When you look forward to an upcoming vacation, you also know there is a great deal of planning to do. Between booking flights, accommodation, and activities, it is easy to overlook smaller details.
Oral hygiene is just as important for your health when traveling as it is when you are home. Barataria Dental, a dental practice located in Marrero, LA, provides tips for keeping your smile fresh, clean, and healthy while you travel.
Keep Hygienic Supplies Handy
You know you need a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss to maintain your oral hygiene routine. These will likely be stowed in your suitcase, but it can also be useful to keep spare hygienic items with you, especially for longer trips.
Lengthy flights can mean that your luggage is inaccessible for an extended period of time, and you might be far from your hotel room during the day. Plaque will still accumulate over your teeth during this time, so floss in your handbag or pocket can ensure your teeth stay clean on the go.
Choose Healthy Snacks
You might have planned exquisite or fun meals for your vacation, but if you want a snack during the day, it is a good idea to have healthy options on hand. Foods with high amounts of sugar can hurt the surface of your teeth, eroding the enamel and leaving teeth vulnerable to severe damage.
Crunchy foods with no added sugar make ideal snack choices if you hope to be conscientious of your dental health. Celery, carrots, apples, and other hard-textured foods can remove lingering plaque from your teeth between your oral hygiene regimens, boosting oral health.
Prevent Dehydration
Drinking water keeps your entire body running smoothly, but staying hydrated plays an important role in your oral health specifically. Maintaining adequate levels of hydration ensures normal saliva production and prevents dry mouth.
This unpleasant condition increases your chances of bad breath by allowing bacteria to spread more freely across your teeth. You may also heighten your chances of bacteria infecting your gums, giving you gum disease. This can give you major dental problems, so it is vital that you continue to drink plenty of water while traveling, as you would at home.
Learn More from Your Dentist in Marrero, LA
Barataria Dental offers comprehensive dental examinations as well as preventative dental care to patients in Marrero, LA. Our practice specializes in cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry, including periodontal treatment. To schedule an appointment with us, contact our office online or reach us by phone at 504.358.8632.