As the sun shines upon us more brightly, it is essential to wear sunscreen and smile big! Derms are here for all our summer & sun care tips, and thankfully, so is a cosmetic dentist and smile makeover expert, Dr. Daniel Rubinshtein. In this article, Dr. Daniel will shed light on the hidden dental dangers associated with our innocuous summertime indulgences, such as consuming lemon water, chewing ice, sipping on sports drinks, and even indulging in sparkling beverages.

Through his insights, Dr. Daniel illuminates the detrimental effects these common summer practices pose to our oral health. He explains the effects of having excessive lemon water on tooth enamel, how the hazards of chewing ice can lead to potential dental procedures, the harmful combination of sugar and acid in sports drinks, the severe damage caused by certain viral trends, and the impact of carbonic acid in sparkling water on tooth sensitivity. Understanding the why and the how can help us all navigate the summer season, aka the season of iced everything, with prudence — and a smile that gets brighter by the day.

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Touted for its digestive benefits, excessive consumption of lemon water can erode your enamel and make your teeth more sensitive. Dr. Daniel advises those who indulge in lemon water to brush their teeth immediately afterward using a sensitive toothpaste to minimize the negative effects.

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Chewing ice to beat the summer heat — this innocent act can lead to cracked teeth, resulting in the need for extraction or even a root canal. As tempting as it may be, it's essential to resist the urge to chew on ice cubes.

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These beverages are packed with sugar and acid, which can have similar detrimental effects as lemon water, if not worse. Dr. Daniel emphasizes that the combination of sugar, acid, and chemicals in sports drinks can be harmful to both your teeth and overall health.

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While it may be trending on platforms like TikTok, the doctor emphasizes that the viral trend of opening beer bottles with your teeth this is a major don't. Using teeth as a bottle opener can lead to severe damage and costly dental procedures to fix the resulting issues.

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