Traveling Tooth Tips

On The Road Checklist for Dental Health

Wallet? Check. Underwear? Check. Toothbrush? Check. Oral Hygiene Health Plan? Um..

When planning for a trip, you take extra steps to make sure you have the important items you need. Your health routine shouldn’t be overlooked. It may come second nature to you, but while you’re making the best of your time on your vacation, your regular routine may start to diminish as you get wrapped up in a new schedule. Here’s a quick checklist to add to your preparations to keep a healthy dental hygiene regime on track.

Limit the Sugary Treats

Vacation is the perfect time to let loose and indulge. Balance the sugary treats with healthy options, especially if you know you won’t be able to brush soon after. Stay away from sugary snacks and carbonated soft drinks – bacteria from plaque use the sugar to produce acids that erode tooth enamel. When picking up your snacks for the ride, choose nuts and seeds (try sunflower or pumpkin or a handful of almonds) rather than a bag of jujubes or jelly beans.

Try These Healthy Foods for a Healthy Mouth

Dairy foods like milk, cheese, yogurt are rich in calcium and vitamin D which are important for healthy teeth and bones. (But you knew that already, right?) Dairy packs the most wallop when it comes to calcium- and vitamin-D loading. Studies have shown that calcium from food sources is preferable to that from supplements, and that between our northern climate and use of sunscreen, it’s difficult for our skin to produce sufficient D from sunlight. Get your daily dose of calcium and vita D from wholesome food sources such as dairy, or these other superfoods: tofu, almonds, canned salmon, beans, broccoli and other dark leafy greens, fortified OJ, soy or rice beverage.

Stick To Your Daily Oral Health Routine the Best You Can 

No matter where you go and how busy your schedule is, make sure you keep up with your regular dental routine. If you take a vacation from good oral care habits, then you might not pick them back up after returning home. Remember, even though you’re on vacation, your teeth never take a holiday!

Schedule Your Post-Holiday Checkup & Cleaning Now. 

The last thing you want is to arrive at your destination only to find that you need emergency dental treatment. Prepare for your trip by visiting your dentist before you go away. Leave enough time to schedule a follow-up appointment in case there’s trouble brewing. If you don’t have time for a visit before your vacation, then you can still schedule now before you go so you can get in right away upon your return.

Drink Plenty of Water Daily & Know Whether You Can Drink the Water

Drinking water throughout the day and after eating helps dislodge any excess food particles that may be stuck in your teeth. When you’re used to clean drinking water on tap, you can forget that even brushing your teeth or rinsing your toothbrush with contaminated water could make you ill. Find out about local water quality, and if you need to drink bottled water in the country you’re visiting, be sure to brush your teeth and rinse your toothbrush with bottled water too.

Chew Cinnamon or sugar free Gum. 

Chewing sugarless gum can help relieve ear pressure during a flight – and help keep cavities at bay on vacay. Research shows that chewing sugarless gum, such as Spry gum, for 20 minutes after a meal can help prevent cavities. That’s because it gets saliva flowing, which helps wash away cavity-causing bacteria. Sugarless gum with the ADA Seal is guaranteed to do the trick.

Choose Light-Colored Or Clear Beverages.

Traveling can be tiring, so coffee and tea are probably a necessity to keep you alert while in a new area. Make sure to limit your intake on dark beverages especially sugary one. When ordering your coffee, opt for no added sugar. Skip the free soda on the plane and go for a water to help keep you well hydrated.

Protect your Toothbrush

Use a clean, ventilated toothbrush container for your toothbrush. Choosing a holder with ventilation helps dry the toothbrush and reduce the growth of bacteria. Once you arrive at your destination, if you’re staying in one spot, leave the toothbrush out on the counter to give it ample drying time.

The beauty of traveling is being able to stray away from your regular routine. But it helps to have some tips in mind to maintain a healthy mouth while away. Contact your friends at The Libby Group today to schedule your appointment before jetting off on your next adventure!