You’ve waited all year long and now your dream vacation is here! Before you leave off for your favorite respite, have your dental health checked. Make sure you schedule an appointment with Oxnard dentist, Bella Dental, and read on for more travel tips for good oral health.
Before You Go…
Having an established relationship with your local dentist helps you when you travel because it gives you a “home base” for oral health. Have your check-up before you go on your trip so that if there are any problems, your dentist will be able to catch them before they start.
You will have your seasonal check-up out of the way and you will be able to relax and enjoy your vacation without having to worry about a dental emergency.
Dental Emergencies
Do you know what you should do if you have a dental emergency while traveling? You should start by calling your local dentist. You might be able to wait until you return home to handle your dental problem.
It’s always good to put your oral health first, but sometimes, we don’t have the experience to know what is an emergency and what is not. Of course, you don’t want to have to have a dental appointment away from home if you don’t have to!
Overseas Dental Emergencies
If you are traveling abroad and you have a dental emergency, it can be a scary experience. While it is not a bad idea to ask your hotel’s concierge or your travel agent about a dentist, you are far better off to make a quick call to the U.S. Embassy or local consulate. They will give you better information.
You never know where a concierge or travel agent’s information might be coming from. Personnel from the consulate or embassy will give you a fair and honest recommendation that will keep you safe.
What About Toothbrushes?
First of all, one of the most important travel tips for good oral health is to remember your toothbrush! There are a few other things that you should be thinking about when you use your toothbrush away from home as well.
Packing Your Toothbrush
Many of the toothbrush travel cases out there aren’t actually the best way to pack your toothbrush. Some of them do not have an airtight seal and can leave your toothbrush exposed to germs.
For good oral health, you should be air drying your toothbrush to keep it at its cleanest. The best thing to do when you are traveling is keep your toothbrush in a sealed plastic sandwich bag between uses, once it has dried.
Use Bottled Water
Another great travel tip for good oral health is if you are traveling somewhere and you are unsure of the water standards or cleanliness, it is best to use bottled water for brushing your teeth. This is also true when you are dealing with water in nature such as a stream that may not be as clean as you would hope.
A New Toothbrush
If you have lost your toothbrush while traveling, there are a few travel tips and tricks that you can use to get you by for a day or so. You can try:
- Toothpaste on a washcloth
- Toothpaste on your finger
- Vigorous rinsing with water
You don’t want to be without a toothbrush for long.. If you have to buy a new one, look for the FDA label. If that isn’t possible, purchase the softest brush available and replace it when you return home.
Sugar-Free Gum
A wonderful travel tip for good oral health is to take a pack of sugar-free gum along. This is a great tip because not only can you use the gum to help relieve pressure in your ears when flying, but it also will help keep your teeth clean and stave off cavities while you’re traveling.
If You’re Traveling this Summer
If you have a trip planned, one of the best travel tips for good oral health is to visit Bella Dental for your check up before you go!