Are you scheduling a trip this year? Whether you intend to vacation, sightsee, or visit loved ones, you have a great deal to plan for when you travel. Though you may be ready for a respite from your routine, plaque will not take a break from harming your smile.
Therefore, you should consider your oral hygiene regimen and protect your dental health as you prepare for your trip. Dr. Fabrizio Dall’Olmo, a dentist practicing in Santa Monica, CA, outlines three ways that you can stay on top of your oral hygiene while traveling.
Oral Hygiene Tips for Your Trip
Keep Oral Hygiene Supplies Handy
Your toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss are likely high on your list of essentials to pack for your upcoming trip. However, sometimes you do not have easy access to your luggage as you travel. Your suitcase might be stowed away on a plane or locked in a hotel room while you are sightseeing.
It may be a good idea to keep oral hygiene supplies in a purse or pocket to ensure you can maintain your regimen on the go. You should brush your teeth at least twice each day and floss daily. Removing plaque and other residues from your teeth promptly can prevent enamel erosion and therefore cavities and other dental problems.
Plan Your Snacks
You likely have family meals or restaurant excursions planned for your upcoming trip. But you should also factor snacking into your agenda. If you plan healthy snack options ahead of your vacation, you can better avoid foods and drinks that can harm your smile.
For instance, if you have nuts or hard-textured fruits and vegetables, like apple slices or carrot sticks, on hand as you travel, you can curb cravings for sugary snacks. Sugar is notoriously harmful to your teeth, while nuts and fibrous foods have the added benefit of clearing residue from your smile as you eat.
Drink Plenty of Water
If you have a busy schedule during your trip, it can be difficult to remember to drink water and stay hydrated. But dehydration can impact your oral health, increasing your risks for oral infections like gum disease.
You can prevent these oral health issues and avoid severe dental damage by preparing and taking a bottle of water with you as you travel. Dentists and medical professionals agree that you should drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day to maintain adequate levels of hydration. Drinking water can also boost your oral hygiene, rinsing lingering food particles from your mouth between teeth-brushing regimens.
Get More Oral Health Advice from Your Dentist in Santa Monica, CA
Dr. Dall’Olmo is a highly qualified dentist who offers teeth cleanings and more preventative dental care to patients in Santa Monica, CA. Our practice also specializes in general, implant, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry, including Invisalign, for patients of all ages. To schedule a consultation or appointment with our team, contact our staff by phone at 310.736.1051 or reach our office online.