gum-health-300x200It’s summer and that means heading out to the beach, going to barbecues, and spending more time away from home.

Dentists recommend people brush their teeth at least twice a day (once in the morning and once in the evening), floss, and rinse with mouthwash. If you’re heading out to the beach in the morning, for example, and you spend all day there with friends, eating hot dogs, drinking soda, and basically having a great time, then crawl home late at night and into bed, you might be skipping brushing your teeth that second time.

Never skip one of the two regular brushings, no matter what you have going on. You may get in at two in the morning or even later after a long day of fun, partying, and eating, but if you skip brushing your teeth because you’re exhausted, you could wake up with a lot more bacteria forming in your mouth and an increased risk of developing cavities and other serious oral health issues.

Bringing along a toothbrush with you wherever you go is a great idea. There are numerous travel toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes that can be packed into any bag you have. It takes two minutes to go brush your teeth after you eat lunch, dinner, or even breakfast.

When you’re out having fun this summer, keep in mind the importance of proper dental care. The two can work together, as long as you take two minutes out of your incredibly busy party schedule to care for teeth you should have for the rest of your life.