Some of the most important parts of dental care include brushing and flossing daily. However, when you travel, your usual oral care routine can get disrupted, harming your teeth. Luckily, by planning ahead you can protect your smile on vacation. Here’s what you should know.

How to Protect Your Teeth When Traveling

1. Maintain a Schedule

Take a look at your schedule for your trip and decide when you're going to brush your teeth. Plan to return to your hotel room each night, even if it's just to freshen up before going out again. Planning in advance makes it more likely that you'll be able to find the time to care for your teeth. Plus, if you know you won’t be able to get back to the hotel room, you can come up with an alternative for those days, like chewing gum or taking your toothbrush with you.

2. Keep Your Supplies With You

It's easy to get separated from checked bags, leaving you without a toothbrush for a night or more. Keep your toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss in a carry-on. Make sure to buy a travel-sized toothpaste to comply with TSA rules. Also, carry dental gum with you in case you can't find a moment to brush.

3. Visit the Dentist Before You Leave

You don’t want to visit an emergency dentist while you're away from home, so plan a dental care visit before your trip. Your dentist will check for any emerging problems or developing cavities that might bother you on your vacation. Leave enough time between the dental visit and your departure so that you can get any dental work done before you leave.

If you need dental care before you travel, make an appointment with Four Corners Dental Group in Wasilla and Anchorage, AK. They strive to create a relaxing environment, work with you to maintain your smile, and offer preventative, restorative, and cosmetic services. To get started, check out their website or call (907) 258-3384 for the Anchorage location. For the Wasilla office, call (907) 376-2790.