During the summer we let ourselves relax and we start to enjoy a few alcoholic drinks in the garden, coupled with all those oh so delicious sugary drinks and acidic foods! So to help you and your patients stay healthy whilst the sun is shining, Edd Jones from Hartley Dental in Plymouth has shared his tips on how to maintain a good level of oral health during these self-indulgent months…
Tip one: Limit your intake of sugary and acidic foods!
It goes with the territory right? The sun is shining down, the BBQ is sizzling away in the garden and you have ciders and bottles of Coke chilling in the cool box — bliss! However, this type of food and drink are FULL of naughties — mainly sugar and acid. This is bad news for your pearly whites, so keep an eye on how much sugar you are consuming. Why not choose sugar-free Coke or have the option of salad and vegetables too? Corn on the cob tastes great on the barbie!
Tip two: Remember to pack your toothbrush!
Packing for your holidays is especially manic and it’s surprising what can be left behind – so don’t forget to pack your toothbrush! Before a holiday is a great time to buy a new toothbrush for your toiletry bag – you could even try something new such as interdental brushes. Another thing to add to your ‘to pack’ list is SPF lip balm…many people fail to realise that protecting our lips against the sun’s rays is just as important as the rest of our body. The skin on our lips is thin and has a lack of melanin, so prolonged exposure could lead to forms of oral cancer.
Tip three: Keep yourselves fit and healthy
Many of us like to exercise and keep ourselves fit, but enjoying ourselves over the summer months can mean that our exercise regime can slip a little. Keeping active, coupled with a healthy diet is important when it comes to keeping on top of our general and oral health as it can help lower the risk of gum disease.
Why not go swimming when you’re at the beach, take the family out for a bike ride or even take advantage of the good weather and walk to the shops to pick up your BBQ supplies instead of jumping in the car?
Summer can really throw your routine out the window! But by following these simple tips, you can relax knowing that the health of your teeth and mouth hasn’t been compromised.
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