Summer is finally here, and with it comes the long anticipated warm, bright weather. Your patients will have been eagerly awaiting hot afternoons in their gardens, but may not realise the impact this new wave of weather will have on their oral health.
Providing effective support can help patients recognise the good habits they need to reinforce or pick up when the summer sun makes its appearance. Whether this is through face-to-face appointments, or reminders on social media, spreading the simple messages that can have the greatest impact is key to protecting their oral health.
Beating the heat
In the warmer months, it’s easy for patients to forget to keep on top of hydration. However, considering the impact on salivary production, it’s an important aspect of oral health care. Salivary flow rates decrease in the summer when compared to the winter months, caused by hypofunction of the salivary glands. Whilst this can be caused by anything from anxiety to acute infections, dehydration is the more likely cause at this time of year.
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