When summer rolls around, it’s hard to resist the temptation to go out there and enjoy the weather as much as possible. Of course, that involves getting the perfect swimsuit and stocking up on sunscreen, but have you considered that your lips need just as much protection?
Dentistry is about the teeth and gums, but the quality of your lips is just as important to your oral health. If you want to know how to protect them, and why that’s important, here’s some information that you might find helpful.
Why Is Protecting My Lips Important?
Your lips are just as vulnerable to sunburn, if not more so, as the rest of your skin. However, even people who are conscious of protecting themselves from the sun tend to forget about them.
This can lead to dry, cracked, lips that are both uncomfortable and unsightly. In the worst cases, you may even wind up with a sunburn around your mouth, which stings just as much as you might imagine.
How to Protect Your Lips This Summer
If you want to stop that from happening, the solution is simple: Just as you need to put sunscreen on your skin, it’s a good idea to do the same thing for your lips. Find lip balm with SPF protection, and apply it liberally to your lips every 2 hours for as long as you’re outdoors. Of course, you can put it on more often than that if you’d like—just make sure your lips are protected.
You should try and find a lip balm with SPF 30 protection, though something weaker will do in a pinch.
Finally, it’s important to supplement this with proper hydration to keep your lips from chapping. Whenever you go out in the heat, be sure to bring some water with you. Keep this in mind, and your lips will stay smooth and healthy all summer!
About the Author
Dr. Charles Parker has been practicing dentistry in Marshall since 1981, and that gives him a unique level of experience that separates him from other dentists. He is proud to take on cases that some dentists claim are too complex, and to help those patients get the care they deserve. Dr. Parker received his doctorate from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, and to continue his education he is a member of both the American Dental Association and the East Texas Dental Society.
If you have any questions about protecting your oral health, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (903) 935-6351.