Summer and vacations always relax us and help us disconnect from our routine. But one thing we can’t neglect is our oral health during the summer. It’s important to continue taking care of our teeth and gums during the summer, as it’s a time when visits to dental clinics increase precisely due to these neglects.
The most common cases we treat in the summer, which are due to this lack of oral care, are cavities, dental hypersensitivity, halitosis, or trauma.
Stay tuned in this post and learn about the most common oral diseases and how to maintain good oral health during the summer!
Oral health during summer and dental cavities
The change in routine, vacations, and a more relaxed environment lead us to also neglect our diet. Thus, we tend to consume foods with an excess of sugar, such as ice cream, slushies, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, etc.
If we combine the abusive consumption of these products with a lack of oral hygiene, we will be much more prone to developing dental cavities. Bacteria accumulate in the spaces between our teeth and form this pathology that can become quite severe and cause a lot of pain.
Professionals recommend trying not to abuse highly sugary foods, as they damage our teeth. They also remind us of the importance of carrying a toiletry bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, and mouthwash. Thus, even on vacation, you can maintain oral hygiene three times a day, even if you eat out or spend a lot of time away from home.
Dental hypersensitivity in summer
In addition to consuming sugary products, it’s also common to combat the heat with the consumption of very cold foods and beverages, such as gazpacho, ice cream, drinks with ice, etc.
Many people discover they have dental sensitivity during this time when they begin to consume these types of foods. But it’s important to understand that the ingestion of these foods is not the cause of sensitivity but rather a problem with the gums.
Dental hypersensitivity could be described as a bothersome, intense but brief sensation that appears in our teeth and gums when we consume very cold or very hot foods or beverages.
How to combat sensitivity?
It’s important to visit the dentist, although from home, we will try to reduce the intake of foods with a lot of acid. For example, carbonated drinks, orange juice… Acid affects the enamel as it dissolves it. In fact, we recommend that if you have just consumed acid, you shouldn’t brush your teeth immediately, as this increases dental sensitivity.
On the other hand, it will be important to have a correct brushing technique that helps us maintain healthy teeth and gums and prevents this uncomfortable sensation. If you have any doubts about your brushing technique, you can consult your trusted dentist.
Halitosis
Halitosis, or bad breath, is another common problem during the summer. In this season, we increase our consumption of alcoholic beverages and tobacco, both of which can cause bad breath.
On the other hand, during vacations, as we usually spend a lot of time away from home, we also neglect our oral hygiene routine. Therefore, we always remind you that, even though we’re resting, it’s essential to continue taking care of our teeth and gums. Not brushing your teeth regularly also contributes to bad breath.
To combat halitosis, you should maintain good oral hygiene and keep your oral mucosa well hydrated so that you always have a good level of saliva. Therefore, we recommend water as the main source of hydration. Also, try to reduce alcohol and tobacco consumption.
Dental Trauma
We see many cases of dental trauma in the clinic during the summer. Some patients come with severe fractures in their teeth or even dental loss due to blows or accidents in pools, beaches, or water sports.
In these cases, although it may be difficult, try to stay calm and identify the problem you have. Look for the fallen piece or the fractured dental pieces and go to an emergency dental clinic to resolve your problem.
As you have seen, it’s possible to enjoy with precautions and good oral health in the summer.
Do you have any questions? Don’t hesitate to ask us!
We remain open for you throughout the summer.
We are located at Av. Artista Remigio Soler López, 9, 03560 Alicante.
Clínica dental de referencia en Alicante, especializada en tratamientos de estética dental, implantología y salud bucodental integral.
