Traveling For the Holidays? 5 Tips To Avoid Seeing an Emergency Dentist

It’s easy to have mixed feelings about traveling for the holidays. On one hand, you get to see friends and family, enjoy a break from the daily routine, and indulge in plenty of delicious food. On the other, you have to deal with winter weather and crowded airports! But another thing that can quickly put a damper on your holidays is dealing with a dental emergency away from home. You can always see an emergency dentist for care, but it’s a lot easier to simply prevent dental problems altogether. Keep reading below for 5 easy tips anyone can use to keep their smile healthy over the holidays. 

1. Stay Consistent With Brushing and Flossing 

When you’re out of your routine, it’s easy to be lax about brushing and flossing. But since it’s so important for keeping your teeth and gums healthy, it’s well worth it put in the effort. Even if you miss a time or two, just jump back on the wagon as soon as possible. Remember, you don’t have to be perfect, but consistency is key.  

2. Be Prepared  

You can’t always brush and floss when you’re at the airport or on a road trip. Chewing sugar-free gum will stimulate salivary flow, wash away sugar and plaque, and prevent cavities by neutralizing acids. 

It’s also helpful to throw an extra container of floss in your bag, along with oral hygiene aids like floss picks or interdental brushes. And don’t forget about travel sizes of toothpaste and mouthwash. If you have these tools on hand, you’ll be much more likely to use them. 

3. Prevent Breaking a Tooth or Existing Dental Work 

Use care when chewing anything hard or crunchy like peanut brittle or mixed nuts. And don’t use your teeth as tools to open bottles or packages. It’s much easier to prevent breaking a tooth than seeing an emergency dentist to repair it. 

4. Drink Plenty of Plain Water

With all the extra desserts around during the holidays, try to make plain water your beverage of choice. Extra sugar from soda or juice increases your risk of cavities even more, while water rinses away sugar and food debris after meals and snacks. 

5. Schedule a Checkup Before You Travel

Last but not least, a great way to prevent a dental emergency away from home is to schedule a  checkup and cleaninga few weeks before leaving. This way, you’ll know if you have any small issues that need to be addressed (before they turn into bigger problems) and will also get a cleaning to help your smile look great. 

With these 5 tips, you can count on having fun with loved ones during your holiday vacation – instead of sitting in the dental chair! 

About the Author

As a family dentist, Dr. Ukti Phadnis knows that dental emergencies can strike anytime, anywhere. That’s why she always encourages her patients to schedule a checkup before traveling and gives them tips to avoid emergencies altogether. If you’d like to know more about oral health during the holidays or have any questions, you can contact Dr. Phadnis via her website.