Fourth of July: Celebrate Safely

By Jill Feilmeier on July 4, 2013 in Just for Kicks

Happy Birthday USA! It's time for fireworks, fun and family. While you are celebrating, it’s easy to engage in some not-so-tooth-friendly activities. To help you avoid a dental disaster, here are 4 tips for keeping safe while celebrating.

1. Eat healthy. Yes, it's time for barbecues and beers, but try to nosh on some fruits and vegetables too. A balanced diet will help your teeth as well as your waistline. Foods with a lot of sugar and starch can cause tooth decay. Starchy foods like pretzels, chips and crackers may not taste sweet, but combined with the bacteria in your mouth, they break down into sugars and attack your teeth.

2. Drink lots of water. Hot July days make us sweat. Replenish the fluids in your body with fluoridated water rather than sweet sugary drinks like soda and juice. The added sugar can increase plaque on your teeth. A total no-no!

3. Chew sugarless gum. Don't have time to brush your teeth during your July 4 celebration? Chew a piece of sugarless gum. It can help produce saliva in your mouth, which can wash away food particles and protect your teeth. Pick a gum with xylitol. Studies have shown xylitol interferes with the production of bacteria in your mouth.

4. Do not use your teeth as a tool. For goodness sake, don't use your teeth to pull the cap off that beer bottle! You could break your tooth, a very painful problem for you and possibly your wallet. A broken tooth might require a root canal and crown – or it even may have to be pulled. Save your teeth for smiling instead!

Happy 4th of July to everyone from Delta Dental of Iowa!