Keep a healthy smile while traveling during your vacations! Being away from home can make it easier to disrupt your oral health care routine. However, you don’t have to take a vacation from taking care of your teeth and gums. Continue reading to discover some tips to keep a healthy smile while traveling.
Pack properly
Be sure to pack extra travel toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss where you can get to them easily. If you wake up in transit or lose your luggage, you will still have easy access to the tools you need to keep a healthy smile while traveling.
Protect your toothbrush
Toothbrush caps are great for protecting brush bristles from germs and damage in your bag. Once you arrive at your destination though, it’s best to uncap. Covering wet bristles can trap moisture and encourage bacteria growth.
Bring disposable products
If you will be traveling in a place where you won’t have access to clean water or a sink, taking steps to clean your teeth are still important. Be sure to pack floss and look for products like disposable toothbrushes or toothwipes, which don’t require toothpaste or water.
Rinse with water
While on vacation, we tend to change our eating habits and indulge more. The increased exposure to sugar and other less healthy ingredients can affect your teeth. Rinsing with water will keep a healthy smile while traveling by washing food and bacteria from your teeth.
Pack healthy snacks
Pair your water or sugar-free beverages with a bag of healthy snacks. Choose tooth-friendly foods like baby carrots, celery and apples or healthy snacks like string cheese, yogurt tubes, whole grain crackers or plain nuts.
Try treats for your teeth
Chew sugar-free gum sweetened with xylitol to keep a healthy smile while traveling on long flights or car rides. Not only will your breath stay fresh, but this treat will help create saliva in your mouth and rinse away food particles.
Smile while traveling… with benefits!
Occasionally dental emergencies happen on vacation, but rest easy! You can use your dental benefits while traveling. Most Delta Dental plans work anywhere in the United States and some plans even cover emergency care out of the country.
Do you have more traveling tips? Leave them in the comments!
Editors Note: This post was originally published May 2014. The content was revised and updated November 2024.
