It can seem like a hassle to plan for your oral hygiene when you’re preparing for a vacation or business trip or even a weekend getaway. However, you can never take a break from maintaining your smile or else you may find yourself needing to see your dentist promptly upon returning from your trip. In fact, if you neglect your brushing and flossing for even a few days, you may develop plaque and tartar that can only be removed via a teeth cleaning by a dental hygienist.
Here are a few tips to help you take care of your smile when you’re away from home:
• Take the right tools with you. At the very least, you will need to pack your toothbrush, preferred toothpaste and dental floss. Depending on the space limitations of your luggage, you may opt for travel-sized toothbrush and toothpaste. If you use an electric toothbrush at home, some models hold a charge for a longer period of time and can be appropriate for travel as well.
• Stick to your normal routine. If you brush and floss at the same time that you do when you’re at home, or at the same point in your morning routine, you’ll automatically keep this habit even when you’re on the road.
• Be conscientious about what you eat and rinsing after meals. It’s understandable if you want to indulge while traveling, but if you’re eating more sweet treats, make sure to rinse your mouth after meals so that sugary residue doesn’t hang around for bacteria to feed on.
• Schedule any routine dental care that you may need before you leave on your trip. If it’s been about six months since you last saw your dentist, you’re probably due for a check-up and professional teeth cleaning. This will make sure that your smile is in good shape as you embark on your travels and give you a head start on keeping it that way.
If you’re planning an upcoming trip for any reason, make sure that you don’t come back with a lot of tartar or a cavity as your souvenir! If it’s time to schedule your next dental visit, contact the office of Dr. Barry Buchanan at 214-343-1818.
