- Bringing travel-sized products when traveling can help maintain the health and whiteness of your smile.
- Maintain good oral hygiene habits such as brushing twice a day and flossing daily.
- Eat healthy foods such as crunchy fruits and vegetables to help scrub away surface stains.
- Avoid sugary, acidic foods, and drinks to reduce the chance of staining and discoloration.
- Drink lots of water to help neutralize acids in the mouth and prevent decay.
In the United States, approximately 50% of Americans are traveling for leisure now. This number is indicative of the desire many people have to break free from the daily grind and reconnect with family or friends in a different environment.
The number of travelers currently is slightly lower than it was last year due to the lingering effects of the pandemic, but still a great amount of travel occurs.
Holidays are the best time to relax, explore and make new memories. But when you’re on vacation, it can be hard to also keep up with your oral hygiene regime.
American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA)reports that 78% of all Americans will most likely develop at least one cavity by the of age 17 and 80% of Americans have some form of gum disease. These figures are alarming, but they can be prevented with a few simple steps.
The good news is that you can enjoy your travels without compromising the health of your pearly white teeth. Here are some tips and tricks for keeping those pearly whites looking their best while traveling.
Bring Travel-Sized Products
Whenever you travel you never forget your passport, phone, cash, and sunglasses, but you also have to make sure to bring along some travel-size products for your oral hygiene for that picture-perfect smile in your vacation photos. Here are some products that you can bring along with you while traveling.
Dental Products To-Go
- Travel-sized toothpaste
- Travel-sized mouthwash
- Disposable toothbrush
- Dental floss picks
- Interdental brushes
- Teeth whitening strips or gels
- Sugarless gum
- Tongue cleaner
Bring Along a Mini Electric Toothbrush
A mini electric toothbrush is also great for making sure your smile stays bright and clean no matter how far from home you are. You can find these products in miniature sizes at drugstores or online retailers like Amazon.
One amazing find on Amazon under mini electric toothbrushes would be the Phillips Sonicare 4100. They will take up very little space in your luggage so there’s no reason not to pack them and keep those pearly whites whiter and sparkling.
Use Whitening Strips
You might want to try to eat exotic delicacies and slurp down some fascinating drinks. But these might leave some stains on your teeth. If you are hoping to keep your teeth in their usual white state during your travels, whitening strips are an easy and convenient way to get there.
How to Apply Whitening Strips
Applying whitening strips is a relatively easy and convenient way to help keep your teeth pearly white while traveling. Whitening strips generally come in a small package and don’t take up much space in your luggage.
All you have to do is apply the strips for 30 minutes each before bedtime each night (or morning if you prefer) and then rinse off after 20 minutes. In just a few days, you’ll notice a difference in the color of your teeth!
Just make sure to call on your go-to dentist first if they recommend any precautions due to any existing dental issues.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits
Good oral hygiene habits are a must even when you are traveling. This will help keep plaque build-up away and ensure that bacteria don’t break down enamel causing discoloration over time or other dental problems like cavities or gum disease.
Good Oral Hygiene Habits You Can Abide By
Never underestimate some of the most common, easy, and good oral habits that can be done regularly like:
- Brush your teeth twice a day.
- Floss daily to remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and around the gum line.
- Clean your tongue with a tongue cleaner or scraper daily.
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash that contains fluoride once per day to help reduce cavities, bad breath, and gum disease.
- Visit your regular dental office for check-ups and professional cleanings every six months (or more frequently if recommended).
- Chew sugar-free gum after meals to increase saliva flow which helps neutralize acids in the mouth.
It may seem obvious, but regular good oral habits like brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing can lead to optimal care and result even when you are traveling.
Eat Healthy Foods
What you eat can affect the color of your teeth over time. Eating healthy foods such as crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples, celery, carrots, etc., can help scrub away surface stains from things like coffee or tea while on vacation so try incorporating more of these into meals whenever possible!
But there are certain kinds of food you should avoid as well to keep your milky whites healthy.
Food You Should Avoid
Not all food and drinks are good for your oral hygiene. Many items can leave stains on your teeth that are hard to remove. Avoid sugary and acidic foods such as candy, soda, coffee, sports drinks, and red wine because they can cause teeth discoloration.
Avoiding sticky sugary foods such as candy bars or chocolate is recommended as this kind of food will stick around longer and potentially cause more staining than something more natural would.
Drink Lots of Water
Staying hydrated by drinking lots of water is essential for keeping your teeth healthy, white, and sparkling. Water helps to wash away harmful bacteria and food particles that can cause dental problems. Water also helps to produce saliva, which is important for neutralizing acids in the mouth and preventing decay.
Keeping up with good oral hygiene habits doesn’t have to be hard work while traveling! With just a few simple steps—packing travel-sized products, using whitening strips regularly (if approved by your dentist), maintaining regular brushing habits, and eating healthy foods—your pearly whites can stay white no matter where life takes you!
