To keep your kids' teeth healthy, your family dentist recommends regular brushing and flossing every day and regular visits to their office. Even if you have a flawless routine, going on vacation can make it harder to keep up with daily care, which will allow tartar and cavities to start forming. To protect your kids' dental health, follow these tips.

3 Dental Care Tips to Take on Vacation

1. Keep Supplies on Hand

It's easy to get separated from your bags for short or long periods, especially if you're traveling far. That’s why you should keep a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss in your carry-on if you're flying. You'll have to buy travel-sized toothpaste to meet TSA regulations for liquid containers, but it will be worth it to avoid missing a brushing. You can also stock up on dental gum to tide you over when brushing is inconvenient.

2. Maintain Your Routine

Try to brush and floss at the same times as usual, even if that means you have to do it on the plane. You might need to set an alarm as a reminder. If you're going to be someplace where brushing isn't practical, plan ahead to do your dental hygiene routine earlier or later in the day.

3. Get a Checkup First

You don’t want one of your kids to get a toothache while you're on a trip since it could be costly to treat away from home. To prevent this, schedule an exam with your kids' dentist before the trip. Leave enough time between the appointment and trip so if the dentist finds a problem such as a cavity, you can get it treated before you leave.

If your kids need to see a dentist before the family vacation, bring them to Honolulu Keiki Dental. Serving the island of Oahu for 10 years, trained pediatric dentist Dean T. Sueda and his team provide a full range of preventative and restorative treatments as well as emergency care. Call (808) 944-1603 to schedule an appointment, or check out a list of services on their website.