In a world that’s increasingly becoming more interconnected, the need to travel every now and then is one that we can’t wish away. Whether for business, pleasure; traveling is such that it is fun, that sense of adventure visiting new places is something we all look forward to. Yet, with traveling comes the need to make the necessary arrangements not just to enjoy your trip, but also ensure personal hygiene. The latter is particularly of importance as poor hygiene can be an embarrassment, to say the least. At worst, it could lead to diseases. Good oral hygiene while traveling gives you confidence; it also keeps your mouth healthy and disease free.
When traveling round the clock, there are some basic tips that you should always have at your finger tips. They are meant to ensure that your oral health and wellness isn’t compromised in any way;
- Better safe than sorry; when planning for your trip, whether it’s a vacation or whatever, start by having a backup plan. Rather than relying on one toothbrush, have about 3 toothbrushes and 2 or so different tubes of toothpaste. This means that in case one gets lost or misplaced, or if circumstances dictate that you share with a friend, you’ll still have yourself well covered.
- Keep your toothbrushes clean and fresh; assuming that you are traveling for a weekend camping expedition or outdoor event, chances are that your brush will gather some dust particles, including some too tiny for your naked eye to pick. Get a toothbrush cover to ensure that your toothbrushes are always free of any dust, hair or cloth remnants, and such like. Your teeth are only as clean as the toothbrush that cleans them. But again, never store your toothbrush in a case while still wet as this may attract some bacteria to form.
- Flossing; the beauty of traveling round the clock is that it gives you plenty of free time to sit idle and stare out at the scenery. That’s the perfect time to be flossing your teeth. In instances where you have traveled in a hurry and didn’t even get time to brush your teeth, flossing is a godsend. It effectively removes food particles stuck in between your teeth, thus aerating the cavities. Always desist from using toothpicks and other sharp objects to pick food remnants from your teeth; they harm your gums.
- Choose your foods wisely; it is always wise to pick your foods wisely when traveling round the clock. Some foods especially those made of dairy products tend to ferment fast; your breath won’t be pleasant unless you brush thoroughly. Similarly, starch tends to form layers on your teeth almost immediately after a meal. We usually advise people that when traveling, it suffices to munch on an apple, nuts, and water. These make you feel full, and stimulate your taste buds to release fresher saliva.
- Mouth rinse with water; how about gurgling and swashing water in your mouth after meal, to rinse any food remnants? This always works where you are away from the convenience of a toothbrush and toothpaste. By swashing water all over your mouth, taking time to direct the streams on every side of the mouth helps dislodge any particles stuck in there. A mouth rinse after flossing also does well in washing out particles that have been dislodged.
In summary;
Your oral hygiene during travel is as important as your passport or credit card. You have to guard it dearly lest you ruin your trip. The above tips are super easy; you need to always have those at your finger tips each time you are on the go.
By Angel Smile