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Happy summer, readers!
Have any big adventures planned? We sure hope so. Summer is a great time to take a week or two off of work, hop on a plane, and travel somewhere new and exciting.
But be careful!
A lot of people start to slack on their oral hygiene habits when they’re on travel. When rushing to see landmarks, relaxing on the beach, or zip-lining through the jungle, it can be easy to forget to take care of your teeth.
Today, we’re here with a few dental care travel tips for our Hoffman Estates patients to help keep them healthy across every continent.
Taking Care of Your Teeth While Traveling
Keeping a healthy smile throughout your summer travels doesn’t have to be difficult. Consider the following tips while you’re on travel this year:
Keep Up Your Normal Routine
If you’re traveling across several time zones, it can be easy to get out of sync with your normal routine. Long travel days, nights spent exploring and having fun, and early morning excursions can also throw people off and lead them to slack on their dental care routine.
It’s important to still brush and floss every day while on travel. If you have a long day of plane or car rides, try and brush in a bathroom, or use a bottle of water and toothpaste.
Pro tip: Pocket-sized mouthwash is small enough to take on airplanes. Keeping a bottle handy can come in handy to freshen your breath and ward away bacteria while you’re traveling.
Don’t Forget Your Dental Supplies
We’ve all been there. After a long trip, you throw open your suitcase to grab your toothbrush and toothpaste, only to find that it’s not there!
Especially if it’s late at night and you’re somewhere that you’ve never been, finding a new toothbrush and toothpaste might be difficult. Make sure you pack a toothbrush, enough toothpaste, and a pack of floss. Before you leave, double-check that it’s in your bag.
Pro tip: Pack your toothbrush and toothpaste if your carry-on bag if you’re taking an airplane. That way, in the case that your luggage gets lost, you’re not stranded without your oral care tools. And if your bag does end up getting lost, most airline desks offer complimentary toothbrushes and toothpaste to travelers.
Choose Healthy Snacks
We want all of our patients to enjoy their time on vacation. And if that means indulging in sugary snacks and alcoholic beverages, that’s okay…to an extent.
A few treats every now and then are okay as long as you keep up a good oral care routine. Try to choose healthy fruits, vegetables, and nuts for the majority of your snacks so that you can make room for the not-so-healthy but oh-so-tasty indulgences that are sure to pop up!
Pro tip: After eating something sugary or carb-heavy, drink a glass of water. Water isn’t only good for hydration, but it also helps wash out the excess bacteria in your mouth left behind by your last meal!
Make an Appointment Before You Take Off
Our last piece of advice is to come see us before you head out. Travel can be stressful, so get your oral health up to par so that you don’t have to worry while you’re out of town. Make an appointment with our Hoffman Estates office today!