Kids are starting their summer break, which means they will be home and may become lax in their oral hygiene routines. Between this and increased snacking, the risk of cavities could increase! In today’s blog, your team at Viva Dental Family Dentistry talks about protecting little smiles in Dallas, TX, with children’s dentistry!
Brushing and Flossing During Summer Break
One excellent way to protect children from cavities during their time out of school is with daily brushing and flossing. These actions help kids of all ages, and adults too! Everyone in your family should start each day by brushing for two minutes with an age-appropriate and soft-bristled toothbrush. We also recommend a small amount of fluoride toothpaste to help strengthen the outer enamel. Before going to bed at night, everyone needs to brush again.
Flossing is also critical, as this removes what is trapped between the teeth and often beyond the reach of a toothbrush’s bristles. Everyone needs to floss between the teeth, moving the tape or string up and down each side of every tooth. You can also use a floss pick or a water flosser. This should happen before you brush that second time so the toothbrush can clear away the particles you dislodge.
Enjoying Healthier Diets
During the summer months, kids tend to snack a lot more too! Which means they will typically reach for something high in sugar and starch, such as snack cakes, cookies, chips, or drinks like sodas, energy drinks, and sports drinks. These snacks and beverages could increase the risk of cavities! Instead, encourage them to follow these with water to rinse away sugars, and offer healthier alternatives like nuts, fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grain bread and crackers, low-fat yogurts, and cheeses.
Help with a Checkup and Cleaning
Summer is also the perfect time to see our team for a checkup and cleaning, as kids can obtain the care they need without the risk of missing school and falling behind! You can then schedule their six-month follow-up for their winter break from school. For teens, we could conduct a wisdom tooth extraction during this time too, so again there is time to recover without missing school. If you have any questions about how we help smiles of all ages stay healthy and bright during the summertime, then contact our team today to learn more and start your treatment journey!
Your Dallas, TX, Dentist Provides Family Dentistry
Help your kids enjoy healthy and shining smiles during summer break. For more information on children’s dentistry, then please schedule a consultation by calling the Viva Dental Family Dentistry office nearest you at (214) 337-7800 (Dallas) or (972) 437-6000 (Richardson).
