Summer will be here before you know it. When it arrives, you’ll want to enjoy the longer daylight each day to do fun things with your family and friends.

You don’t want to stop everything to deal with a dental emergency. While the team at our Johnson City, NY dental office is more than able to help in those situations. We would rather do something else. We want to prevent problems so you can your loved ones can focus on enjoying your free time with one another.

Today, we are going to share some tips for keeping your healthy smiles all summer. That should include taking advantage of our family dentistry at the office of Dr. Jerry Farrell. Call 607-304-3993 to make an appointment with us soon if you haven’t already.

Drink Water

Parents already know that kids love sweets. And thanks to a lot of marketing, many young athletes are convinced that they need sports drinks while practicing or competing.

In truth, it’s better to drink water for the sake of your oral health. Sports drinks, like many soft drinks, contain a lot of sugar. As a result, drinking too many of them can be harmful to smiles.

Water does not have added sugar. It also can rinse away food particles, and fluoridated water can even strengthen teeth.

Water also keeps your mouth from becoming dry. A dry mouth is often a symptom of dehydration. It also happens to be a good place for harmful bacteria to grow, which increases your risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

Snack Smart

We do hope you enjoy ice cream cones or other cold treats this summer. You just don’t want to do eat them every single day. The high levels of sugar are great for those harmful bacteria we mentioned, which could lead to bad things for your oral health.

To limit your sugary snacks, plan to keep healthy foods in the kitchen for you and your kids to enjoy. Fresh fruit can be another way to satisfy a sweet tooth. Hummus and fresh vegetables can add some new flavors to your afternoon snacks. If you like nuts (and aren’t allergic), a handful can help keep you going, too. String cheese and Greek yogurt can be filling and satisfying as well.

Remember The Basics

At any time of year, it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene habits. You probably know what to do already, but it’s good to be reminded from time to time.

Brush your teeth twice daily, and floss your teeth every day. This is a good way to remove bacteria and plaque buildup and reduces your risk of the problems we’ve mentioned above. Summer also is a great time to schedule one of your family’s routine professional cleanings and exams. Plan ahead to make sure your mouths are healthy before you leave on your next vacation or before classes begin again.

If you have budding sports stars in your family, make sure they wear athletic mouthguards whenever they practice or compete. We can create custom mouthguards at our office, which are more comfortable and provide better protection than the kinds you can get in stores.

Come See Us This Summer

We love seeing our patients, and we look forward to hearing about all the fun things you plan to do this summer. If you haven’t already done so, schedule an appointment at Dr. Farrell’s office in Johnson City, NY soon. You can contact us online or call 607-304-3993 today!