Planning on a vacation this summer? While you plan where to go, what to take, and confirm your travel arrangements, you’ll also want to take care of your smile. It’s common to put oral health on the back burner on vacation, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to get off track. To maintain good dental health while you are away, we’re sharing a few tips for you to keep in mind:
- Stick to your regular oral hygiene routine.
It’s often easier to take care of your teeth at home because you stick to a consistent schedule. Most people will brush their teeth in the morning before they leave for work or school, and once again right before bed. Maybe you floss at least once after dinner, or maybe even after every meal. It’s not as simple on vacation. So, maintain your oral hygiene routine on vacation. Make it part of your routine as you get ready for the day or for bed.
- Pack everything you need in one place.
Make sure you take everything you need to keep up your oral hygiene habits. Ideally, keep it all in one place, such as where you keep your other personal care products. Don’t forget to take:
- Toothbrush
- Fluoride toothpaste
- Floss
- Retainers, if you have them
- Mouthguards
- Schedule an exam ahead of time.
The last thing you want to experience is a dental emergency while you are enjoying your vacation. While these things do happen, get your regular checkup in ahead of time. We’ll clean your teeth and examine your mouth for any issues like gum disease, cavities, and anything else that can ruin your good time.
- Know where to go for an emergency.
As we said, emergencies do happen! While there are necessary steps to take to avoid an emergency, it’s important you know where to go if one happens. Your insurance plan can identify any in-network dental care providers in your area. Identify a few near where you’ll be staying and research their emergency care practices. Ideally, you’d be able to wait until you come back to address any oral health issues, but if you are in pain or have knocked out a tooth, you’ll want to be seen right away.
- Enjoy a healthy diet.
It’s tempting to embrace all the treats you possibly can while you’re away! As important as it is to enjoy yourself, too much sugar, sticky sweets, or acidic beverages affect the health of your teeth. Have a balance of nutritious foods, such as plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and calcium-rich foods like milk or yogurt. This will protect your teeth and gums while you are gone.
If you need to get your checkup in before you go, call 1st In Smiles today at 972-905-9266 for an appointment in Plano, TX.
