Summer is a popular time to travel, entertain and eat delicious foods and beverages. Whether you’re camping in the wild or jet-setting to a 5-star resort, you shouldn’t take a break from your oral health. Before departing for your getaway, visit Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne to ensure that your mouth is in tip-top vacation shape. This will help you avoid the potential for dental emergencies. Here are some great dental related tips to help you prepare for travel:
Make Time for a Checkup
Even when you’re dreaming about vacation, there’s no place like home–especially a dental home base. “Prevention isn’t only taking care of your teeth,” Dr. Messina says. “It’s establishing a relationship with a dentist.” If you can, schedule your next regular visit before your trip. “Have a thorough exam so we can spot any problems before they happen,” Dr. Messina says. You’ll have peace of mind, and your dentist will have the most up-to-date information on your teeth, including x-rays.
Proper Toothbrush Transport
Letting your toothbrush air dry is how you keep your toothbrush clean at home, but that’s not always possible on vacation. What’s a traveling toothbrush to do? “I’m a big fan of resealable plastic bags. Keeping your toothbrush clean and out of contact with other things is more important that making sure it’s dry on vacation,” Dr. Messina says. “A bag keeps your toothbrush separate from everything else in your luggage. When you get there, pop it open and let your brush air dry.” Additional info at Mouth Healthy
Dr. Robert Harrell and his staff at Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne in Charlotte want to make sure you are all smiles on your next vacation. Making note of the following tips will help:
Look for portable oral hygiene products
A collapsible toothbrush, a disposable tooth flosser or a roll of floss isn’t difficult to fit into your purse or carry-on. “Floss is very compact, so you can take it with you when you travel,” says Dr. MacGregor.
Keep it clean
Always remember to wash your hands well before handling your toothbrush or flossing your teeth. And if the local water isn’t safe to drink, that means it’s not safe for oral care either. Use bottled or boiled water instead.
Try treats for your teeth
Does travelling make it tricky to brush your teeth right after a meal? Pack some tooth treats to help you keep your mouth clean. Sugarless gum sweetened with xylitol will stimulate the flow of saliva, which helps to cleanse your teeth. Bacteria and bits of food will also stick to the gum instead of to your mouth. Sucking sugarless candies with green tea extract, or drinking green tea, can protect your teeth. Research at Pace University suggests green tea may help to destroy the bacteria that cause cavities. Continue reading at Best Health
Fitting In Your Oral Hygiene
It can be easy to lose track of time while changing time zones and enjoying international destinations. It can be equally as tricky exploring locally when you are in “vacation mode” with family and friends. Remember to make time for brushing, flossing and swishing each day to prolong the health and well-being of your smile. Discover some additional excellent travel tips below:
Potty Break = Brushing Break
You can make it easier to practice good dental care while traveling if you simply keep a travel toothbrush handy. When you make those inevitable pit stops, bring your travel toothbrush with you and give your teeth a quick brush and rinse. You can easily floss while riding (but not driving) in the car using a disposable floss stick. Every effort you make to keep your teeth clean helps, so when you’re really in a hurry, try a Colgate Wisp. The Colgate Wisp is a perfect, mini tooth brush with toothpaste built right in.
End the Day with a Thorough Cleaning
When you are finally at your destination, whether it’s a hotel room or grandma’s house, take a little extra time to focus on your teeth and help your kids with their final teeth cleaning of the day. Be sure everyone in the family flosses thoroughly, then brushes carefully. Kids will fun using Colgate Kids 2-in-1 (a toothpaste and mouthwash combination that comes in fun flavors like strawberry) to make sure their teeth are as clean as possible. More details at Colgate
If you’re ready for a comprehensive dental exam, contact Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne today to schedule a visit with Dr. Robert Harrell. He is recognized as one of the city’s top dentists year-after-year by <Charlotte Magazine>. Call Adult Dentistry now at 704-541-9888 or use the contact form on the webiste to make an appointment.
