Nothing beats a fun, activity-filled summer to keep kids healthy and happy. But with all of the extra activity comes some risk, with kids being vulnerable to issues like sunburn, insect bites, falls, and other injuries. While you probably already take precautions by equipping your child with sunscreen, bug repellent, and safety helmets, have you thought about protecting their teeth? At our Tampa dental office, we recommend a few extra precautions to keep summer smiles bright and problem-free.
Wear a Mouthguard for Summer Sports.
It is important to make sure that your child’s teeth are properly protected when they play contact sports such as baseball, football, basketball, and soccer. Not only does this apply on the field, but even when they are playing pick-up games at the park or in the yard or driveway. Along with a helmet, a mouthguard is an important line of defense. According to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), mouthguards prevent more than 200,000 injuries each year.
Schedule a Summer Cleaning for Swimmers
Kids who spend more than six hours a week in a swimming pool could be at risk for something called swimmer’s calculus. This condition is when hard, brown deposits develop on the front teeth due to continuous exposure to chemically treated water. Swimmer’s calculus is not a serious issue and can be treated during a dental cleaning. If your kids swim a lot in the summer, be sure to schedule a cleaning in July or August.
Make Sure Divers Have a Preseason Check Up
Tooth squeeze is a problem that scuba divers can experience, in the form of jaw, gum or tooth pain. It can be caused by a condition called diver’s mouth syndrome or barodontalgia, which occurs when the diver responds to the normal diving air pressure change by biting too hard on the scuba air regulator. The change in pressure can also be extremely painful if the diver has a cavity, periodontal abscess, or other dental problem. Visiting the dental office before scuba diving, allows dental problems to be resolved before the diver gets in the water.
Summer is the time for active kids, outdoor fun, and plenty of smiles! Keep those smiles healthy with a visit to your Tampa dental office – Weninger Dentistry.