Summer makes for an ideal time to plan a vacation. Whether you intend to relax on a beach, explore a new city, or visit faraway friends, successful travel will entail a great deal of planning. As you prepare for your trip, do not forget your oral health.
You might feel tempted to relax your usual standards of oral hygiene on vacation. But plaque will not rest when it comes to spreading through your mouth and hurting your teeth. You need to continue thorough and consistent oral hygiene in order to prevent serious dental problems.
You can easily keep up with oral hygiene on the go when you plan to do so in advance. Read on to find three tips that can help you maintain good oral hygiene during your next vacation.
Keep Oral Hygiene Supplies Handy
Your oral hygiene tools – a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss – are likely toward the top of your packing list as you get ready to leave for a vacation. You use these items every day, so you might remember to pack them fairly easily. But if you place them in your luggage, you might notice they will be stowed away on a long flight or locked in a hotel room as you go sightseeing.
Without easy access to your supplies, you cannot complete your oral hygiene routine when you need to. So it is a good idea to keep portable oral hygiene products on hand just in case. Floss, for instance, can easily tuck into a pocket or handbag. Then you do not have to compromise your oral health on the go.
Pack Healthy Snack Options
Many people have specific meals planned for their vacation. Whether you intend to try new restaurants and sit down for a home-cooked meal with loved ones, you should also think about snacks you might like during your trip.
Plan ahead to keep snacks on hand that will benefit your smile. For instance, crunchy nuts can give oral hygiene a boost without hurting your dental health.
Without this early consideration, you might feel tempted to cave into cravings for snacks that contain high amounts of sugar. Sugar can harm your dental structure and increase your risk of cavities. Avoid this dental danger by thinking about your snack habits ahead of your trip.
Remember to Drink Plenty of Water
You likely already know that you should drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day to stay healthy. But this can be harder to accomplish when you are away from home and busy on vacation. Dehydration can lead to dry mouth, a condition in which you produce less saliva due to low hydration levels.
Dry mouth allows bacteria to easily spread across your teeth, heightening your risk for oral infections like gum disease. You can stave off dry mouth by continuing to drink plenty of water on your vacation. This can be easier to do when you pack an easy-to-carry water bottle that will ensure you have access to the water you need on the go.