Australians urged not to let their oral health take a holiday this summer

Getting away on holidays is the highlight of summer for most Australians - but it comes with a certain amount of risk including to your mouth.

With new and exciting sports and thrill-seeking activities to try, alcohol to unwind with, planes to catch and more unusual and exotic foods on the menu, there’s a lot for your mouth to contend with.

With the Australian Dental Association’s (ADA) holiday hints, your mouth will come back as rested and happy as the rest of you, says new ADA Federal President Dr Chris Sanzaro.

Here are the President’s ten tips to avoid (or fix) the commonest holiday hazards for the mouth: 

1. All dried up: decreased humidity on your flight can cause dehydration resulting in a dry mouth, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and tooth decay. The fix: drink lots of water on the flight and take an empty water bottle in your check-in for fast and easy refills at your destination. 

2. Plane truth: dry, stale air circulating on long haul flights coupled with lots of food and little opportunity for bathroom mouth freshens can add up to lots of food build-up and bad breath. This is made worse if your flight is delayed and you spend extra time at the airport snacking on treats, or you have a long stopover. The fix: pack a toothbrush in your hand luggage and a mini tube of fluoride toothpaste so you can brush after meals - so when you arrive, at least your mouth feels fresh.

3. Floss forgetfulness: just as vital to your mouth health is cleaning between the teeth. Brushing only removes debris from 60% of surfaces, and you need to clean between them to remove the other 40%. The fix: whether that’s with floss tape, an interdental brush or the increasingly popular water flossers, pack your favourite flossing device as they’ll all do a great job of keeping decay-causing bacteria away.

4. Indulgence index: there’s a smorgasbord of extra hard, crunchy or super sweet foods to try on holidays, and sometimes the sugar onslaught or surprisingly hard texture of a food item like pork crackling or crusty breads can result in tooth pain or a crack. That goes for alcoholic drinks as well, which are often packed with sugar. The fix: go slowly and carefully when eating new or particularly crunchy or hard things and don’t overload on sugary food and drink. Sip water between your wine, mixed drink or cocktail to swish off the residual sugars left on teeth and stay hydrated.

5. Kids’ holiday mouth. “When it’s the school term, kids are in a routine and clean their teeth as their last chore before charging out the door for school,” said Dr Sanzaro. “In the school holidays there are not so many routines throughout the day so kids may get up, head for the TV or brekky table and often those teeth-brushing routines go down the plughole.” The fix: little written reminders in the bathroom or the kitchen to brush and keep those young teeth decay-free. Or enforce a ‘no play until teeth are clean rule’. So, whether it’s an online game, outside fun or a good old board game, cleaning teeth before any other activity will help create a new routine for the holidays.

6. Go big, go large: while away from home people tend to venture outside their comfort zone, and that includes diving into riskier sports they wouldn’t dream of normally giving a go. The fix: from windsurfing to water skiing, rock climbing to bungee jumping, protect teeth and gums by packing a mouthguard for yourself and the kids, and keep it in your swim bag or backpack so it actually gets used. “Mouthguards from dentists are custom made and a better fit for your individual mouth shape than off-the-shelf boil and bite ones from pharmacies,” Dr Sanzaro explained, “so head to the family dentist to get a custom-fitted one well in advance of departure day.”

7. Scuba mouth: scuba diving is another sport where oral health needs to be considered. There’s a condition called tooth squeeze, or barodontalgia, where you get tooth pain from a change in pressure when scuba diving from the surface down, or from lower down and coming up to the surface. Fighter pilots can also suffer from this, though thankfully commercial flights and snorkelling don’t have the same issues. The fix: there’s not usually an easy fix for this, but if you experience it, let your dentist know as further investigation should reveal the cause.  

Mouthpieces for snorkelling and scuba gear can cause jaw pain, both in the muscles and joints, especially if you’re biting hard on them. The fix: try not to bite too hard whilst using them, and massage of the jaw muscles and rest of the face can help. But if this doesn’t do the trick, talk to your dentist.

8. Mouths and meds: multiple medications can lead to a dry mouth. Drinking more alcohol or coffee than usual on holiday can also lead to a dryer than normal mouth. The fix: ensure you’re keeping hydrated. A glass of water beside the bed to sip on, or a water bottle while out sightseeing, will make a difference, and there are dry mouth products your dentist can recommend. Don’t have sweets or lollies unless they’re sugar-free as they can cause decay more quickly in a dry mouth.

9. Bumpy sleep: jet lag and disturbed sleep patterns when you return home can also lead to teeth grinding from topsy-turvy sleep after being in a different time zone. Grinding can cause jaw pain and sometimes teeth pain too. The fix: ask your doctor about melatonin tablets to help you get back into your normal time zones sooner. If you have a nightguard or night splint, then make sure you take it with you. If things flare up before/during/after your holidays, talk to your dentist.

10. Touchy teeth: dentists often see patients with increased sensitivity after holidays. If it’s not from tooth grinding, it can be from acidic foods and drinks – wine, fruit juices, fresh fruit, and tomato-based foods are all quite acidic. Soft drinks (both sugar-free and those laden with sugar) are also quite acidic. The fix: it may involve changing your food/drink choices and using a sensitive toothpaste. But if you haven’t had a check-up in a while, make an appointment as sensitivity can be a sign of hidden decay.

“Holidays can be enough of a stretch on the family budget without surprise dental issues while away, so when you’re packing your bags, think about what you need to take or do now to ensure your mouth doesn’t become a casualty of the holidays.

“It’s helpful to see your dentist before going and get them to check your teeth to ensure they’re all in good shape, not wobbly, have no cracks or chips that can get worse, or holes that need filling. If they do, aim to get them fixed before the holiday.

“Then you can head off without worrying about whether your teeth will hold up to all the extra action they may see.”

This article was carried exclusively by News Corporation papers including The Herald Sun (Melbourne) and The Daily Telegraph (Sydney).