The Dental Dilemma: Defining Essential Travel To The Dentist

Is going to the dentist considered essential travel? Well, it depends on the situation. If you're dealing with a dental emergency, such as intense tooth pain or a cracked tooth, then seeking professional dental care could be essential to alleviate pain and prevent further complications. On the other hand, if it's a routine check-up or a non-urgent procedure, it might not be considered essential, especially during periods of restricted travel, such as a lockdown.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, many dental practices were closed for routine care and only provided emergency treatments. So, it's always a good idea to check the local guidelines and restrictions when travelling, as well as keeping your dentist's contact information handy in case of an emergency.

Toothbrush and toothpaste

When travelling, it's easy to neglect your oral health habits, especially when you're away from your normal routine. However, with a bit of planning, you can keep your dental hygiene in check. Here are some tips for maintaining your oral health while travelling, with a focus on toothbrushes and toothpaste:

Keep Your Toothbrush Clean and Protected

It's important to keep your toothbrush clean, so store it in its own case to protect it from dirt and germs in your bag. If you don't have a toothbrush case, a toothbrush bristle holder will do the trick. If you keep your toothbrush in your toiletries bag, ensure the inside of the bag is clean and disinfected. Bacteria breeding on your toothbrush can be harmful to your health. After brushing your teeth, remember to rinse the bristles and handle to ensure no toothpaste residue is left. If you don't have access to clean water, use antibacterial wipes to clean your toothbrush.

Let Your Toothbrush Dry Properly

Ideally, you should let your toothbrush air out before putting it back into its case or holder. This is because moisture can promote bacteria growth. If you're travelling and don't have time to let it air dry, make it a habit to unpack your toothbrush, clean it, and leave it in a ventilated spot as soon as you reach your destination.

Ensure You Can Trust the Tap Water

When travelling to a new place, be mindful of the local water quality. In countries with dirty or contaminated water, use bottled water not only for drinking but also for brushing your teeth and rinsing your toothbrush. If your toothbrush is exposed to unsafe water, it's best to replace it or thoroughly rinse it with bottled water before using it again.

Prepare for Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies can happen anywhere, so it's important to be prepared. Bring your dentist's contact information so you can call them for guidance or recommendations if you experience any problems such as tooth pain, tooth sensitivity, or a cracked tooth. Consider purchasing travel insurance that includes dental coverage in case of emergencies.

Be Mindful of Your Sugar Content

When travelling, you may consume more convenience foods or try local sweets and desserts. While it's fine to indulge, be mindful of your sugar intake and carry sugar-free gum to keep bacteria at bay. Chewing sugar-free gum helps produce more saliva, which moves bacteria away from your teeth.

Toothpaste Tablets for Travel Convenience

Toothpaste is essential for effective brushing, so don't forget to pack your favourite toothpaste or toothpaste tablets. Toothpaste tablets are compact and convenient for travel as they contain no liquids and take up minimal space in your toiletries bag. They are also environmentally friendly, often coming in recyclable cardboard packaging.

Travel Toothbrush Options

When travelling, it can be inconvenient to carry a full-sized toothbrush and toothpaste tube. Here are some alternative options:

• Pre-Pasted Disposable Toothbrushes: These toothbrushes have built-in toothpaste, eliminating the need for a separate toothpaste tube. They are convenient for on-the-go brushing, especially if you have braces and need to brush after every meal. However, some users report that the amount of paste may be insufficient and the taste unpleasant.
• Mini Travel Toothbrushes: These pocket-sized disposable toothbrushes are designed for on-the-go teeth cleaning and breath freshening. They feature a built-in sugar-free peppermint bead that dissolves in your mouth, providing a rush of minty freshness. No water or rinsing is necessary.
• Toob Brush Travel Toothbrush: The Toob Brush is a refillable travel toothbrush that you can fill with your own favourite toothpaste. It has a concealed tube in the handle that can be filled and refilled, making it a cost-effective and space-saving option. The tube unscrews at both ends for easy filling and dispensing. The Toob Brush comes in various colours and replacement brush heads are available.

Floss

The American Dental Association recommends flossing at least once per day and brushing twice per day. Flossing helps to lift and release food and plaque stuck between your teeth, while brushing removes these particles from your mouth. If you brush first and then floss, food and plaque remain in your mouth until the next time you brush.

• Break off about 18 to 24 inches of dental floss.
• To hold the floss correctly, wind most of it around both of your middle fingers, leaving about 1 to 2 inches of floss to work with.
• Hold the floss taut with your thumbs and index fingers.
• Place the floss between two teeth and gently glide it up and down, rubbing it against both sides of each tooth. Avoid gliding the floss into your gums as this can cause scratches or bruising.
• As the floss reaches your gums, curve it at the base of the tooth to form a C shape. This allows the floss to enter the space between your gums and your tooth.
• Repeat the process, moving from tooth to tooth. Be sure to use a new, clean section of floss for each tooth.

There are different types of dental floss available, including:

• Dental tape: broader and flatter, this type of floss is easier to handle if you have braces, gaps, or large spaces between your teeth.
• Standard floss: a thin, nylon strand that can fit between most teeth. It comes in flavoured or unflavoured varieties, as well as waxed or unwaxed. Waxes floss can be easier to use if your teeth are crowded or close together.
• Super flosses: a floss threader with three components – a stiffened end for flossing under appliances, spongy floss to clean around appliances, and regular floss to eliminate plaque under the gumline.

In addition to these types of floss, there are also tools that can make flossing easier, such as electric or water flossers, and disposable floss picks, which are great for reaching those hard-to-reach teeth at the back of your mouth.

Dental emergencies

• Keep your dentist's contact information with you: In case of any dental problems, such as tooth pain, tooth sensitivity, an impacted wisdom tooth, gum inflammation, or a cracked tooth, you can call your dentist for guidance and recommendations.
• Consider dental insurance: If you already have dental insurance, check if it covers treatment outside of your home country. If not, consider purchasing travel insurance that includes dental coverage in case of emergencies.
• Know what constitutes a dental emergency: A dental emergency is any dental problem that requires immediate attention. This includes bleeding that won't stop, pain that doesn't improve with medication, or broken facial bones. If you are experiencing any of these issues, contact your dentist or seek emergency care.
• Take necessary precautions: When travelling, ensure you have a clean and protected toothbrush, and be mindful of the water quality at your destination. Contaminated water can be dangerous even when used for brushing teeth or rinsing your toothbrush.
• Be aware of post-procedural emergencies: Post-procedural dental emergencies, such as post-extraction bleeding, can occur and may require immediate attention.
• Understand the different types of dental emergencies: Traumatic dental emergencies include tooth fractures, luxations, and avulsions, which can result from falls, sports injuries, or accidents. Infectious dental emergencies, such as pulpitis, pulp necrosis, periodontitis, and abscesses, can lead to serious infections and airway compromise if left untreated.

Tap water

Governmental agencies typically regulate tap water quality, and it is important to distinguish it from other main types of freshwater, such as rainwater or well water, which may have variable potability. In some countries, tap water is chlorinated to kill germs, but this can also produce byproducts such as trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids, which may increase the risk of cancer. The documentary 'Tapped' argues that tap water is healthier and more environmentally sustainable than bottled water, which has sparked college campus groups such as 'Beyond the Bottle'.

Sugar content

Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, and it is one of the main causes of tooth decay. While it is true that fruit contains carbohydrates and the naturally occurring sugar fructose, it is still okay to incorporate it into a healthy diet. The key is choosing carbohydrates that come with nutrients and not empty calories. Fruits are packaged with fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are important for our bodies.

The type of sugars most adults and children eat too much of are "free sugars". These are sugars added to food or drinks, such as biscuits, chocolate, flavoured yoghurts, breakfast cereals and fizzy drinks. They may be added at home, or by a food manufacturer. Free sugars also include sugars in honey, syrups (such as maple, agave and golden), nectars (such as blossom), and unsweetened fruit juices, vegetable juices and smoothies. The sugars in these foods occur naturally but still count as free sugars.

The average person consumes about 24 kilograms of sugar each year, with North and South Americans consuming up to 50 kg. As free sugar consumption grew in the latter part of the 20th century, researchers began to examine whether a diet high in free sugar, especially refined sugar, was damaging to human health. Excessive consumption of free sugar is associated with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and tooth decay.

The World Health Organization strongly recommends that adults and children reduce their intake of free sugars to less than 10% of their total energy intake, and encourages a reduction to below 5%. The NHS recommends adults have no more than 30g of free sugars a day (roughly equivalent to 7 sugar cubes). Children aged 7 to 10 should have no more than 24g of free sugars a day (6 sugar cubes), and children aged 4 to 6 should have no more than 19g (5 sugar cubes).

To keep your blood sugar stable, try pairing your fruit with a source of protein or healthy fat. Some examples might include cottage cheese, yoghurt, string cheese, nuts or hard-boiled eggs.

When travelling, it can be easy to neglect your oral health habits. However, with a bit of advance planning, you can keep your dental hygiene in tip-top condition, wherever you are in the world. Be mindful of the amount of sugar you’re consuming and carry sugar-free gum to keep bacteria at bay.

Frequently asked questions