Dental Tips for a Happy, Healthy Summer Vacation
By: Stephen Price DDS | Sunday, June 30th, 2019 | General Dentistry
Sunday, June 30th, 2019
As the time approaches for school to be out of session, many families are looking forward to some time away from home. Summer road trips and vacations are meant to be fun and relaxing. An unexpected dental problem can significantly interfere with this ideal. Therefore, it is beneficial to look at ways to reduce the risk of unwanted surprises.
Oral Health Needs Consistent Attention
We know we need to take good care of our teeth if we want to avoid painful cavities. The value of daily hygiene is much more extensive than that. Oral health is integral to general physical wellness, long-term health, appearance, confidence, and peace of mind. We could go on, but you get the picture. A healthy practice needs to be established and maintained whether at home or across the country. What might that look like? Fortunately, it looks pretty easy:
- Maintain a clean mouth with daily brushing. Before heading off on vacation, take a good look at everyone’s toothbrush. Have they been changed recently? Are the bristles bent? It may be time for a change. Studies show that kids and adults like the clean feeling they get from an electric toothbrush. Just remember, the toothbrush itself only does part of the work. It is necessary to make sure all surfaces of teeth are touched for several seconds before moving on the next step.
- As you may have guessed, the next step in oral health maintenance is to floss. This habit should not be forgotten while on vacation. Make it fun, if need be, by getting flavored floss that cleans and refreshes at the same time.
- Drink water. When on a long drive or out seeing the sights, it can be easy to do one of two things: forget to drink altogether or reach for sugary, flavorful beverages. Drinking water throughout the day is vital to disrupting the acid-bacteria cycle in the mouth. Don’t down it all in the morning or save it all for the afternoon. The trick to drinking water is to sip it throughout the day.
- Watch the snacking. The more often we eat, the more we increase the acidity in the mouth. This is especially true when snacks include things like chips, crackers, cookies, and other starchy or sugary foods. As an alternative, provide the family with fresh fruits and vegetables. The crunchier the better.
Schedule a Pre-Vacation Checkup
One of the best things you can do to ward off sudden dental problems on vacation is to see your dentist. We’re happy to schedule your checkup and cleaning in our Burke office at (703)-935-2879.
