Summer vacation is meant to be worry-free and packed full of fun. That can all go out the window when one of your little ones knocks out a tooth, and everyone panics because they don’t know what to do. While dental dilemmas aren’t completely avoidable, there are steps you can take to reduce your family’s risk of experiencing one. Avoid a trip to your emergency dentist in Goodlettsville by implementing these 4 summertime tips.
Don’t Take Pool Safety Rules For Granted
During summer, your family may take frequent trips to the community pool or regularly enjoy your own. With all the stone and hard surfaces surrounding pools, swimming pool dental emergencies are incredibly common during the summer. When your children are doing back flips and cannonballs in the pool, keep an eye that they’re not getting too close to the edge. If they hit their front teeth on a hard surface, it could break, chip, or loosen them. Also, diving into water that’s too shallow is another common recipe for a dental disaster. Be sure to let your kids know the rules so you can all enjoy a nice relaxing day in the sun.
Prepare A Kit Just In Case
If your family is out-and-about for most of the summer, it may be a good idea to make an emergency kit with supplies to help treat dental problems in it. Being prepared can be the difference between keeping and losing a tooth, after all. Some things you may want to include are:
- Gauze
- A card with a number for your local emergency dentist in Goodlettsville on it
- Saline
- A small container to store a knocked-out tooth in
Pack Healthy Summer Road Trip Snacks
Grabbing pre-packaged and easy-to-get-to snacks while you’re preparing for a road trip may seem convenient, but not in the long run. Sugary or carb-filled road trip foods and drinks are the common cause of oral health problems like toothaches. Instead, try swapping unhealthy foods for cheese, fresh vegetables, fruits, and water. Not only will this benefit your whole family’s overall health, but their mouth will thank you too! Plus, you’ll be able to avoid any unplanned detours to your emergency dentist’s office.
Don’t Let Your Oral Hygiene Take A Vacation
With so many exciting new places to see and things to do on vacation, it’s easy to put your oral hygiene on the backburner. The best thing to combat poor oral hygiene is to set expectations each day before your little ones can enjoy their summer excitement. Only after they brush and floss in the morning, they can go play with friends at the pool. This kind of structure serves as a great incentive to keep up with their teeth and gum health and avoid serious oral consequences.
Before you leave to enjoy your long-awaited family vacation, get the peace-of-mind you need by scheduling your family for their routine checkups and cleanings and getting a green bill of health. While you can’t ward off every dental emergency, you can do what’s in your power to prevent them and keep your summer stress-free and fun.
About the Author
Dr. Deidra Harrison-McClain loves listening to her patients and understanding their needs and desires so she can provide them with the best care. With her experience in emergency medicine, she’s able to provide calming, fast, and effective treatment that helps ease a stressful situation. She enjoys helping other people and giving them the high-quality care that they deserve. For questions or to schedule an appointment, visit Goodlettsville Smiles’ website or contact 615-859-0188.