The days are flying by and summer is growing nearer and nearer. When you think of what summer’s going to bring, you probably imagine sun, cookouts, and – most importantly – school being out. However, as your children’s orthodontist and provider of orthodontics, we at Hersch Pediatric Dentistry think of…dental problems! That’s right – just because the sun is shining and the weather is beautiful, it doesn’t mean that dental issues stop occurring. In fact, dental problems are just as common during this time, if not more so. We’d like to give you a few summer tips to keep your teeth safe so that you won’t have to spend any additional time at the office of your Newport Beach children’s dentist.
Don’t Spend Too Much Time in the Pool
One of the most common hobbies during the summer is to go to the pool and swim. However, did you know that staying in a swimming pool for too long can actually harm a person’s teeth? It’s true – if a person spends over six hours a week in a swimming pool, a condition known as swimmer’s calculus can appear. This condition can cause hard, yellow or brown deposits to appear on a person’s teeth, staining them in the process. The reason why this happens is because swimming pools have treatment chemicals in them. When your teeth are in contact with these chemicals for too long, you’ll be vulnerable to swimmer’s calculus. Thankfully, this condition is reversible through cosmetic dentistry procedures, but the safest option is to just limit the amount of time you spend in the pool.
Wear a Mouthguard While You’re Playing Sports
While playing sports may be popular all year, it’s even more prevalent during the summer. Since the weather is beautiful, you’ll see people outside playing all kinds of sports: football, basketball, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and much more. Unfortunately though, these sports and many others can present a risk to your dental health. Dentists estimate that about 13 to 39 percent of all dental injuries actually occur while a person is playing sports. While we wouldn’t ever suggest to stop playing sports, a great way to strongly limit your risk of suffering dental harm is by wearing a mouthguard. Mouthguards will help protect your teeth if you suffer any kind of facial trauma. Do your smile a favor and keep your teeth nice and healthy by wearing a mouthguard when you’re about to play any sports with the potential for contact.
Contact Your Newport Beach Children’s Dentist Today!
If you’d like to schedule an appointment with your Newport Beach dentist for kids, you can give us a call at (949) 644-0611. If you have any questions about our services, such as preventative dentistry and sedation dentistry for kids, please feel free to contact us. We can’t wait to hear from you!
