Ready for your next vacation? Or maybe you travel for work? Either way, we often hear it’s close to impossible to keep your regular routine when you’re on the road.
That’s why we put together this guide to help you travel smart and keep your mouth healthy and clean during your trip!
Travel Tips for Teeth
Carry-On Travel Sizes
You may experience a delayed flight or lost luggage, which means an extended period of time you’re not brushing. This may be the last thing on your mind, but here’s the thing, traveling can be stressful, so why not prepare in advance. You may find it refreshing to take a break, brush and floss your teeth, rinse with mouthwash, and you’ll feel good as new and ready to conquer any obstacles.
Stuff Your Bags with Baggies
Make sure you’re keeping your toothbrush in a clean place, you don’t want it loose in your luggage or rubbing against the bottom of your shoes. Gross! That’s why we suggest keeping it in a baggie. And when you arrive at your destination, you may continue using the plastic bag or place your toothbrush in cup to keep it from just sitting on the bathroom counter-top.
Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!
Did we say hydrate? YES! It is common to become dehydrated when traveling. And you know what that means for your mouth…a breeding ground for bacteria. Make sure you’re not only drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated, but to also remove debris from your mouth. We like to snack while traveling, so washing away food particles is important, especially when you’re unable to brush, floss or rinse with mouthwash.
“More often than not when you’re in vacation mode, you’re splurging on sweats, drinks and more. We do too! But make sure you’re not taking a vacation from oral health care. This is the time you need to make sure your mouth is clean and free from ‘vacation-causing bacteria.’ You will thank us in the long run.” – Dr. Espinosa
If Nothing Else, Chew Gum
Sugar-free gum can be a quick fix for bad breath and a clean mouth. Plus there are added benefits when traveling, it helps alleviate air pressure issues at high altitudes and also, it can prevent motion sickness and upset tummies!
Prepare for Emergencies
Put together a mini-dental emergency kit. We suggest including: dental floss, cotton balls, dental wax, gauze pads, wipes and ibuprofen. These will help you in a pickle! Plus, we recommend reviewing our article about dental emergencies below, just to take extra precaution!
Plan Your Routine Dental Visit
Don’t wait until you have an emergency, stay on top of your routine dental visits. A routine dental visit isn’t just to get your teeth cleaned. It’s also to check for cavities, signs of disease in your mouth, tongue, gums, neck and lymph nodes, and goes below the surface with X-Rays. For more information, review our article about Routine Dental Visits.
If you have any questions or concerns as you prepare for your travels, please give us a call. Travel safe, and enjoy!
Articles of Interest
We continue to get the question, is it a dental emergency when…? So we thought we would elaborate on a few common occurrences patients come across, and whether or not you should call your dentist immediately. You may feel sensitivity to hot or cold foods and beverages, or you may have a sore in your mouth, or you may chip a tooth. In any situation, we want you to be prepared. No need to panic, here are a few tips to help you determine if you need to call our emergency line after business hours. READ MORE
3 Most Important Reasons for Routine Dental Visits
“To maintain optimal oral health, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends regular dental visits, at intervals determined by a dentist. The ADA encourages people to work closely with their dentists to identify any potential risk factors that would determine the need for and frequency of follow up visits to enhance the outcomes of preventive care.” READ MORE
5 Most Common Causes of Chipped or Cracked Teeth
Did you know, tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body? However, that doesn’t mean you should use your pearly whites to open bottle caps! We see a number of interesting and rare occurrences when it comes to chipping, cracking and breaking teeth. But there are several reoccurring instances, which you can avoid, to keep that smile unbreakable. Check out these five most common causes that can lead to chipped or cracked teeth. READ MORE
What Are Others Saying?
We know it’s important to hear from your peers, and that’s why we want to share with you what they are saying about Bonita Del Rey. Here are a couple Google+ reviews for you. And we would love to hear from you. Leave us a message below or give our office a call!
5 Stars from Lisa
The Dentists and all the staff at BONITA DEL REY, are wonderful. For someone like myself who has anxiety, and is usually shaking in my boots when going to the dentist the staff takes the time to talk with me while in the chair and that has been a huge help. I think today was my fifth time and today I wasn’t scared. Because the work they did was amazing.
5 Stars from Claudia
The people over at Bonita Del Rey are always very nice and welcoming. You feel right at home. I would definitely recommend anyone to enjoy the services they provide. Not only did they greatly facilitate the process of having braces with their kind attitudes, but the quality of the work they did was great. Any problem I had with my teeth, they were able to fix. Now I have a great smile that I am proud to display.
5 Stars from Bernardita
Bonita Del Rey dental care is the best place to take care of your dental needs. Dr. Espinosa and staffs are very professional, caring, helpful, and friendly and makes you feel so comfortable while waiting for your time. The office is very clean and they have free coffee, water, and tea. Try Bonita Del Rey for your next visit to the dentist so you could experience what we are enjoying.
