Summer is here, and with it comes sunshine, vacations, picnics, pool parties, and plenty of fun. But with all that heat and hustle, your oral care routine might get pushed to the back burner. At RADIUS, we believe a healthy mouth should never take a vacation, especially when the summer season brings unique challenges for your teeth and gums.
Whether you're traveling, enjoying cold treats, or spending extra time outdoors, there are simple ways to protect your smile through the hottest months of the year. Here are our top summer oral care tips to keep your mouth happy, healthy, and ready for every sunny selfie.
1. Stay Hydrated for a Healthy Mouth
Summer heat means more sweating, which means your body (and mouth!) needs extra hydration. Water helps rinse away food particles, neutralize acids, and keep your saliva flowing. Saliva plays a key role in preventing cavities and bad breath, so when you're dehydrated, your mouth can become a breeding ground for bacteria.
Make it a habit to drink water throughout the day, especially after eating or snacking. If you're out and about, keep a reusable water bottle handy. And remember—sugary sports drinks or sodas might be tempting in the heat, but they can erode enamel and feed bacteria. When in doubt, water wins.
2. Beware the Summer Sugar Spike
From popsicles to lemonade to ice cream cones, summer treats are often packed with sugar. While it's totally fine to enjoy your favorites in moderation, keep an eye on how often and how long your teeth are exposed to sugar. Frequent snacking or sipping can lead to plaque buildup and tooth decay.
One of the best ways to protect your teeth is to brush after indulging in sweet snacks. If brushing isn’t possible right away, rinse with water to help wash away sugar and acid until you can clean your teeth properly.
3. Pack Travel-Friendly Oral Care Tools
Summer often means road trips, flights, and weekend getaways. But don't let your oral care routine take a vacation. At RADIUS, we designed products with travel in mind.
Our Tour Travel Toothbrush is compact, lightweight, and comes with a replaceable head—perfect for popping into your carry-on or beach bag. It's also made with ultra-soft vegetable-based bristles that are gentle on your gums, especially helpful if you're brushing more often to offset all the summer treats.
Pro tip: pack extra toothbrush heads so you're covered for longer trips.
4. Choose Toothpaste That Does More
During summer, your teeth may be more sensitive due to frequent consumption of cold or acidic foods and drinks. Using a toothpaste that supports enamel and gum health is key.
Our Immuni-Minty Toothpaste for adults is a refreshing, minty formula made with coconut oil, Elderberry, Hydroxyapatite, and aloe vera to soothe, clean, and naturally protect your mouth. It’s fluoride-free, SLS-free, and uses organic ingredients that won’t dry out your mouth. Plus, the cooling mint makes it a refreshing way to start or end a hot summer day.
5. Don’t Skip Nighttime Brushing (Even After Long Days)
It can be tempting to skip brushing after a long day at the beach or a late-night BBQ. But nighttime is when your mouth needs the most protection. When you sleep, your saliva production slows down, making your mouth more vulnerable to bacteria and plaque buildup.
Even if you're exhausted, give your teeth a quick but thorough brush before bed. Using a toothbrush like our Flex Brush, designed with a wide, cushioned head and super-soft bristles, makes it easy to cover more surface area quickly and gently.
6. Don’t Forget the Kids (and Pets!)
Summer schedules can throw off routines for everyone in the family, including your little ones and four-legged friends. Kids may be staying up later or snacking more often, which makes it even more important to keep their oral care consistent.
Our Totz Toothbrush for kids ages 18 months and up is perfectly sized for small mouths and gentle on gums. Pair it with our Organic Dragon Fruit Gel Toothpaste for Kids, which is safe to swallow and made with organic coconut water and erythritol to clean teeth without harsh chemicals.
And yes, pets need summer oral care too! Our Organic Canine Gel Toothpaste is free from harmful ingredients like xylitol and made with organic sweet potato, coconut oil, and cinnamon for a flavor dogs love and ingredients you can trust.
7. Be Cautious with Ice
On a hot day, chewing ice might seem like a harmless habit. But it can actually crack your enamel or damage fillings. If you love crunching on something cold, go for chilled fruit or frozen grapes instead.
8. Maintain a Flossing Routine
Don’t let summer laziness sneak in. Flossing is essential to remove the plaque and food particles between teeth where your brush can’t reach. RADIUS offers vegan flosses made with natural candelilla wax, perfect for daily use and gentle on sensitive gums. It’s a simple way to keep your whole mouth cleaner between all those summer snacks.
9. Schedule That Dental Visit
If your family has more flexibility in summer, now might be the perfect time to book a check-up. A professional cleaning can remove plaque buildup and help catch any issues before they become problems.
10. Keep It Simple, Keep It Consistent
The key to oral health, in summer or any season, is consistency. You don’t need fancy gadgets or overly complicated routines. Just brushing twice a day with a high-quality toothbrush and natural toothpaste, flossing daily, drinking plenty of water, and staying mindful of what goes into your mouth.
At RADIUS, we’re here to support your smile no matter where summer takes you. Whether you're hitting the road, spending time outdoors, or simply enjoying a slower pace, our products are designed to fit your lifestyle with care, comfort, and sustainability at the core.
Stay cool, smile wide, and enjoy every sunny moment, with a clean, healthy mouth to match.