Whether you’re travelling for business or leisure, travel can affect your teeth and gums in a negative way. A lack of daily routine, in-flight dehydration and over-indulging in certain foods and/or beverages you would otherwise normally limit can have a significant impact on your oral health.
Dr Tony Heilberg is the dentist that Cheltenham, Mentone, Beaumaris and Parkdale locals rely on for friendly and professional dental services. We understand that travelling can cause your dental hygiene routine to fall by the wayside so here we will look at a few things you can do to keep your mouth and teeth healthy while travelling.
Packing
Looking after your teeth while traveling seems easy, however, there’s much more to keeping your teeth heathy than simply packing your toothbrush.
First and foremost, your toothbrush is vital so pop it into a proper toothbrush travel case. This will avoid contact with any other items in your toiletry bag which could damage or dirty your brush.
Make sure your toothbrush is dry before you pack it into the case or holder, any moisture will help to feed bacteria. Whilst travelling, it’s not always possible to wait for your brush to dry before packing it away, so try to take it out and air it when you reach your next destination.
Toothpaste, floss and other interdental cleaning aids you regularly use should also be packed into your toiletry case. Choose a toothpaste containing fluoride and make sure you have enough paste and floss to last your trip. If you do happen to forget toothpaste or floss, ensure you continue to brush your teeth even just with water until you can find supplies at a convenience store or supermarket.
Research the Water in Your Destination
Most of us are used to having access to clean drinking water on tap, so it’s easy to forget that your destination may not have this luxury. Whether you are travelling into remote Australian locations or venturing abroad, brushing your teeth or rinsing your toothbrush in poor quality water could make you sick and be harmful to your teeth and gums. If you are unsure, use bottled water to be safe.
Make Healthy Dietary Choices
While on holidays it’s likely that you are out of your normal routine and usually you will want to spoil yourself with foods and beverages that you don’t usually eat on a regular basis. Sugary cocktails by the pool, pancakes at the breakfast buffet, ice cream on the beach – there’s nothing better than wining and dining on holidays and devouring new and exciting local delicacies. Enjoy yourself, but try to limit snacking or grazing on sugary products in between meals when you can, and make sure you chew on some sugar-free gum frequently to help keep bacteria away.
Schedule a Dental Appointment Before You Head Off
The best way to ensure your teeth stay in optimal shape is to book your appointment with plenty of time before your trip with your local bayside dental practice.
A thorough clean and check-up will ensure your teeth will stand up to a disrupted dental routine and help to avoid any dental emergencies while you are away. It’s a good idea to schedule it with enough time left to allow for any follow-up treatment just in case any work needs to be done before your time away.
The Bayside Dentists You Can Count On
With a long-standing reputation for providing expert dental care, Dr Tony Heilberg is the dentist Bayside families trust for efficient and affordable dental services. If you have a holiday or big trip coming up and want to travel with confidence, get in touch with us today and make an appointment for a routine check-up. Request an appointment online or call our reception on (03) 9583 2233.
