Got a big trip coming up? The last thing you want to worry about during a fun vacation is your dental care. Take the right steps, and pack the right things and you’ll return home from your vacation stress-free and cavity-free.
At James A. Penney, III, DDS, PA Endodontics comprehensive endodontics means more than just root canals.
We want to help you maintain a healthy teeth whether you are in Little Rock, across the country, or abroad.
Here are a few tips.
What to do When You Forget Dental Care Essentials.
Does this sound familiar? – You reach your destination after a long day of traveling and all you want to do is sleep. Just as you are going to bed you realize you’ve forgotten your toothbrush, toothpaste, and/or floss. Now you face the reality of either heading to bed and trying to sleep knowing all the plaque build up from the day is still sitting on your teeth, or go through the trouble of finding a solution.
It happens to the best of us. Thankfully, there are plenty of hacks for when your forget dental care essentials.
Situation 1: You forgot your toothbrush.
Although it’s not a great long-term solution, brushing your teeth with your index finger and toothpaste is better than not brushing at all. Make sure you rinse thoroughly with water.
Situation 2: You forgot your toothpaste.
Baking soda is a good, natural alternative to toothpaste. You can also just brush with water. These aren’t good long-term solution, especially if you have sensitive teeth. It’s much better than nothing.
Drink Plenty of Water.
Drinking water is always a good thing to do, traveling or not.
When you are traveling it is easy to fall into an irregular eating schedule. Snacking on-the-go is sometimes the best way to save time. However, your teeth need time between meals to maintain enamel protection.
If you find yourself eating more frequently during your travels, make sure you are also drinking water more frequently. Water rinses sugar off your teeth and helps manage the acid levels in your mouth.
Chew Sugar-Free Gum.
Does travel cause you to stress? A common symptom of stress is a dry mouth. Your mouth has an easier time keeping acid away from your teeth when you have more saliva.
Chewing gum helps stimulate the production of saliva in your mouth. More saliva means more protection for your teeth.
