Summer Smile Tips: Keep Your Teeth Healthy During BBQs & Vacations

Summer is made for sunny days, smoky BBQs, sweet drinks, and spontaneous road trips. But while your schedule changes, your teeth still need attention. Between sticky sauces, sugary treats, and long hours away from home, it’s easy to let oral care slip — or run into problems without realizing it.

At Beaufort Center for Dentistry in Beaufort, SC, Dr. Louis Costa III helps patients enjoy the season without letting their smiles pay the price.

Watch Out for Hidden Sugar and Acid

Cold drinks and summer snacks are often loaded with sugar and acids that can wear down enamel. Lemonade, soda, sweet tea, popsicles — they may be refreshing, but sipping them all day increases the risk for cavities. Try drinking through a straw and rinsing with water afterward. It helps cut down the time those sugars sit on your teeth.

And don’t forget about BBQ sauces and marinades. Many are sweet, sticky, and packed with vinegar, which can cling to teeth long after the meal’s over.

Pack for the Road

If you’re traveling, bring a small dental kit with a travel toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and sugar-free gum. Even if you can’t brush right away, chewing gum with xylitol can help increase saliva and wash away food particles.

For snacks, skip the sticky candy and go for tooth-friendly options like cheese cubes, apple slices, or almonds.

Stay on Track With a Quick Checkup

Summer gets busy fast, but it’s a great time to fit in a dental visit — especially for kids before school starts or adults before fall rolls around. A routine cleaning and check-in can catch small issues before they cause trouble on vacation.

Summer Checkups at Beaufort Center for Dentistry in Beaufort, SC

At Beaufort Center for Dentistry, Dr. Louis Costa III helps patients protect their smiles all year long — even during s’mores season. Whether it’s been six months or just a while since your last visit, now’s a great time to check in and keep your teeth in top shape.

Let’s make sure your smile stays as bright as your summer plans.

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Categorised in: Dental Tips