Dentistry Expert Dr. Jason Rosenfeld, DMD: Tips for Healthy Smiles

Eat for your teeth
Summer is a time for picnics at the park and the beach. Sometimes it’s tempting to use teeth to open packaging for snacks, popsicles and other treats. These tasks are damaging to the teeth, causing shifting or even knocking out a tooth. Pack an implement to open these goodies. Cold treats like ice cream, ices, frozen yogurt which we all love, are loaded with sugars. Try frozen bananas and homemade ice treats which are better for the teeth and overall health. Also, encourage your child to drink water rather than soda which is detrimental to oral health. Infuse the water with fruit flavors, use fun cups and ice trays to entice the kids.
Travel Tips
During your family vacation, it can be difficult keeping up with hygiene routines. Remember to pack supplies like floss, toothpaste, and a travel-sized toothbrush for each member of the family. If you forget anything, most hotels have toothbrushes and other supplies available for guests, just call the front desk. It can be difficult to convince your child to brush their teeth while enjoying vacation activities, so try to make the routine extra special by asking the kids to choose a special vacation travel toothbrush with their favorite color or character on it or try a special flavored vacation toothpaste!
Stay On Schedule
During the summer, it can be challenging to maintain oral hygiene routines. Every family is affected by schedule change differently, so find tricks that work best for you and your child. If your child is going to summer camp, discuss with him/her the importance of keeping up their oral hygiene routine while they are having fun at camp. Be sure they have enough toothpaste, floss and mouthwash to last the whole duration of camp. Consider offering a small reward for your child if he/she comes back from camp with clean, well-maintained teeth. Summertime may also involve making childcare arrangements while you’re at work. Be sure to instruct caregivers how to help your child manage their oral hygiene routine. This is especially important if your child has braces, retainers, or any other special oral hygiene needs.
Soaking Up The Sun
A nice cool dip in the pool can feel great during the summer, but make sure you’re protecting your teeth. Pools with an improper pH or chlorine balance can wear away the enamel on your child’s teeth. If your child is spending time outdoors enjoying the sun this summer, make sure that in addition to regular sunblock they are also using SPF lip protector. Protecting your child’s lips from the sun will help them stay safe and comfortable.