If you travel a lot for work, you know the struggle of trying to maintain appropriate hygiene. Especially while being confined to a small space for hours, even days on end. Even if you aren’t a trucker or a flight attendant, that occasional business trip or destination wedding may leave you wondering how to properly care for your teeth. It’s not easy when you’re thousands of miles from the comfort of your own bathroom sink. Fortunately, there are a few travel hygiene tips you can take into consideration.
Let’s prepare you for the next time you find yourself trying to keep your pearly whites clean while traveling.
Top Travel Hygiene Tips for Your Teeth
Go for Disposable Options
When you’re traveling, you will inevitably lose at least one toothbrush along with several other hygiene items along the way. As a result, it may not be the best idea to bring your electric toothbrush on the road with you. Instead, pick up a couple of cheap, disposable toothbrushes that you won’t cry over losing. They may not do as good of a job at reaching all the nooks and crannies. However, another thirty seconds of gentle, dedicated brushing will make up for it.
Pick up a couple of travel-sized tubes of toothpaste, bottles of mouth wash, and a pack or two of floss-picks. Having these items on hand will make it easier to follow Colgate’s advice by turning every bathroom break into a brushing break as well. This is among the easiest travel hygiene tips to employ for your smile.
Pack with Dental Hygiene in Mind
Once you’ve picked up the necessary traveling materials, it’s time to think about how you’re going to pack them. The biggest concern is keeping your toothbrush clean and dry. Best Health Mag suggests finding a toothbrush holder that holds the brush loosely and includes ventilation holes. If you store a toothbrush while it’s wet, you risk it growing bacteria, which could be detrimental to your health.
If you don’t have time to pick up a designated toothbrush case, then a plastic Ziploc will do. However, it is important that you leave some air in the bag and immediately open it once you’ve arrived at your destination. This ensures your toothbrush has a chance to air dry.
Keeping Sugar at Bay
One of the best habits you can pick up while traveling is choosing water over sugary beverages or alcoholic drinks. This is especially relevant if you’re flying. Avoiding sugar and dehydrating beverages protects your teeth in two ways: first, by reducing plaque build-up and second, by helping maintain normal saliva, which helps fight plaque naturally.
In addition to making slight dietary changes while traveling, you may also pack an American Dental Association accepted a pack of gum. These sugarless gum options will further stimulate your saliva production if you chew on it for twenty minutes after eating, which will bolster your natural ability to fight plaque.
Don’t Trust the Water
If you’re traveling to an area where the tap water may be circumspect, it isn’t enough to just avoid drinking it. You also should not rinse your mouth or toothbrush with it. The same microbes or deposits that you would prefer not to ingest will still be introduced to your body through these methods. Instead, the American Dental Association suggests using bottled water in your daily oral hygiene routine if you have any doubts about the quality of the tap water.
Staying Healthy on the Road
Your oral hygiene is a key part of maintaining your overall health, and your local, Los Angeles dentist wants to help. By staying hydrated, reducing sugar intake, and maintaining consistent practices, you significantly reduce the risk of developing periodontal disease while traveling. However, if your schedule was less than perfect, make an appointment with David S. Kao, D.D.S. for a cleaning and review of your current dental health.
