Summer brings family vacations, outdoor adventures, and a welcome break from routine. While you’re busy planning itineraries and packing sunscreen, the team at Hayden Dental Care wants to ensure your family’s oral health doesn’t take a vacation too.
Whether you’re camping in the mountains, lounging at the beach, or exploring a new city, these dental care strategies will help keep everyone’s smiles bright and healthy throughout the summer months.
Summer’s relaxed schedules and late sunsets often disrupt normal routines, including dental care habits. Children who typically brush and floss before school may need reminders during summer break.
For parents: Set a consistent brushing and flossing schedule, even when vacation disrupts your normal routine. Consider setting smartphone alarms as friendly reminders for the whole family to brush together morning and night.
For kids: Make oral hygiene fun by creating a summer tooth-care chart with stickers or small rewards for consistent brushing and flossing. Even during sleepovers and campouts, maintaining these habits is important!
Creating a proper travel dental kit for each family member helps ensure good oral hygiene away from home.
For adults: Beyond the basics of toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss, consider adding interdental brushes or a water flosser if you normally use these at home. If you wear a night guard or retainer, don’t forget their protective cases.
For children: Pack a new, exciting toothbrush specifically for the trip to make brushing more appealing. Include a timer (or download a brushing app) to ensure they brush for the full recommended two minutes.
For the whole family: Add a small bottle of antimicrobial mouth rinse for situations where brushing isn’t immediately possible after meals. Sugar-free gum with xylitol is also handy for stimulating saliva and cleaning teeth when you’re on the go.
Summer’s ice cream cones, popsicles, and sugary drinks are part of the fun, but can take a toll on dental health.
For adults: Be mindful of acidic summer cocktails and citrus-infused beverages that can erode enamel. Using a straw and following drinks with plain water can help minimize damage.
For children: Rather than banning treats entirely, establish “treat times” followed by brushing or at least rinsing with water. Frozen fruit popsicles with reduced sugar make excellent alternatives to heavily sweetened commercial varieties.
For the whole family: Keep water bottles readily available to stay hydrated. Water not only benefits overall health, but also rinses away food particles and maintains saliva production for natural tooth protection.
Summer activities like biking, swimming, and sports can sometimes lead to dental injuries. Being prepared can make all the difference in saving a tooth.
Know what constitutes a dental emergency: Severe pain, knocked-out teeth, broken teeth, or lost fillings/crowns require prompt attention.
Save our contact information: Program Hayden Dental Care’s number (503-446-6919) into your phone before traveling. If you’re vacationing far from home, research emergency dental options at your destination in advance.
Prepare a dental emergency kit: Include gauze, a small container with a lid (for storing a knocked-out tooth), over-the-counter pain relievers appropriate for each family member, and dental wax for temporary coverage of a broken tooth or bracket.
July is actually the perfect time to schedule dental checkups, especially for school-aged children. Here’s why:
Beat the back-to-school rush: August appointments fill quickly as families scramble to complete required dental visits before school starts.
Address issues without disrupting school: Any treatments requiring follow-up visits can be completed before the academic year begins.
Start vacation with a clean slate: A professional cleaning immediately before vacation gives everyone the best chance of maintaining good oral health while away.
Your family deserves both the fun of summer and the confidence of healthy smiles. By maintaining good habits, preparing appropriate dental travel kits, making wise food and drink choices, and knowing how to handle emergencies, you can help ensure dental problems don’t interrupt your summer adventures.
From all of us at Hayden Dental Care, we wish your family a safe, healthy, and smile-filled summer vacation season!
Call us today at 503-446-6919 to set up appointments for your crew. You can also schedule online if you prefer.
