By the last week of July, many Coquitlam families are deep into summer mode. Children are at day camps, teens are out with friends, and weekends are filled with trips to Town Centre Park, Rocky Point, Mundy Park, Lafarge Lake, spray parks, sports fields, and family hikes around the Tri-Cities.

As dental professionals, this is also the time of year when we gently remind parents that summer snacking can be surprisingly hard on teeth.

The concern is not just candy. Many everyday summer choices contain sugar, acid, or both. Juice boxes, lemonade, iced tea, freezies, popsicles, sports drinks, flavoured waters, smoothies, dried fruit, granola bars, crackers, and gummy snacks can all contribute to tooth decay when they are eaten or sipped slowly throughout the day.

What matters most is frequency. A child who has a sweet drink or snack once with lunch is very different from a child who sips juice, sports drinks, or sweetened iced drinks over several hours. Each exposure gives mouth bacteria another opportunity to create acids that weaken tooth enamel.

A few simple habits can make a big difference. Send water as the main drink for camps, practices, and outings. Keep sweet drinks for occasional treats rather than all-day sipping. Pair fruit with cheese, yogurt, nuts, or another protein when appropriate. Choose crunchy vegetables, plain popcorn, cheese, boiled eggs, or sandwiches over sticky snacks that cling to teeth. After a treat, have children rinse with water if brushing is not practical.

Parents should also watch for sports drinks. Unless a child is doing prolonged, intense activity, water is usually the better choice. Many sports drinks are both sugary and acidic, which can be especially tough on enamel.

Summer is also a wonderful time to reset routines before September. If your child is overdue for care, a visit for dental exams and cleanings can help catch small concerns before the school year begins. Families with younger children may also find helpful guidance through the clinic’s children’s dentistry services.

To keep summer smiles healthy, encourage water, balanced snacks, steady brushing and flossing, and a quick appointment booking if anything feels sensitive, chipped, sore, or overdue.