No matter how antsy you might be feeling, don't give into the temptation to dash for the beach or poolside without fully considering the state that your body – including your mouth - will be in when you return. You'd want to avoid some nasty consequences of poor decisions that jeopardize your safety. UV exposure is heavily linked to some of the deadliest types of skin cancer and can wreak havoc inside your mouth.
On the other hand, you shouldn't also let concerns about flaky sunburns on your lips and other types of sun damages dampen your mood during outdoor trips. Read on to find out important tips that'll help you get equipped to make it through extended periods of UV exposure outdoors without a scratch on your lips.
How Best to Prevent Your Mouth From Sun Damage
Like your skin, you can also protect your mouth from sun damage using high-quality sunscreens. Use lip balms with physical sunscreens and at least SPF 15 protection. Physical sunscreens act as mirrors that reflect back sunlight, unlike chemical sunscreens or clear glosses that absorb UV rays and expose the lips to the risks of inflammation. Stick style sunscreens also supply your lip cells with essential active minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc. But the lip balms usually don't remain active for too long, so you need to reapply them every 1 -2 hours.
The accumulative effects of your oral habits will also determine how well your mouth is protected from sunburns. You want your dentition to be heavily fortified against any degrading effects of sun damage. Regular brushing and flossing as well as mouth-friendly eating habits can also help forestall sun damage.
Don't forget the importance of visiting our dentists regularly for checkups. Call us or visit our office today to let our experts help you keep sun damage to your mouth in check.
No matter how antsy you might be feeling, don't give into the temptation to dash for the beach or poolside without fully considering the state that your body – including your mouth - will be in when you return. You'd want to avoid some nasty consequences of poor decisions that jeopardize your safety. UV exposure is heavily linked to some of the deadliest types of skin cancer and can wreak havoc inside your mouth.