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Tips for enjoying good oral health in summer
1. Hydrate: drinking plenty of water is essential to counteract the loss of fluids that occurs due to sweating. Dry mouth sensation is the first sign of dehydration. It is advisable to drink
2 liters of water a day.2. Eating healthy: a healthy diet is based on the consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish and olive oil, avoiding copious and processed meals. Likewise, alcohol intake should be minimized and tobacco avoided.
3. Do not abuse carbonated drinks: their high sugar content damages teeth, so you have to try to reduce their consumption. Furthermore, most are acidic and can damage tooth enamel.
4. Caution with sports: on vacations, more exercise is usually practiced outdoors, that is why it is when more dental trauma occurs. In the case of children, they increase by about 30%. For this reason, it is recommended to use a mouth guard during contact sports. In case of dental fracture, the tooth must be preserved in saline solution, water or milk, and a dentist must be called immediately to be able to carry out the most appropriate treatment.
5. Take care of oral hygiene: although it is more complicated due to the change in routine, you have to brush your teeth at least 2 times a day (for 2 minutes each time) with fluoride paste and use a floss or interdental brush at night. It should be noted that, due to the current health situation, it is essential to take care of the toothbrush: wash your hands well before and after use, clean it, disinfect it with a mouthwash, rinse and dry it, keep it protected in its cap, never share it, Keep it away from the toilet (to avoid possible contamination) and do not store it with other brushes.When it is not possible to brush your teeth, you can chew sugar-free gum with xylitol for 20 minutes, since it produces saliva and helps cleaning, but it never replaces when brushing
6. Beware of chlorine: chlorine alters the pH of the mouth, favoring the demineralization of the teeth. In the case of practicing swimming professionally or spending many hours in the pool, the dentist may indicate the use of a specific mouthwash, in addition to brushing the teeth with fluoride paste.
7. Do not abandon treatments: discharge splints for bruxism or orthodontic splints should continue to be used during the holidays. If the hours recommended by the dentist are not used, they may stop adjusting and new ones will have to be made.
8. Protect the lips: like the skin of the rest of the body, it is necessary to protect the lips from excessive exposure to the sun with a suitable sunscreen to prevent them from burning
Finally, the General Council of Dentists recalls that the health situation caused by Covid-19 makes the use of a mask mandatory to prevent infections. It is irresponsible with no scientific support to attribute to the masks possible oral problems such as halitosis, cavities, staining of the teeth or dry mouth. In fact, health professionals have been using them for decades and the aforementioned pathologies have not been detected.In this sense, the College Organization insists on the importance of complying with the 3M rule, since, so far, they are the only ones Measures that have been shown to be effective in preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2:
- Hands: frequent washing
- Mask: mandatory use in public spaces
- Meters: maintain social distance.