Summertime is the season of fun, when many people head outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and cool off with a refreshing dip in the pool. But did you know that this time of year can be dangerous to your oral health? If you’ll be going outside to take advantage of the beautiful weather this summer, here are some ways you can protect your smile from these common seasonal dangers and avoid a dental emergency.
Garden Hoses
Remember playing outside as a kid and taking a nice refreshing drink of water straight from the garden hose? Well, it turns out that may not be as good for us as we once thought. That’s because many commercial garden hoses contain a toxic chemical called PVC which also contains lead.
This summer, skip the hose and bring a reusable bottle of water outside with you, or if you must use the hose, look for a 100 percent lead and PVC free variety.
Pool Concerns
Chlorine is an excellent way to kill germs and bacteria floating in your pool. Unfortunately, however, it can also damage your teeth. It can cause a condition called swimmers calculus that can leave your teeth with permanent brown spots and discoloration. Thus, if you do dive in this summer, be sure to keep your mouth closed when you swim and rinse your mouth out with tap or bottled water when you’re done.
Another risk associated with pools is injury from slipping and falling on wet pool decks. This can cause broken bones as well as broken teeth, so be sure to always walk carefully around pools (never run) and be careful when jumping in and out of the water so you don’t hit your mouth on the pool ledge or another swimmer.
Inflatable Toys
Nobody really likes blowing up inflatable toys, and for good reason. It’s exhausting and it takes forever. Not only that, but did you know that you can easily spread cavity-causing oral bacteria by passing along an inflatable to a friend to help blow it up? If you’re looking to pump up that raft or beach ball, do yourself a favor and invest in a small electric pump. It’ll keep your mouth safe, spare your energy, and get you into the water faster than manually inflating your toys by mouth!
About Dr. Parmar
Dr. Deval Parmar believes that dentistry is a mix of both art and science. She strives to treat each of her patients with compassion and individual attention and enjoys working together with them to help them craft a beautiful, healthy smile.
To schedule an emergency appointment at Archway Dental, please visit our website or call us at 972-972-4646.