The Green Zone

Ahhh…..

The sweet months of summer are finally here. For many people this means more time spent having fun with family and friends outdoors, enjoying longer days and warmer nights, weekend adventures and tons of sunshine.  And while summer often brings with it a sense of happiness and freedom, it’s important not to forget one of your most important duties: taking care of your oral health!

Keep your smile as bright as the summer sun with these 5 simple tips:

1. Wear a mouth guard. The warm summer months are a great time to get outdoors and be more active, but play it safe! Getting rough and rowdy during contact sports and other physical activity increases your risk of a tooth-cracking-tumble. Ask your dentist to make you a BPA-free custom mouth guard that you can pack in your bag and save yourself from an emergency dental visit, which we can assure you isn’t any fun!
2. Pack the essentials. You might be going on vacation, but don’t think that means you can take a vacation from proper oral hygiene. It might be hard to give your pearly whites the attention they deserve when you’re on the road, but make it easy for yourself by bringing your hygiene routine with you! Pack a recycled content or bamboo toothbrush (bonus for bringing a spare) along with a travel case that allows for proper ventilation and other portable products like small tubes of natural toothpaste, floss, mouth rinse etc.
3.  Headed to the pool? Keep your mouth shut. It turns out that pool water that’s too acidic (meaning the pH balance is below 7) can erode tooth enamel very quickly. Properly balanced pools should register between 7.2 and 7.8, so unless you’re able to test the water, it’s best to keep that mouth closed while you’re splashing around!
4. Eat for health. Between barbecues and other outdoor gatherings, summertime eating can often be synonymous with sticky, sugary foods and drinks. If you’re going to indulge, make sure to keep a glass of water nearby so you can rinse your mouth after meals or sips. Better yet, take advantage of summer’s bounty and nosh on oral-health promoting foods that are rich in vitamin C and calcium! Think berries, leafy greens and other crunchy fruits and veggies like apples and celery!
5. Protect your lips. Even if you remember to smother your body and face in sunscreen, you might forget about your lips! Your lips are more susceptible to burning than most of your body, so it’s important to give them the care they need and protect them from the sun’s harmful rays.  Look for an organic lip balm with an SPF of at least 15 and pucker up! Here’s a list from the Environmental Working Group for some non-toxic options.

And remember: get out there and enjoy this beautiful time of year!

Happy summer!