Brush teeth while traveling even when you’re traveling, you can still maintain a consistent oral care routine.
A travel toothbrush is essential for proper travel oral care. You can find many types of folding or two-piece travel toothbrushes that serve as their own travel toothbrush holders, which is especially helpful in travel oral care if you have limited space.
Many people keep some sort of travel toothbrush (or even a full size toothbrush), along with a travel-sized tube of toothpaste and a small container of dental floss, in their purse, brief case, coat pocket, or office desk drawer. It’s also smart to make sure you have one in your carry-on bag as well, in case you get stranded. And keeping your toilet kit stocked with these items will make sure they’re ready to go when you are.
Remember, even if you don’t have travel toothpaste, wetting the brush and brushing with water is better than nothing.
Additional travel tips for dental health
Chew gum. If food and water are scarce on a trip, bring a pack of sugarless gum with you. Airplane travel can contribute to a dry mouth, which can promote tooth decay. Chewing sugarless gum will help restore the saliva in your mouth, which can help rinse away excess bacteria, aiding in travel oral care at a time when a travel toothbrush or toothpaste cannot be used.
Snack right. If you’re stranded at the airport or a budget hotel with nothing but selections from a vending machine to sustain you, your teeth will thank you if you choose peanuts over pretzels or candy. Some evidence suggests that nuts might help protect tooth enamel from plaque by neutralizing acids in the mouth and providing a dose of healthy minerals such as phosphorus. Pretzels may sound like a healthy snack choice, but they are more likely than nuts to get caught between the teeth, and they contain more of the fermentable carbohydrates that can foster the growth of bacteria in your mouth, especially if you are on the go and you won’t be able to brush your teeth for a while.