As you prepare to embark on your family’s summer vacation, you may be eager to dig your toes into the sand and spend plenty of time on the beach. But what if a sudden accident occurred, leaving you with a chipped or broken tooth? Because a dental emergency can happen anywhere, it’s important that you do your best to avoid harmful situations while on vacation. To help make the process easier, here are four tips to keep your smile safe this summer.
Make Sure You Have Dental Insurance
If you do not have dental insurance before leaving on your trip this summer, make sure you enroll. Should an accident occur while you’re away, you could face a significantly large bill if seeing someone who is not in-network with your insurance company.
If you do have dental insurance, though, you might consider purchasing a temporary plan during your travels so that you’re protected if you go overseas for any reason.
See Your Dentist
It’s strongly advised that you schedule a visit to your dentist’s office before leaving on your trip. A checkup and cleaning can help to set your smile up for success while you’re away.
This time with your dentist will allow you to ask questions, undergo necessary dental work, and identify ways to keep your pearly whites and gums healthy and safe on vacation. Many people tend to slip out of their routine, but you don’t have to when you’re equipped with the most effective ways to keep your mouth clean and protected.
Take Oral Hygiene Products with You
Don’t leave for your vacation without the right oral hygiene products. Make sure that you pack your toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, and mouth rinse, as they are the best way to protect against a serious toothache.
Cavities and gum disease can arise while on a trip, and you don’t want to be faced with a serious problem that requires you to visit an emergency dentist in another state or country if you don’t have to. Take care of your oral hygiene while away so that your smile won’t suffer the consequences.
Be Careful About What You Eat
While vacation might be for splurging on your diet or indulging in ice cream more often than you would at home, you still need to be careful about what you eat. The reason is not only to avoid cavities and tooth pain but also to minimize your risk of accidental damage.
Eating hard, crunchy foods can potentially harm your tooth enamel, causing a chip, crack, or break to occur. If this happens, you’ll need to seek the help of an emergency dentist right away. Try to avoid these foods if you can and instead, opt for healthier options that are less likely to negatively impact your smile.
Summer vacations are meant to be full of fun and great memories, not trips to the dentist’s office. Make sure you’re doing all you can to protect your smile so that you can get the most out of your trip.
About the Author
Dr. L. Blaine Kennington opened his own practice in 2002 and has been helping the city’s residents achieve healthier, more aesthetically pleasing smiles ever since. He and the team at Cowlitz River Dental offer emergency services to individuals who have injured their smiles. But if you and your family are preparing to go out of town for vacation, you can visit our website or call (360) 703-9092 to hear from our team how you can better protect your smile while you’re away.