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If you are planning a trip away, then take a few moments to consider your dental health. While travelling, it is important to follow a good oral care routine and take precautions to avoid developing problems when away from home. Here are some tips to help you maintain healthy teeth and gums so you can focus on enjoying yourself rather than worrying about your oral health.

Pack Your Travel Dental Kit First

Usually, your toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss are the last items to be packed as you use them until the last moment. As a result, they are easily left behind. Instead, get ahead by purchasing a new toothbrush, toothpaste and floss so you can pack these items immediately.

Using an Alternative Toothbrush

If you do reach your destination without a toothbrush, you can still keep your teeth clean until you can purchase a new one. Rinsing your mouth with plain water will help get rid of bacteria, and you can use a clean finger coated with a little toothpaste to brush your teeth carefully. If you are staying in a hotel, ask reception if spare toothbrushes are available. Many hotels keep some in stock for these situations.

Keep Your Toothbrush Clean

When you are at home, you probably rinse your toothbrush thoroughly after using it before standing it in an upright position in a holder to allow it to dry naturally. Ensure you follow the same routine when away from home, placing your toothbrush in a glass where it cannot contact anybody else’s toothbrush to dry naturally. If this is impossible, place your toothbrush in a clean plastic bag exposure to germs is lower.

Use a Safe Water Supply

We take clean water for granted, but if you are travelling, you may be in an area where the water isn’t safe to use. In this case, use bottled water when brushing your teeth. If your toothbrush is exposed to an unsafe water supply, replace it as soon as possible, just in case it is contaminated. Otherwise, rinse it thoroughly with bottled water.

Book a Dental Exam and Cleaning Before You Go

If it is time for your regular dental checks, book your appointment before you go so you gain peace of mind knowing your smile is healthy. We can ensure there are no potential problems, providing necessary restorative dentistry treatments and reducing your risk of a dental emergency while away. A professional dental cleaning helps protect your dental health and is a great way to freshen your smile in time for your trip.

Be Prepared for Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies can still occur while you are away, even when you take sensible precautions. Ensure you have our contact information on your phone so you can get in touch or email us about any problems. We can provide helpful advice and information immediately and, if necessary, can get you booked in to see our dentist soon after your return.

Over the past few years, dentists everywhere have seen a growing and concerning trend for DIY dentistry. These treatments are often marketed on social media by people who are completely unqualified to provide this advice. Some of these treatments can harm your teeth, gums and even your jawbone, causing a risk of long-term complications like tooth decay and gum disease, or potentially tooth loss. We’ve outlined some of the most concerning trends below.

DIY Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is very popular, but there are many dangerous treatments using inferior products that are completely unregulated. At best, these will not be very effective at whitening teeth; at worst, they could damage your teeth and gums. 

If you want to whiten your teeth please ask us first, as it’s essential to ensure you have a healthy mouth for safe and comfortable whitening. Our dental team can ensure you whiten your teeth safely and evenly using professional strength products not available to the general public.

Dental Cleaning

Professional dental cleanings are important for oral health; most people need this treatment every six months. Unfortunately, some people are attempting to clean their teeth using cheap tools bought online. These tools cannot remove plaque and tartar effectively and can damage your gums or push tartar underneath the gum line, leaving you at risk of more severe oral health problems in the future.

Our hygienists are fully trained and experienced, using professional tools and instruments to remove tartar buildup gently yet effectively, leaving you with smooth, shiny teeth and beautifully fresh breath. 

Over-the-Counter Mouthguards

If you are keen on playing sports, you might be tempted to purchase an over-the-counter mouthguard for just a few dollars. We urge you not to do this because it is a false economy. These mouthguards provide minimal protection at best and, because they are ill-fitting, will often fall out or are very uncomfortable to wear, hindering breathing and speech. When you have a custom-fitted mouthguard, it is comfortable to wear, neutral tasting and thickened in critical areas to provide maximum protection for your teeth, gums and jaws. Wearing a properly fitted mouthguard can potentially save you thousands of dollars in dental care, as the cost of treating a dental injury can be expensive, especially over a lifetime.

Enamel Reshaping

Some people are using files to shave away tooth enamel and try to create a more aesthetically pleasing appearance, for example, when a tooth is too long or overlapping. There is a real danger that they remove too much tooth enamel, causing tooth sensitivity and potentially shortening the lifespan of their teeth. Only a cosmetic dentist can perform this treatment safely.

DIY Orthodontics

Trying to straighten your teeth at home with a DIY kit is fraught with problems. It can potentially worsen any orthodontic problems and cause severe complications that are tricky and expensive to correct. Orthodontic treatment requires a clinical exam, x-rays and diagnosis, followed by proper treatment planning for this procedure to be successful, safe, and effective. If you want to straighten your teeth, ask us for help and advice, as properly and professionally planned and provided adult orthodontics can be extremely successful.

We fully believe that good dental care should start early, and getting children into a regular routine is important, especially as their adult teeth start to erupt. Below are some easy dental health tips to help ensure your kid develops a beautiful, healthy smile.

Use Fluoride Toothpaste for Children Aged six and Older

Unless we recommend otherwise, use a small pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste to brush their teeth thoroughly. Ensure your child learns to spit out the excess rather than swallow it. Once they finish brushing, they shouldn’t rinse their mouth as this leaves a thin layer of fluoride coating their teeth, giving more protection against tooth decay.

Brush Twice Daily

Dental plaque continually builds up over teeth and can cause cavities unless removed. It’s essential to ensure your kid brushes their teeth at least twice a day using a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head that can reach right to the back of the mouth. Gently brush their teeth right down to the gumline using small circular motions. Children generally need help brushing their teeth until they are seven or eight. Daily flossing is also important, and children generally need help with flossing until they are ten years old and develop enough dexterity to complete this task.

If Travelling 

If you’re travelling and need exceptional dental care for your child, Aesthetik Dental is the perfect choice. As a trusted dentist in Geelong, we provide gentle, expert care in a welcoming environment, ensuring your child’s comfort and wellbeing. Whether it’s a routine check-up, emergency treatment, or a preventive visit, our team is experienced in working with young patients, making their experience stress-free and positive. Conveniently located and offering high-quality, tailored care, we ensure your child’s dental health is in the best hands—even while you’re on the move.

Provide Water, Not Fruit Juice or Other Sweet Beverages

Tap water is always the best way for anyone to rehydrate, so ensure your child drinks plenty of plain water. They shouldn’t drink fruit juice or other sweet drinks as these contain high amounts of sugar, increasing the risk of tooth decay. Encouraging your child to eat whole fruit that contains valuable nutrients plus fibre is far better.

Limit Consumption of Sugary Foods

Everyone knows that sugary foods increase the risk of cavities, so limit your child’s consumption of biscuits, lollies, cakes and other sweet treats. When they have something sweet, give it to them as part of their main meal when the risk to dental health is reduced compared to snacking on these foods between meals.

Provide Healthy Snacks

Busy kids often need to top up their energy levels, so ensure a range of healthy snacks is available. These include sugar-free dairy products like yoghurt and cheese, both of which are excellent sources of protein and calcium. Fruits and veggies deliver important vitamins and minerals for general health and development.

Purchase a Custom-Made Mouthguard for Sporty Kids

If your child loves playing sports, especially where there is a risk of dental injury, ask us about a custom-fitted mouthguard. A custom sports mouthguard provides the very best level of protection for their teeth, gums and jaws, and most importantly, it’s comfortable to wear and neutral tasting, so they are far more likely to use it.

Finally, ensure your child comes to see us regularly for dental checkups and cleans. Regular preventive dentistry is the best way to ensure your child grows up with healthy teeth and an attractive smile and is free from dental fears and phobias.