Traveling with Teeth in Mind
A new year means new adventures await! If you’re going on an epic journey, then we know that your teeth are coming along for the ride too. Although you’re taking time away from day-to-day life, your oral health still needs to be a top priority. Teeth can’t just wait until you get back from vacation, but the good news is that it can be easy and convenient to care for your teeth while away from home. We’re here to share some of the best traveling tips for your teeth so that you can return with the same healthy smile that you left with.
Destination: Wacky Routines
We know, we know. Vacations turn our routines upside down and inside out. The best thing you can do for your oral health is to plan and prepare. Be sure you know what your schedule will look like while away so you can figure out the best possible vacation oral health routine. Of course, it’s best if you can still stick to your regular oral health routine while traveling. If that’s not possible, just do the best you can to pre-plan. You’ll find a little strategy will make brushing and flossing more likely to happen. Take advantage of rest stops and transitions between flights too. If you have the items you need conveniently with you and a plan already set in place, there’s no stopping you from brushing and flossing every day as usual.
Tooth Packing List for Traveling
They say to pack small and light! You can do that with all of your dental products. It’s easy enough to find small tubes of toothpaste and mouthwash in travel sections of stores. We suggest buying a little extra too. One for your bag and one for your luggage. These products often come in handy, and grabbing extra will prevent you from accidentally leaving a product behind at home. Traveling is also a good time to start using soft-picks for flossing. Soft-picks are excellent at cleaning between your teeth, and packages come with small soft-pick containers for convenient storage. You’ll see that they take up no room at all!
Give Your Toothbrush Some Air
Your toothbrush is gasping for air while cooped up in your bag or luggage. Make sure you give the bristles some air when you can because a used moist toothbrush that’s in a tight space becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. We caution against using a toothbrush holder with no open holes for this reason. Instead, you can keep your toothbrush in a ziplock bag or zipper bag with a portion of the bag unzipped. Just make sure the products can’t fall out of the bag. If going to a home or hotel, set your toothbrush out on a counter or table with a clean paper towel or towel underneath so that the brush gets needed air. When you use your brush next, it will feel nice and dry, ready to clean!
Packing Items That Could Get Lost
Do you have an electric toothbrush that you love? It may be best to choose another brush for the journey. Travel is a notorious time for leaving items behind or losing them entirely. You can still pack the best of the best dental products while traveling, just make sure it’s something that you could lose without a devastating reaction. Here is a complete vacation packing list for your teeth that you can use for your next trip this year.
- 2 Small Soft-Bristled Toothbrushes
- Soft-picks
- Travel-sized Toothpaste (Sample toothpaste from your dentist can work too. Just ask!)
- 1 Travel-sized Mouthwash
- Several Ziplock Bags or Make-Up Bags with Zippers
- Water Bottle
- Sugar-Free Gum
- (Optional) – Toothbrush Holder or Cup
- Dental nightguard or Orthodontic Retainers(If you have one that you want to use. Just keep track of it!)
Keep Water and Sugar-Free Gum Handy
One of the best things about traveling is the variety of mouthwatering dishes that you get to try. From dining out to homemade family meals, there never seems to be a shortage of delicious food while you travel. Water can be an incredibly useful tool for washing debris off of your teeth. If you have your water jug handy, you can rinse after eating a meal or sugary treat. Sugar-free gum can be used too for a cleaner and moist mouth due to increased saliva production. Water and sugar-free gum are perfect for oral health care on the go. Just be sure not to replace brushing and flossing with water or gum. Nothing can brighten your smile quite like your regular oral health routine.
Plan Your Dental Visit Before You Go!
Is your vacation taking you to a lot of places for a long period of time? Don’t forget to see your dentist before you head off into the great unknown. We can certainly get your teeth set up for success on your travels. Schedule your next appointment with us today.
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thank you for making this article very useful and keep up the good work