’s the perfect time to get on track to better dental health with a few tips for healthy smiles.

Top 4 Tips for Healthy Smiles All Summer

The summer vacation is a perfect opportunity to improve your dental habits. It can be hard to institute new dental hygiene habits during the school year, but the freedom of the summer brings opportunities for change. Just imagine the looks of admiration you’ll receive from your classmates when you flash that runway-ready smile you’ve worked on over the summer. And it’s never too late to start giving your teeth the care they deserve. Just follow these simple tips for creating a healthy smile:

#1: Routine, Routine, Routine

During the school year, you are diligent during the week to brush before bed and floss in the morning, but maybe you let it slip a little on the weekends. That might be fine during the school year, but the summer vacation from school is one big weekend, and it’s too easy to let your dental hygiene routine slip. All it takes is a few months to throw off your brilliant smile. So, stick to the same good oral hygiene routine you follow during the school year during the summer.

What is the proper daily routine for good oral hygiene?

When you get up in the morning, begin your routine by flossing between each tooth to remove plaque and food debris. After you floss, brush your teeth with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Each day, brush twice, rinse, and floss twice. Our office usually recommends an electric toothbrush with a rechargeable battery for effective removal of plaque. It is our experience that an electric toothbrush will outperform a manual toothbrush in the removal of plaque and food deposits, bringing about healthier teeth and gums.

If you prefer using a manual toothbrush, hold it at a 45-degree angle to the surface of your teeth and gums and gently brush in a circular motion. Give each tooth at least ten to fifteen seconds of brushing before moving to the next tooth.

After you thoroughly brush all surfaces of your teeth, rinse your mouth with fluoridated mouthwash. Swish the mouthwash around your mouth for at least thirty seconds and avoid drinking or eating for half an hour to maximize the fluoride’s benefit.

#2: Avoid Snacks and Drinks with High Amounts of Sugar

Sugar is the best friend of plaque, and plaque is the best friend of bad breath, cavities, infections, and tooth decay and infections. The bacteria that cause bad breath thrives on sugar left on the surfaces of your teeth, tongue, and gums. Avoid sugar and choose snacks with natural sweetness, like fresh fruits. Before you go to sleep each night, brush your teeth to remove plaque that has built up over the day.

#3: Wear a Mouthguard When Playing Sports

The summer is an excellent time to pick up a new outdoor hobby, play tag football with friends, or join a sports camp. If you enjoy playing sports or outdoor activities in the summer, consider wearing a mouthguard. A mouthguard protects your teeth from damage in a sports-related accident or injury.

Protecting your teeth from damage means the difference between keeping your natural teeth for life or losing them at some point down the road. Injuries resulting from dental trauma risk damaging the nerve and blood supply to the teeth. Trauma may also damage the root structure itself. Even with treatment to the teeth that have received trauma, the prognosis for saving those teeth may be compromised.

#4: Schedule a Back-to-School Dental Appointment

Before the summer gives way to the school year, go in for a dental checkup. The earlier you schedule, the more appointment times will be available. The closer it gets to back-to-school, the harder it often becomes to get an appointment. Call Dr. Gordon’s office at Mark J. Gordon, DDS Office Phone Number (913) 649-4042 to schedule your back-to-school consultation and start the new year with a radiantly healthy smile your classmates will admire.