Every bank holiday the roads are busy with people heading off for a long weekend. Here’s a few suggestions for bank holiday preparation that we hope will help your break run smoothly, and also keep your teeth and mouth in good shape.
What do I need to take on a long car journey?
- Although the sugar tax has helped make both manufacturers and consumers more aware of the ingredients in soft drinks, the best thing to have on hand is water. Even when it’s got a bit warm from being in a hot car, water’s thirst quenching. If you have those stainless steel water bottles, even better. Fill them up, ready to go!
- While some people like to have sweets in the car, and they may keep the children quiet, the bacteria that cause tooth-decay love sugar too. Sugar-free gum with xylitol is a more tooth-friendly option.
- A small bottle of mouthwash is great if you don’t want to be brushing teeth in a service station. It freshens up the mouth, and leaves a trace of fluoride on your teeth to help strengthen the enamel. Remember to spit it out well, but don’t rinse it away. Remember though, that it’s the action of brushing that helps to prevent plaque forming, so two minutes twice a day is essential.
- Patience: the roads are likely to be busy!
What do I need to take to look after the family’s teeth while we’re away?
If you’re going to a seaside resort, you’ll find convenience stores open, so it’s not so bad if you forget to pack the toothpaste. And a new toothbrush is always a good investment. But if you’ll be miles from anywhere, then it’s worth checking the list below and noting any of these supplies that you or your family may need.
- Toothbrushes – don’t forget the charger and perhaps an adapter too, if you’ve gone electric.
- Toothpaste (two tubes if the family will be using separate bathrooms, you have different preferences, or need children’s toothpaste with a lower fluoride level).
- Floss and interdental brushes.
- Mouthwash.
- A tongue scraper if you like using one, or want fresher breath.
- A night guard if you’re a tooth grinder or clamper (I forgot mine once. As it was just before Hallowe’en, I used Dracula teeth from the supermarket! Far from ideal, but better than nothing!).
- A sports guard (also called a gum shield or mouth guard) for adventurous activities.
- Denture adhesive and cleaner.
What about bank holiday preparation for emergency dental needs?
It’s hard to be prepared for all eventualities, and often it’s when we’re away from home, out of our regular routine, that accidents happen. Here’s some useful information, which we hope you won’t need.
- Lost a filling? What do you do?
- Tooth knocked out? What do I do?
- Information about dental help in the South West (from Shropshire to the Devon/Cornwall border).
The NHS emergency helpline is there 24/7 for advice or help:
- If you’re in England call 111
- If you’re in Wales call 0845 46 47