Ice Cream, Soda and Chlorine: Our Dental Clinic’s Guide to Summer Oral Care
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Ice cream, cold drinks, barbecues and pool days summer brings refreshing pleasures, but also some hidden challenges for your oral health. At By The Lake Dental, our dentist and dental team help patients enjoy the season while staying aware of how hydration and diet choices affect their teeth and gums.
Acidic drinks, such as soft drinks, iced teas and citrus-based beverages, can wear away enamel when consumed frequently. Even flavoured sparkling water can reduce the pH in the mouth, increasing the risk of erosion. According to the British Dental Journal, sipping these drinks slowly over time is more damaging than drinking them all at once.
Cold desserts and sugary snacks, like popsicles, ice cream and fruit chews, increase plaque activity especially when eaten repeatedly between meals. The Canadian Dental Association explains that sugar is a primary cause of dental problems. Combining sugar and cold temperature can also trigger sensitivity or minor cracks in enamel.
Swimming in chlorinated pools, especially with the mouth open, may expose teeth to chemically treated water. Over time, this can contribute to surface staining or minor demineralisation. The British Dental Journal details how chlorinated pool water can lead to ‘swimmer’s mouth,’ characterized by brown tartar deposits and enamel erosion. Rinsing with clean water after swimming is a simple preventive step.
Dehydration reduces saliva flow, limiting the mouth’s natural defence against acid and bacteria. We recommend drinking plain water throughout the day and avoiding dry snacks like chips or crackers without hydration.
To protect your smile this summer, our dentists and Kids dental team suggest:
Drink water often, especially after eating or swimming
Avoid grazing on sweets, limit sugar intake to mealtimes
Brush with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily
Rinse after acidic or chlorinated exposure
Book a preventive check-up if you feel sensitivity or discomfort
At By The Lake Dental, we believe summer should be carefree but never careless. Our dental clinic in Ajax and Scarborough is here to help you stay healthy while enjoying the season.
Smile through summer with confidence. Contact By The Lake Dental, your favourite dental office in Ajax and Scarborough, and book your appointment today.
Why choose By The Lake Dental:
✅ +15 years caring for our community’s oral health needs
✅ A Platinum+ Invisalign dental office
✅ Direct billing to benefit provider
✅ Cutting-edge technology
✅ Full service family care
✅ Concierge experience
𝗪𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦
Call us today: Ajax 905-428-2111, Highland Creek 416-284-8282.
By The Lake Dental is your family’s one-stop dental office for everything your smile needs, including children’s dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, tooth extractions, oral hygiene, dental implants, orthodontics and Invisalign, mouthguards, root canal therapy, tooth restoration, temporomandibular disorder treatment, and more!
