Summer vacation is usually a fun and exciting time for kids. It is a great time for your daughter or son to be outdoors, enjoying warm weather activities with friends, sports, swimming, camping, and even relaxing. However, their fun in the sun could come to an abrupt end and an emergency trip to the dentist if they don’t take the step to protect their ever growing smiles. We put together a list of seven tips from Wabash Valley Children’s Dentistry to help make sure that your child is protecting their perfect smile all summer long.

As parents, we can do everything in our power to prevent a dental injury to our child. However, accidents can still happen. It is a good idea to have a dental emergency kit in the car and at home. That way, you will always be ready for an emergency just in case something happens. We recommend that you have your emergency dentist’s phone number handy. Each emergency kit should have aspirin-free over-the-counter pain relievers and saline solution. It is also a good idea to have  a small container with a lid, gauze, cotton balls, and a handkerchief.

More time off in the summer usually translates to children having more time to participate is sports. It is important to be careful when running around outdoors and playing soccer, football or catch. A sports related injury could result in a chipped tooth or broken root. If your child plans to participate in a sport competitively or even for fun this summer, make sure they are careful and wear a mouth guard when required.

According to studies, kids will consume up to five time more sugar during the summer holidays than during the rest of the year. According the the survey, ice cream and sugary drinks carry a large portion of the blame. This increase in sugar consumption can result in a dramatic increase in cavities and tooth decay. It can be tempting when the weather is nice to have a sugar treat every now and then. However, it is important to encourage our kids to have healthy treats. There are many snacks on the market that are full of vitamin C and calcium that can go a long way to improving the overall health of your child. Consider finding a balance between healthy snacks and sugary treats this summer.

Pool rules vary from community to community and home to home. Each set of pool rules are generally put in place to make sure that injuries do not occur. Some common rules include “No Running” and “Don’t Play Rough”.  These types of rules are put into place with good reason, as accidents in swimming pools are the #1 cause of dental emergencies during the summer.

If your child has a trip to a pool planned this summer, talk to him or her in advance. Explain to them the importance of being careful when climbing a ladder or playing near the concrete edge of the pool. Make sure they know not to run. Running on a wet surface is very dangerous. If your child knows to walk, they are much less likely to fall and potentially crack a tooth. Make sure they know only to jump into the deep end of the pool and to avoid rough playing that could result in any contact that could damage their bodies or teeth. Taking a little time in advance of a trip to the pool to go over rules can help prevent a dental emergency and let your child focus on having fun at the pool.

A trip to the dentist during summer vacation isn’t likely to be the first thing on the mind of every child or parent. That being said, it is a good chance to get your child into one of his or her yearly dental appointments. If you are planning a family vacation, or some time out of the area, setting up a dental appointment during the summer will ensure that no problems exist before you leave. Having that peace of mind can be valuable when trying to relax on a summer trip or outing.

Your son or daughter may be anticipating relaxing during their summer vacation. Often children will forget about their normal routine while taking it easy. However, it is important that that maintain their dental routine throughout the summer. A dental routine exists for very good reasons. When children began to deviate from it, the risk that dental problems may occur increases. Be sure that your children still are brushing there teeth for two minutes per day. It is also important that your children still floss all of their teeth on a daily basis as well as rinse with an ADA approved mouthwash.

Mouth guards are very good at preventing dental injuries before they happen. They are particularly effective when participating in contact sports. Not only do mouth guards protect your teeth, they also protect soft tissues of the mouth. Consider a mouth guard if your child is outdoors participating in a contact sport environment.