Warmer weather is just around the corner, and you know what that means – vacation! Whether it’s a vacation, business trip, or just visiting family, traveling is an exciting opportunity to get out of your daily routine and experience something new. However, not all routines should be tossed out the window when exploring new and exciting places, particularly your dental routine.
If you travel smart, you’ll keep your teeth and mouth a priority by maintaining proper oral care, it’s a must.
Neglecting your dental hygiene, even for a short trip, can lead to complications like plaque buildup, bad breath, or even unexpected dental issues.
The good news? With a little planning and a few simple tips, you can keep your smile healthy wherever you go. Our Commerce Twp Dental Clinic has some smart and easy tips to keep your teeth and gums in top shape so that your smile stays bright and your mouth remains healthy.
1. Schedule a Dental Check-Up
Everyone knows that dental check-ups should occur every six months. This is to catch any potential issues, prevent more serious dental problems later, and ensure your teeth and gums remain healthy.
Try and schedule your checkup before a planned vacation. This will help to prevent any issues or dental emergencies while you are on the road, where it can be difficult to find a dentist if you need to.
2. Pack the Dental Essentials
After you schedule your check-up, the next step is to ensure you pack your dental essentials. These include a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, and mouthwash. Travel sized versions of these essentials are easily found at your local grocery or convenience store.
If you end up forgetting your toothbrush, putting some toothpaste on a clean washcloth or finger can work in a pinch.
3. Transport Your Toothbrush Safely
While many leave their toothbrush on the counter or in a drawer to air dry after brushing, this is not always possible when traveling, especially if you are constantly on the move from place to place. The key is to ensure the brush remains clean even if it isn’t dry. This means don’t toss the toothbrush into luggage without some barrier between the bristles and other objects.
Toothbrush covers are an easy solution, but if you don’t have one, a sealable plastic bag works just as well.
4. Try to Stick to a Dental Routine
Traveling tends to disrupt all types of routines, but maintaining your dental schedule is essential for healthy teeth and gums. Be sure to brush twice a day, morning and night, and floss at least once a day. It may be helpful to set a reminder on your phone to alert you when it is time to care for your teeth.
5. Chew Sugar Free Gum
Chewing gum promotes saliva production, and saliva is an essential component in maintaining healthy oral hygiene. Some of the benefits of saliva include neutralizing harmful acids, preventing cavities, killing germs that cause bad breath, protecting tooth enamel, and guarding against gum disease. As you can see, saliva does a lot of good for your mouth.
6. Be Mindful of Your Sugar Intake
We’re not going to tell you to avoid sugar while on vacation. Yes, excess sugar is not good for your teeth and can cause cavities, but a vacation calls for a little indulgence. All we are going to tell you is to be mindful of the amount of sugar you consume.
Maybe don’t have a third cookie at lunch and choose some fresh fruit and yogurt for breakfast instead of another donut for the fourth day in a row.
7. Be Prepared for Dental Emergencies
It is always a good idea to have a list of emergency contacts on hand in case anything happens while traveling, and that includes your dental contact.
Call your dentist if something happens and he/she will be able to offer recommendations and maybe even refer you to a local dentist in the area you traveled to. You can also research dental clinics at your destination prior to traveling or ask your hotel for recommendations.
Keep Up on Dental Health No Matter Where you Go
Traveling doesn’t mean your dental routine has to take a backseat. By planning ahead, packing the essentials, and staying mindful of your oral health, you can keep your smile bright and healthy regardless of where you travel. Your dental health is just as important on the road as it is at home, so try your best to stick you your routine and enjoy where your adventure takes you.
Optimal Dental Care and Services in Commerce Twp
Call Sedki Dentistry to schedule a Free dental consultation and achieve your ideal smile. Whether you are looking for cosmetic dentistry such as veneers, are in need of dental treatments including dentures or implants, or need gum rejuvenation for receding gums, our full-service dental clinic is the place for you and the entire family.