How Your Summer Eating Habits and Diet May Be Affecting Your Teeth

Understand How Your Summer Eating Habits Affect Your Smile

As the summer season heats up, it's too easy to reach for a cold drink or refreshing beverage to stay cool. You may also be enjoying all of your summer BBQ favorites as you spend time with your family and friends outdoors.

At [OFFiCE NAME], many of our team’s favorite memories also include ice cream and other summer treats. To help you keep your smile looking its best, we want to share with you our favorite tips for enjoying a summer diet without damaging your teeth.

Add These Smile-friendly Foods to Your Diet

If you’re worried about cavities, it’s good to know that lots of your summer favorites can actually help support a healthier smile. Embrace these foods for guilt-free snacks:

• Fresh Veggies and Fruits: Summer produce with a crunch can help whisk away food debris and tartar. Eating crunchy veggies also helps to stimulate saliva flow, washing away bacteria in your mouth.

• Low-Sugar Yogurt and Cheese: These snacks happen to fit perfectly into backpacks for snacks on your outdoor adventures. Make sure to choose a low-sugar type of yogurt, and you can help to balance out your mouth’s pH. As a bonus, both of these snacks are high in calcium and phosphorus to strengthen dental enamel.

• Sweet Watermelon and Water: When you want a sweet treat, watermelon can’t be beat for its ability to help you stay hydrated and produce more saliva. Water rounds out this snack by further helping to flush out food particles.

Indulge in These Summer Treats in Moderation

If you spot one of our local dental hygienists or dentists enjoying an ice cream cone outside, don’t be surprised. We also love these treats, but we recommend eating them on special occasions.

• Celebrate with Ice Cream: Sugary snacks such as popsicles and ice cream are fun to enjoy after a ball game or as an after-dinner treat. If you indulge in your favorite flavor, then rinse your mouth with water. Waiting 30 minutes to brush your teeth gives your mouth time to neutralize the acids.

• Skip Sipping on Sports Drinks: Go ahead and bring your favorite sports drink for a refresher on a hot day. But, drink it all at once versus sipping on it throughout the day. The less time the sugary acids sit in your mouth, the better for cavity prevention.

• Savor Your Favorite BBQ Sauce: Fortunately, backyard BBQs don’t happen every day. So, feel free to savor the flavor of your favorite sauces. Just remember that they can stick to your teeth. Pair your meal with water, and brush your teeth soon after you’re done.

Make Your Smile Sparkle This Summer With These Quick Tips

You can use these fast strategies to stay on top of summer smile care.

• Bring smart snacks such as cheese and nuts instead of chips or cookies.

• View water as your best friend for beating the heat.

• Let the ice in your drink melt to prevent cracking your teeth or fillings.

• Pack a portable hygiene kit to brush your teeth when life’s busy.

• See us for a dental cleaning that promotes better oral health.

Your diet plays a significant role in promoting good dental health, and summer is a great time to make your smile a priority. Since summer also tends to open up more time in people’s schedules, we encourage you to visit or call us at (262) 333-3744 to make your next appointment. We can’t wait to hear about your summer adventures during your dental cleaning and exam.