Dental Tips While Traveling: How To Keep Your Teeth Clean Both Near And Far

With summer upon us, everyone is gearing up for new traveling adventures. With all the excitement of a new vacation, it can be easy to forget about the day to day. This is no less true when it comes to dental care. Proper dental care is an essential part of good overall health. Before any trip make sure to brush up on your Dental Care Basics. Then take these traveler specific dental tips with you on your next globetrotting adventure.

Keep your toothbrush dry, well ventilated, and clean

To keep your toothbrush clean while you travel, make sure you are using a toothbrush holder with holes to keep the brush well ventilated. Along with this, ensure that after each use you are thoroughly allowing your brush to dry before storing it away. This is important to discourage the growth of bacteria that can happen in a contained environment.

Another tip for a fresh and clean toothbrush is to make sure you clean your brush with the same water that you are drinking. It can be easy when traveling to just run your brush under the sink, however if the water is not potable (safe for drinking), you should not be using it for your teeth. Here is a handy guide to where you can use the tap, and where you should stick to bottled.

Have chewing gum on hand between brushes

Sometimes traveling can mean long days. This often leads to prolonged periods between brushes. Although not a replacement for brushing, chewing on sugar free gum can help break up food particles and encourages the production of saliva which helps to naturally wash away bacteria. See more information on this here.

Forgot your brush? Use a cloth or paper towel

It has happened to all of us. You reach into your bag right before bed on you first night of travel and you realize that you’ve forgotten your brush. Luckily, many destinations and hotels make it easy to purchase last minutes replacements for forgotten toiletries. However, this may not always be the case. When replacements are not possible, use a cloth or a paper towel with tooth paste to scrub at your teeth similarly to how you would use a toothbrush. It is no replacement, but it is better than nothing.

Of course, with all dental care it is important to get regular check-ups. If it’s time for your next appointment click here to sign up as a new patient with Rocky Mountain Smiles and get in for a cleaning and check-up. And remember, dental health is an important part of overall health. Have fun this summer and take along these dental tips with you wherever you go.