You might think that summer, with its vacations and slower pace, would give our teeth a break. In fact, the opposite happens. In many dental clinics, including ours, the number of emergency visits rises noticeably between June and August. Here’s why this time of year is especially prone to dental damage and pain — and, most importantly, what to do if it happens to you.
Why Does Summer Increase the Risks?
Several factors specific to the summer season explain this increase:
Hygiene habits get disrupted. Vacation schedules, travel, and late nights often throw off brushing and flossing routines, leaving more room for cavities and gum inflammation.
Outdoor activities increase the risk of injury. Biking, skateboarding, water sports, playground games — falls and blows to the mouth are much more common than in winter, especially among children.
Some summer foods are hard on teeth. Corn on the cob, ice cubes chewed to cool off, popsicles, and hard candy can crack an already weakened tooth or dislodge an existing filling, among other things.
Travel delays visits to the dentist. Away from their usual dentist, people tend to put off a visit for minor discomfort, giving a problem time to worsen and turn into a real emergency.
The Most Common Types of Summer Dental Emergency
Here are the situations that come up most often at the clinic during the warmer months:
- A cracked or broken tooth following a sports accident or eating something too hard;
- Sudden, intense pain, often a sign of a deepening cavity or a progressing infection;
- A dental injury in a child, at the pool, on the playground, or while biking;
- An abscess or swelling of the face or gums;
- A crown or filling that comes loose, leaving the tooth vulnerable to bacterial infiltration.
What to Do While Waiting for Your Appointment
If an emergency occurs, a few simple steps can help limit discomfort before you see us:
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to clean the affected area;29
- Apply a cold compress to the cheek if there’s swelling;
- Keep any broken tooth fragment in a bit of milk or saliva;
- Avoid very hot, very cold, or very hard foods until you can see us;
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed, following the recommended dosage.
A Prompt Visit Is the Best Protection
The rule stays the same, summer or winter: the sooner a dental emergency is treated, the simpler the treatment options and the better the outlook. Don’t let vacation delay a visit you need.
Having a dental emergency this summer? The team at Dentown Dental Centre is here to see you quickly and provide relief. Call us at (514) 657-2001.