Taking Care Of Your Teeth In Summer
Do you want to learn how to take care of your teeth in the summer? During these months you are out of the house more often, you often go on vacation, you eat out and eat ice cream. You drink carbonated drinks, you eat more sweets, and so on. What if you also don’t practice good oral hygiene?
You often forget to brush or floss your teeth several times a day. Fortunately, there are some important tips to help you take care of your teeth during the summer. Put them into practice!
Sensitivity of the teeth
The most common condition in the summer months is tooth sensitivity. This is because people consume more cold and sweet foods. Dental hypersensitivity is a feeling that occurs when the cold comes into contact with the gums.
According to the medical journal ‘Sensibilidad Dentaria’, it can have many different causes (Spanish link). Among them, we will highlight the following:
- Exposure of the tooth root due to receding gums.
- gum disease.
- Acidic foods that damage the enamel.
- Dentin exposure.
- Wear off glaze.
- Aggressive brushing, causing enamel erosion.
- teeth grinding.
How does the stimulus reach the bottom of the gums?
Dentin consists of a microtubular structure. The microtubules are arranged in such a way that the stimulus can easily pass from the dentin to the pulp. The dentin is naturally protected by a thin layer, either enamel if it is the crown or cement if it is the root.
By being exposed for any of the above reasons, the stimulus passes through the microtubules in the dentin and reaches the pulp, where the nerves receive the information and transmit it in the form of pain signals.
Diagnosis
The Journal of Dentistry says that in this case the pain always appears as a result of the stimulus of sweet, cold, sour or hot foods and drinks. The pain can also occur when breathing cold air or brushing.
It is an intense pain of short duration. If the pain persists, it is best to seek help from a dentist to make an accurate diagnosis.
Treatment options
Tackling bad food habits and learning to brush correctly are the two most important points. In addition, a wide range of pharmaceutical products are available to professionally treat the condition. These include toothpaste, gels or medicated mouthwashes. These products should always be recommended by the dentist.
Tips for taking care of teeth in the summer months
- Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. This ensures that you produce enough saliva to protect your teeth and that your gums and lips do not dry out.
- Eat a balanced diet consisting mainly of vegetables, fruits and fish.
- Try to limit the consumption of soft drinks and carbonated drinks, as they are acidic and contain a large amount of sugar. These two drinks can damage your teeth.
- When doing outdoor activities or playing sports, make sure to avoid accidents. Use a mouthguard if necessary. In case of dental trauma, you should immediately consult a dentist.
- Practice good oral hygiene. It is important to brush your teeth after every meal, even when you are on vacation. Using mouthwash and dental floss is also important. Remember that the most important time of the day to brush is before going to bed. You should brush your teeth for about 2 minutes each time you brush.
- Be careful with chlorine. The chlorine present in water in swimming pools can change the pH of the mouth and cause demineralization of the enamel. To counteract this effect, the best solution is to use a dentist-recommended fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash.
Take care of your teeth in the summer too
So to take care of your teeth in the summer, you need to pay attention to your oral hygiene habits and all the factors that can cause tooth sensitivity.
In addition, make sure you have good eating habits and take preventive measures when participating in activities that could cause injury. And of course, if you have any discomfort or questions, make an appointment with a trusted dentist.
