Health and Dental Travel Tips

Keeping Your Mouth Healthy on the Road

Summer, spring break, Christmas vacation…these are all very heavy travel times. Traveling can often be hectic and stressful, trying to get everyone and all their stuff together to make the trip and we often forget about making healthy decisions and, more importantly, preparing to properly care for our teeth while on the road. Here are some tips to keep you, and your mouth, happy and healthy while traveling.

Start Your Day with a Healthy Breakfast

When our parents told us breakfast is the most important meal of the day, they weren’t just trying to get us to eat our Wheaties. Having a healthy, filling breakfast can help to get you fueled up for the day and feeling good. Consider some healthy options including eggs, yogurt, fresh fruit or a calcium-fortified cereal. Whenever possible, avoid sugary cereals and overly sweet baked goods.

Drink Plenty of Water

While it is always important to drink enough water, it is even more important to do so when traveling. Drinking ample amounts of water will help to break down sugars in the body and will also help to flush the body of bacteria. Staying hydrated is important to keep your energy level up and your immunity system strong. Additionally, traveling by plane can have a profound effect on the moisture level and condition of your skin – drinking plenty of water will help keep skin hydrated and healthy.

Take Time to Dry Your Toothbrush

When you are in a rush to get to your destination, or get out the door to go somewhere fun on vacation, it can be easy to brush your teeth and quickly put the travel cap back on it without letting it dry. A wet toothbrush can very easily grown bacteria, which will then be transferred into your mouth the next time you brush your teeth! Make sure to leave your toothbrush out of the travel case and allow it to dry completely before storing to help ensure the bristles are dry and do not produce bacteria.

Relax!

The whole idea of going on vacation or traveling away from work and home responsibilities is to relax! Allow yourself some free time when you travel – this could be something as simple as finding a quiet place to read a book, a peaceful area to mediate or simply taking the time to catch up on your sleep. Doing these small things for yourself will help you feel relaxed, rested and ready for the trip!

Are you noticing problems with your teeth after a trip? Maybe it’s time to see your dentist! If you are avoiding the dentist because you don’t have dental insurance , consider signing up for the Wellness Dental Plan. For more information on this alternative dental insurance, click here.

*Photo Courtesy of HA0478-038 via Creative Commons License