Summer is a time for fun, relaxation, and enjoying delicious treats. From ice cream to lemonade, summer offers a variety of tasty snacks and drinks. However, many of these treats can be harmful to your teeth if you’re not careful. Luckily, you can avoid dental issues while still enjoying your favorite summer treats. Summer is great to enjoy treats and have fun, but it’s important to take care of your teeth, too.
Choose Tooth-Friendly Treats
While some summer treats can be bad for your teeth, there are plenty of options that are better for your dental health.
- Fresh Fruits: Instead of reaching for sugary snacks, try fresh fruits like apples, berries, and watermelon. These fruits are not only delicious and refreshing but also packed with vitamins and fiber. Crunchy fruits like apples can even help clean your teeth by stimulating saliva production.
- Vegetables: Carrot sticks, cucumber slices, and celery are great crunchy snacks that are good for your teeth. They help remove food particles and bacteria, and they’re low in sugar.
- Cheese and Yogurt: Dairy products like cheese and yogurt are rich in calcium and protein, which are essential for strong teeth. Cheese can also help neutralize acids in your mouth, protecting your enamel.
- Nuts and Seeds: Nuts and seeds are tasty, nutritious, and low in sugar. They provide essential nutrients like calcium and magnesium that help keep your teeth healthy.
Limit Sugary and Acidic Foods
While it’s okay to indulge in your favorite summer treats occasionally, it’s important to limit foods and drinks that are high in sugar and acid. Here’s why:
- Sugary Treats: Ice cream, candy, and soda are popular summer treats, but they can cause tooth decay. Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar and produce acids that attack your tooth enamel, leading to cavities.
- Acidic Foods and Drinks: Citrus fruits, lemonade, and soda are acidic and can erode your tooth enamel over time. Enamel erosion makes your teeth more vulnerable to cavities and sensitivity.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is important for your overall health, including your dental health. Water helps wash away food particles and bacteria, keeping your mouth clean and reducing the risk of cavities. Make sure to drink water throughout the day, especially after consuming sugary or acidic treats. If you’re drinking tap water, it often contains fluoride, which helps strengthen your teeth and prevent cavities.
Be Careful with Cold Treats
Ice cream, popsicles, and other cold treats are popular in the summer, but they can cause sensitivity if your teeth are already sensitive. Here’s how to enjoy cold treats without discomfort:
- Eat Slowly: Eating cold treats slowly can help minimize the impact on your teeth. Let the treat warm up slightly in your mouth before biting into it.
- Use a Spoon: Eating ice cream with a spoon instead of biting into it can help reduce sensitivity. This way, the cold doesn’t hit your teeth as directly.
- Choose Soft Treats: Soft ice cream and popsicles are easier on your teeth than hard, frozen treats.
Avoid Chewing on Hard Objects
Chewing on ice cubes, hard candy, or other hard objects can damage your teeth. It can cause cracks, chips, or even break a tooth. If you like to chew on something, opt for sugarless gum instead. Chewing sugarless gum can help clean your teeth and stimulate saliva production without the risk of damaging your teeth.