Hello, Beverly Hills families! It is Dr. Sepehr Nassiripour here. As the school year winds down and the temperature starts to rise, I know everyone is getting excited about the upcoming break. Our beautiful city truly comes alive in the summer, from sunny days by the pool to family trips abroad. It is a time for relaxation, fun, and making memories.
However, as a dentist, I also know that summer is a prime time for dental routines to slip. Between sleepovers, camps, and vacations, the structure of the school year disappears, and often, oral hygiene goes with it. We want your children to have the best summer ever, but we also want to ensure their smiles stay bright and healthy for the new school year in the fall.
I have put together this guide to help you navigate the unique challenges that summer brings to your child’s oral health. We will cover everything from snack choices to handling emergencies while traveling. Let’s dive in and keep those Beverly Hills smiles sparkling.
Sticking to a Routine When the Schedule Changes
One of the best things about summer is the freedom from strict schedules. Kids sleep in later, stay up later, and days flow differently. While this is great for mental health, it can be tricky for dental health. When children do not have the anchor of “wake up, brush, go to school,” they might skip their morning brushing entirely. Similarly, late-night movies or parties can lead to falling asleep without brushing at night.
I recommend keeping the morning and night brushing routine non-negotiable, regardless of what time “morning” starts. If your teenager wakes up at noon, that is when they brush. It is helpful to anchor brushing to other daily events that still happen, like eating breakfast or taking a shower, rather than a specific time on the clock.
For younger children, consider using a summer-themed sticker chart. Since they aren’t getting grades or gold stars in school right now, a reward system at home can provide that sense of accomplishment. You can offer a small, non-food reward at the end of the month for consistent brushing and flossing.
Smart Summer Snacking and Hydration
In Beverly Hills, we love our summer treats. Ice cream, popsicles, and sodas are staples at pool parties and barbecues. The problem is not necessarily having a treat; it is how often we have them. When children graze on sugary snacks throughout the day, their teeth are under constant acid attack. Bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar and produce acid, which wears down enamel.
The Danger of Sipping
Hydration is vital when the California sun is beaming down, but what your child drinks matters immensely. Sports drinks, sodas, and even fruit juices are loaded with sugar and acid. If a child sips on a Gatorade for three hours by the pool, their teeth never get a chance to recover.
Water is always the best choice. It washes away food particles and keeps saliva production high, which is the mouth’s natural defense against cavities. If your child wants a sugary drink, have them drink it in one sitting with a meal, rather than sipping it all afternoon.
Interesting Data Point: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tooth decay remains the most common chronic disease of children aged 6 to 11 years and adolescents aged 12 to 19 years. Much of this is attributed to the frequent consumption of sugary beverages and snacks, which tends to spike during unsupervised summer months.
Vacation Dental Care for Children
Many of you will be traveling this summer, whether it is a weekend getaway to Santa Barbara or a long-haul flight to Europe. Maintaining oral health while away from home requires a bit of planning. When we talk about vacation dental care children need consistency, even when the environment changes.
Packing the Essentials
Do not rely on hotel amenities for your dental needs. The toothbrushes provided by hotels are often too hard for a child’s delicate gums. I suggest packing a dedicated dental travel kit for each child. This should include:
- A soft-bristled toothbrush (and a spare, just in case one gets lost).
- Fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss picks (these are often easier for kids to use on the go).
- A small bottle of mouthwash.
If you are flying, keep these items in your carry-on luggage. Luggage gets lost, and you do not want to be stuck after a long flight without the ability to brush your teeth before bed. The dry air in airplanes can also cause dry mouth, which increases bacteria growth. Encourage your kids to drink water throughout the flight to keep their mouths moist and clean.
Handling Treats on the Road
Road trips and airport layovers are notorious for junk food. It is easy to grab a bag of gummy candies or chips. However, gummy candies stick to the teeth for hours, and chips turn into a paste that gets lodged in the grooves of molars. Instead, try packing “tooth-friendly” snacks. Cheese sticks, yogurt, and nuts are excellent options. Cheese, in particular, helps neutralize the acid in the mouth and provides calcium to strengthen teeth.
Protecting Smiles During Summer Sports
Summer is the season for activity. Whether your child is attending a surf camp, playing little league baseball, or just skateboarding down the driveway, the risk of physical injury increases. As a dentist, I see far too many chipped or knocked-out teeth during the summer months due to sports accidents.
If your child is participating in any contact sport—or activities with a risk of falling like skateboarding or mountain biking—a mouthguard is essential. You can buy “boil-and-bite” guards at sporting goods stores, but for the best protection and comfort, a custom-fitted mouthguard from our office is superior. It allows for better breathing and speaking, which means your child is more likely to actually wear it.
Poolside Safety is another area to watch. Running on wet tiles is a major cause of dental trauma. A slip and fall can easily result in a broken front tooth. Remind your children to walk, not run, around the pool area. It sounds simple, but it saves smiles every year.
Data Point: The American Dental Association estimates that mouthguards prevent approximately 200,000 injuries each year in high school and college football alone. When you factor in other summer sports like baseball, soccer, and skateboarding, the number of saved smiles is massive.
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
Despite our best efforts, accidents happen. Knowing what to do in a dental emergency can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. If you are in Beverly Hills, you can call my office immediately. But if you are traveling, you need a plan.
If a permanent tooth is knocked out, time is of the essence. Here is a quick protocol:
- Find the tooth. Handle it only by the crown (the chewing part), never by the root.
- Rinse it gently with water if it is dirty, but do not scrub it or remove any tissue fragments.
- If possible, try to place the tooth back into the socket. Have your child bite down gently on a clean cloth or gauze to hold it in place.
- If you cannot put it back in, place the tooth in a container of milk or the child’s own saliva. Do not use water, as it can damage the root cells.
- Get to a dentist immediately. You have a much higher chance of saving the tooth if you are seen within an hour.
Before you leave for your vacation, it is a smart idea to look up a pediatric dentist in the area you are visiting, just so you have the number handy. Being prepared alleviates panic if something does go wrong.
For more detailed information on handling dental emergencies and maintaining oral health, I recommend checking resources from the American Dental Association’s MouthHealthy website. They offer excellent, high-quality advice for parents.
The Mid-Summer Check-Up
Many parents wait until the frantic back-to-school week in late August to schedule dental appointments. However, I often suggest scheduling your child’s cleaning for the middle of the summer. Why? First, our schedule tends to be a bit more flexible in July compared to the late-August rush. Second, it allows us to catch any issues that might have cropped up during the first half of the break.
If we find a small cavity, we can treat it while your child is still on break. This means they won’t have to miss school for a filling later in the year. It also gives us a chance to apply sealants if necessary. Sealants are a fantastic preventive measure that coats the deep grooves of the back teeth, protecting them from the sugar and bacteria that come with summer treats.
Modeling Healthy Behavior
Finally, remember that you are your child’s biggest role model. Children in Beverly Hills are observant; they watch what their parents do. If you prioritize your oral health, brush and floss regularly, and make healthy food choices, they are likely to follow suit. Make oral hygiene a family activity. Brush your teeth together in the evening. Let them see you drinking water instead of soda.
When you pack your travel bag, let them see you packing your floss and toothbrush first. When we treat dental health as a priority rather than a chore, kids pick up on that energy. It becomes a natural part of their lifestyle rather than something they are forced to do.
Preparing for a Bright Fall
Summer is a magical time for children. It is a time for growth, exploration, and joy. By incorporating these simple dental health tips into your summer routine, you can ensure that your child’s smile remains as bright as the California sun. We want to avoid the “summer slide” in dental hygiene so that when school starts, your child is confident, pain-free, and ready to learn.
I hope these tips help you navigate the season. Whether you are staying locally in Beverly Hills or exploring the world, keep those toothbrushes handy and those sugary drinks to a minimum. If you need to schedule a check-up or have any concerns about your child’s teeth before you head out on vacation, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Let’s make this a cavity-free summer!
