Going on vacation during the winter holiday? When you’re packing, don’t forget your dental travel kit. While you can find ready-made kits online or at your local pharmacy, it’s usually better to make your own, especially if you use a non-standard toothpaste or mouthwash. You should definitely include the following:

Toothbrush:Some travel brushes have hard bristles—make sure you pick one with soft bristles. If you’re traveling with others, be sure to label the toothbrushes, or get different-colored brushes to avoid mix-ups.   You can even take your power toothbrush on the road. Sonicare has released the DiamondClean model that conveniently charges from your computer with a USB connection.

Toothpaste: You can find travel-size tubes of most kinds of toothpaste at your grocery store or pharmacy. Ask Dr. Pate for a sample if you don’t see yours at the store.

Mouthwash: Find a travel-size container or fill an empty travel bottle with your favorite mouthwash. If you use a prescription mouthwash, fill and label a small travel container. 

Floss: This is the one dental care item most people forget! Try a new variety of floss while you’re on vacation. If you use floss picks, find a small plastic baggie and bring more than you think you’ll need. (more…)