Hot Weather & Your Oral Health

Spring has officially sprung! Better late than never, right? Warmer weather often brings forth vacation days, barbecues, parties – and ultimately a change in routine that can impact our oral hygiene habits. You may not realize that hot weather can affect the health of our teeth and gums. Let us help make your spring and summer a breeze, with our top five tips for keeping your pearly whites sparkling, all spring and summer long.

Brush & Floss, Daily!

When the weather’s hot, we stay up later too! Don’t forget to take care of your teeth in the morning, and the evening. Late nights and patio parties may mean that we skip out on nighttime oral hygiene. We’ve all been there! Don’t let the spring and summer nights’ compromise your oral health – take a few minutes to brush and floss your teeth before bed.

Drink Plenty of Water (& we mean plenty!)

One of the most important things that you can do to keep teeth and gums healthy in warmer weather is to drink plenty of water. While this may seem like common sense, sometimes it’s hard to resist those ice-cold carbonated beverages. While tasty, these drinks have a dehydrating affect, carrying high levels of sugar, making them highly acidic – and especially harmful for your teeth. If you do indulge in a soda from time to time, try to give your teeth a quick brush after, or wash it down with water.

Why is hydration so important for a healthy mouth? Gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss. The bacterium that leads to gum disease thrives in warm dry environments, such as your mouth! If you are not properly hydrated, your mouth is far more likely to become dry, becoming the perfect habitat for the number of bacteria to increase.

Moderate Alcohol

While a cold pint of beer, or refreshing margarita on the patio may seem incredibly tempting in the heat – alcohol will cause you to become dehydrated. If you do drink, we recommend alternating your beverages with water.

Protect You Smile

Rising temperatures leads to more adventurous behaviour – with a dose of common sense, chipped or broken teeth can be easily avoided. If you are joining a sports team or activity, take a moment to research whether it is recommended that participants wear mouth guards to protect their pearly whites. Our dental team strongly encourages you to get outfitted with a custom mouth guard if you will be engaging in contact sports!

Experience a dental emergency? Chipped or broken teeth can be an upsetting, stressful experience and we are here to help. Give our office a call – our dedicated team will do our very best to accommodate your needs, and bring your smile back to tip-top shape.

Give Your Lips Love

Burn season is coming in hot! On your next outing, pack the sunscreen for your skin, and an SPF lip balm for your lips. Lips are very tender part of your body. The skin is very thin, and especially vulnerable to heat due to the lack of melanin. Prolonged exposure to the suns hot rays could lead to forms of oral cancer – be safe and balm up regularly!

Dental Cleaning & Check Up

If you are due for a cleaning, the spring and summer months are a perfect time to knock it off your list of to dos. It’s important to have your regular dental check up every six months so that we can ensure your teeth and gums are as healthy as can be. A dentist can detect any issues beyond the naked eye, saving you time and money. Escape the heat and visit our air-conditioned office for a quick visit – your smile will thank you!

With these simple dental tips, we are confident your mouth will be happy and healthy during these warmer months ahead. We wish you a wonderful spring and summer filled with many reasons to smile!

– Dr. Ed Lowe, and the Lowe Centre Dental Team