Traveling healthy: Pack these essential oral health tips

We’re now halfway through summer and vacation season is in full swing. If you’re planning a getaway — whether a quick weekender or trip overseas — there are easy steps to ensure your oral health routine goes undisrupted as you jet set.

“The mouth is the gateway to the body, and consistency is key to maintaining good oral health, especially while traveling,” shares Karen Horace, DDS, Dental Policy Manager at Delta Dental Insurance Company. “Our diets and daily routines can be significantly impacted during trips, so it’s best to set yourself up for success by packing plenty of essential oral health supplies. Depending on the destination and trip length, additional steps should be taken ahead of your departure and during your trip.”

No matter your vacation plans, maintaining your wellness routine is a breeze with simple preparation ahead of your departure and during your vacation. Here are four easy recommendations from Delta Dental to help keep you on track:

Pack for your smile.

A travel dental kit should be included in your suitcase for any overnight trip. Dental kits look different depending on individual oral health needs. Pack these essential items to support your oral health wellness routine on the go:

• A clean toothbrush is the first item that should go into your travel dental kit. Rinse the bristles with hot water after use (using bottled water is best on international trips) and allow your toothbrush to air dry completely before covering it with a clean toothbrush case that offers some airflow.
• Fluoride toothpaste is key to protecting your teeth from bacteria growth and decay. Depending on the length of your trip, it’s a good idea to pack extra toothpaste to avoid any disruptions to your daily routine.
• Plenty of floss is essential to remove plaque and lingering food particles stuck between teeth. Continuing your routine of daily flossing is easy when you include a small roll of floss or a small bag of floss picks in your luggage.
• Sugar-free gum with Xylitol is shown to reduce plaque-building bacteria that stick to teeth after eating. This natural ingredient increases saliva production by up to ten times the mouth’s normal rate to wash away odor-causing food particles lodged between teeth.
• Ibuprofen or pain relievers can be used to alleviate any inflammation or oral discomfort that could arise while you’re on the go.

It’s important to pack all your oral health necessities from your regular at-home routine to maintain your wellness regimen while traveling. For example, if you regularly wear a mouthguard while sleeping, don’t forget to pack it in a clean case with airflow, as well as cleaning supplies.

Visit your dentist.

A minor toothache can quickly escalate into excruciating pain. Dr. Horace recommends ensuring you’re up to date on all dental appointments before leaving. Taking care of a small oral health issue at home could be the difference between a costly emergency dental visit and a care-free getaway.

Additionally, a person’s oral health can be an indicator of their overall health, as more than 90% of systemic diseases — including heart disease — have oral manifestations, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Oral health screenings as a part of overall preventive care can help address concerns early and prevent more serious issues down the line.

Hydrate and snack smart.

As temperatures continue to break records across the globe, it’s more important than ever to hydrate on the go. Sufficient hydration throughout the day supports a range of health benefits — which expands to your oral health. Water is a natural cleanser for the mouth because it washes away food bits lingering in the mouth after meals, reducing the risk of cavities and dry mouth — goodbye, bad breath. Be sure to pack a reusable water bottle to stay properly hydrated on the go.

Ensuring proper nutrition is equally important on vacation. Many seasonal fruits are rich in vitamin C and folic acid — including berries, mango, and watermelon — to promote a healthy mouth and cell growth throughout your body. Fresh tropical fruit are high in water content and electrolytes, which can help support daily hydration to lower risk of dry mouth and cavities.

Bonus: crisp fruits and raw vegetables, such as apples, carrots, and celery, can help remove plaque from teeth and freshen breath. Additionally, fresh cranberries prevent oral bacteria from bonding, stopping the formation of harmful plaque.

Plan for the unexpected.

“Dental emergencies are hard enough when they happen at home,” said Dr. Horace. “It’s best for certain people to overprepare before a lengthy trip. Especially when traveling after a surgical procedure, like a tooth extraction or filling.”

If an oral health emergency arises during vacation, don’t wait to treat it until you return home. Depending on the destination and length of your trip, it’s a good idea to identify several local dentists and save their contact information ahead of takeoff.

Remember to pack several common first aid items in your travel dental kit to support certain oral health injuries, especially if you’re going to a location with little access to dependable dental care. Depending on the circumstances, consider including clean gauze, temporary filling material, and sanitized medical gloves.

Bottom Line:

Maintaining oral health is key to supporting total wellness, especially when traveling. Consistency in your wellness routine offers a range of health benefits beyond tending to your pearly whites. For more expert oral health tips, visit Delta Dental’s Wellness Library.