Traveling During the Holidays? Follow These Tips for Good Oral Hygiene
Dec 15, 2019
When you are traveling, it is important to manage your oral health to avoid serious problems that can occur to your teeth. Trinity Dental Care offers these recommendations for the proper care of your teeth during vacations or business trips.
One of the best tooth care tips before traveling is visiting a dentist in Scottsdale for an examination. You don’t want to have a dental issue while you are traveling. If you visit a dental facility, then a family dentist can find any problems right away to repair the issue. In addition to filling cavities, your dentist can clean your teeth professionally to prevent inflammation in the gum tissues.
While traveling, there are many bad foods available that can ruin your dental enamel or sensitive gum tissue. Having an occasional treat is okay. However, you should continue to focus on nutritious foods that include vegetables, fruits, lean meats, whole grains and dairy products. Avoid eating poor-quality foods, such as sticky candies, potato chips or ice cream.
Remember to pack a new, soft-bristled toothbrush that you can use at least twice a day. Brush your teeth each morning and at night to remove food debris and bacteria that can cause halitosis. If you can find a compact toothbrush, then carry in a pocket to brush at other times. Make sure to rinse your mouth after brushing to remove the toothpaste.
If your mouth is dry, then it can affect your soft oral tissues. Make sure to drink a lot of water while traveling to keep your mouth hydrated. When you can’t brush your teeth, you can swish water in your mouth instead. This will help to remove bacteria and food particles to prevent cavities or gingivitis. A cosmetic dentist will tell you that drinking water will also prevent discolorations on your dental restorations.
Soft drinks can harm your teeth with excessive amounts of sugar along with chemicals, caffeine and artificial dyes. According to cosmetic dentists, the dyes in soft drinks can harm your dental veneers and crowns. Choose plain or flavored water to drink as much as possible while you are traveling.
One of the easiest tooth care tips while traveling is using fluoridated toothpaste. You can bring along a full-size tube of toothpaste, or you can look for a tiny tube that is easier to pack. A hotel or a drugstore will offer fluoridated toothpaste in several flavors so that you can brush your teeth.
If you chew on hard items, then you are more likely to chip or crack a tooth. Harmful hard items can include foods, such as bagels or pretzels. It is also a bad idea to chew on toothpicks or pencils. When you damage a tooth, you must find a cosmetic dentist to apply color-matching bonding material to the tooth.
If you grind your teeth while sleeping, make sure to pack your dental splints. In addition, bring along a customized mouth guard so that you can play sports. You can find a dentist to prepare these devices before you travel. Make sure to keep these items in protective cases to prevent damage.
While traveling, you should continue to floss your teeth each night. A dentist will tell you that 40% of the food debris remains on your teeth after brushing. You can find strand floss in small plastic boxes that are easy to carry in your suitcase. There are also dental picks that are simple to use while you are on a vacation.
After arriving at your destination, you can buy mouthwash at a local drugstore. For additional protection, look for a mouthwash that is antiseptic or that contains fluoride. Mouthwash destroys the germs that cause bad breath and it can also protect your oral health.
With proper dental care, you probably won’t have pain in your teeth while flying. However, if you have pain in your teeth in an airplane, then there are ways to overcome it. Bring along medication to reduce the pressure in your sinuses. You can also open and close your mouth to reduce the air pressure in your ears.
You can call Trinity Dental Care to schedule an appointment with a family and cosmetic dentist. Trinity Dental Care can provide additional tooth care tips that you can use while you are traveling.