Summer has arrived and kids love the freedom from their usual routines—later nights, sports, and vacations or camp. It may feel like a challenge to monitor your kid’s activity, diet, and dentist visits. The staff at Dr. Robert Petrtyl in Cincinnati, OH, recommend the following tips to keep your child’s teeth healthy in the summer months.

How to Keep Your Child’s Teeth Healthy This Summer

1. Provide Healthy Snacks

Summer barbecues, picnics, and the ice cream van provide ample opportunity for sugary drinks and treats. Involve kids in crafting homemade, healthy treats like fruit and yogurt popsicles, banana ice cream, or fresh fruit smoothies instead. Encourage them to drink water rather than soda. If they are spending time away at camp or with relatives, ask about providing low-sugar snacks and investigate meal options. While you won’t be able to control everything your child eats, especially away from home, help them make good choices by instilling healthy habits and a liking for naturally flavorful foods and beverages.

2. Plan for Emergencies

Kids are naturally more active in the summer, climbing trees and enjoying sports programs and camps. The opportunity for injury goes up as kids are more physical. If you have a child involved in a summer sport such as baseball or a high-impact activity like martial arts, consider a mouth guard to help protect their teeth from injury. A dentist can recommend over-the-counter versions or craft a custom guard for your child. Find out if your dentist has emergency hours and what procedures they can perform in case of an injury.

3. Keep to Oral Hygiene Routines

Summer may be a perfect time to plan annual dentist visits as your children’s availability may be more open. Make appointments well in advance to accommodate family and dental staff vacations. Encourage your kids to keep to their regular oral hygiene routines even if bedtimes and morning schedules are more relaxed.

Keeping kids’ teeth healthy in summer can be a breeze if you follow the tips above. Dr. Robert Petrtyl offers family and pediatric dentistry, mouth guards, preventive and restorative care. Call (513) 554-4657 for an appointment, go to their Facebook page to read reviews, or visit their website to see a full list of services.