5 Ways to Help Your Child Enjoy a Cavity-Free Summer!
School’s out for the summer! It’s time to enjoy summer adventures and plenty of delicious treats. But amid pool parties, ice cream, and sleepovers with family or friends, it’s easy to overlook your child’s dental health. Our team at Pediatric Dentistry of San Marcos has put together a guide with five essential tips to help your child maintain a healthy, cavity-free smile this summer and all year long.
#1 Keep Up with Daily Brushing and Flossing
Make sure your little one brushes at least twice daily for at least two minutes with a kid-sized, soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Flossing is also essential because it helps remove plaque and food debris wedged in the tight spaces between your child’s teeth and those hard-to-reach areas in the back of the mouth. Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine this summer will help lower your child’s risk of tooth decay and cavities.
#2 Maintain a Healthy, Balanced Diet
Summer break is a time for fun and treats, but it’s important to encourage a healthy, balanced diet to provide your little one’s teeth and gums with the essential nutrients they need to stay healthy and strong. Encourage healthy snacks, especially crunchy fresh fruits and vegetables, which act like nature’s toothbrushes, scrubbing away plaque and food debris and lowering the risk of tooth decay.
#3 Limit Sugary Foods or Beverages
Most kids love sugary foods and drinks, but so do cavity-causing bacteria. As they feast, the bacteria produce acids that attack and damage the tooth enamel, leading to tooth decay and cavities. Encourage your little one to choose healthy snacks, like fresh fruits or veggies, string cheese, nuts, or yogurt. If indulging in a sweet treat is unavoidable, try to include it as a part of a meal and encourage your child to rinse with water right after to minimize the exposure of their teeth to sugar.
#4 Have Your Child Drink Plenty of Water
As summer temperatures soar, it’s best to avoid juices and sodas, which can contribute to cavities. Encourage your child to drink plenty of water instead. Water not only flushes away plaque and food debris but also neutralizes acids and helps prevent dry mouth, reducing the risk of cavities. Consider having your child choose a fun, reusable water bottle to encourage sipping on water all day long. Staying hydrated not only helps maintain a cavity-free smile, but it’s also essential for your child’s overall health.
#5 Schedule Your Child’s Dental Exam and Cleaning
One of the best ways to maintain healthy, cavity-free smiles this summer is to keep up with your child’s twice-yearly dental exams and professional cleanings. During your child’s visit, we will check for early signs of tooth decay and gum disease, clean your little one’s pearly whites to remove plaque and tartar buildup, and apply a protective fluoride treatment to strengthen the tooth enamel and help ward off tooth decay. Preventive care at Pediatric Dentistry of San Marcos can significantly reduce the risk of cavities.
Preventive Dental Care Near Me in San Marcos, CA
Our team at Pediatric Dentistry of San Marcos wishes you and your family a delightful, fun-filled summer. We invite you to visit our San Marcos practice to learn more about maintaining healthy summer smiles. Dr. Nadia, Dr. Allen, and our entire team look forward to helping your child establish dental care habits that last a lifetime. Call us at 760-798-2825 to schedule your little one’s appointment, or complete our online appointment request form today!