We prepare our bodies for the sun by applying SPF to protect our skin and wearing sunglasses to avert harmful UV rays - but it turns out we also need to be preparing our mouths for the soaring temperatures.
Few of us are aware of the damage a change in temperature can cause to our teeth, so how do we prepare for it?
Dr Khaled Kasem, Chief Orthodontist of Impress, reveals how you can avoid tooth sensitivity when taking in the summer sun.
He warns that temperature changes can cause tooth enamel to crack.
He said: "Tooth sensitivity is common, especially in summer when you’re sipping on an ice-cold beverage or relaxing with an ice cream, but why is that?
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"As temperatures change with the seasons, the protective enamel on your teeth will expand and contract at different rates, leaving dentine (the layer beneath the enamel which covers the outside of the teeth) exposed. This will cause your teeth to feel more sensitive.
“There’s nothing you can do with the weather, but there are steps to keep sensitive teeth at bay – sticking to room temperature drinks rather than ice-cold is a start but switching to a sensitive toothpaste will also help.”
Dehydration can also cause saliva production to slow, and saliva is essential for washing away any bacteria or food and drink particles, leaving these to fester and stick to your teeth can and will increase your risk of developing tooth decay and cavities.
“Drinking at least two litres of water a day will keep dehydration at bay and replace the saliva you’re not producing", he suggests.
Khaled also recommends not chewing on ice, as tempting as it may be, as it could land you with a dental emergency.
He said: “In the hot weather, it’s common to rely on ice to keep you cold, but chewing is a bad habit many Brits have. Ice is just frozen water so it can’t be that bad, right? Wrong! Chewing on hard substances like ice can leave your teeth vulnerable to dental emergencies such as chipped, cracked, or broken teeth, or loosened crowns.
“Whatever your cooling agent of choice, remember your teeth are with you for the rest of your life so you don’t want to risk dental emergencies for five minutes of relief!”
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