When it comes to warm weather, children look forward to playing outside and enjoying sweet treats. However, it is important that their oral health does not suffer as a result. As a parent, you need to emphasize good oral habits throughout the summertime so that your children are aware of how important it is to maintain their oral health forever. Here are a few tips that you and your children should follow this summer.

Maintain Oral Hygiene Routines

Children typically have a carefree attitude over the summer, but this type of attitude should never apply to oral hygiene habits. The best way to ensure that your children, especially younger ones, stay on top of their oral hygiene routines is to brush and floss with them. You can also use a timer so that they are brushing for the recommended two minutes.

Encourage the Intake of Water

During the summer, hydration is of utmost importance, as children will lose a lot of their body water through sweat. In addition, drinking a lot of water reach day will help in the promotion of oral health since it flushes away sugary beverages and food particles while also encouraging the production of saliva. Saliva helps to neutralize acids in the mouth and the removal of food particles.

Offer Healthy Snacks

Sugary and starchy snacks tend to promote decay of the teeth by working in conjunction with bacteria in the mouth to form plaque and acid. Make sure that you are offering healthy snacks to your kids throughout the summer months. Some examples are carrot sticks, celery sticks and apple slices. These foods will help naturally keep the teeth free of plaque. Watermelon is a good snack as well during the summer.

Use Mouthguards for Sports

During the summer, sports and roughhousing can easily result in injuries to the mouth; therefore, you need to make sure that your children have a custom mouthguard to protect their teeth. Your dentist can make one for your child so that it fits their teeth perfectly.

Schedule a Dental Checkup

Twice-yearly cleanings and checkups with your child's dentist are important, as they inform you if there are any problems in your child's mouth before they become a serious problem, such as cavities and misalignment issues. Depending on the age and dental health of your child, your child may be a candidate for dental sealings and fluoride treatments, which will help to protect their teeth throughout the year.

For more information on what steps you can take to protect your child's teeth during the summer, talk to your dentist.