Being a travel nurse is a very enjoyable profession but also a demanding one. Being on the move constantly can be a great learning experience, in addition to being a lot of fun. But, when traveling often, you can sometimes forget to stay on top of all the necessary daily routines – and one of the most important ones is to maintain your oral hygiene.
While taking care of the health of others, you shouldn’t lose track of your own dental care, which can easily happen, especially while traveling. Here are a few tips that can help travel nurses take better care of the well-being of their teeth.
Before you go
Even before you leave for your latest assignment, there are important things you can do for your teeth. The most important one is to set an appointment with your dentist. Do it early enough so you will have the time for a follow-up visit if there is a need for one.
This can seem obvious if you think about it, but many forget to do it while they are preparing for a trip. Seeing your dentist before you leave can save you a lot of trouble and prevent you from having an emergency in a new city.
Packing
Yes, packing itself can be an important part of taking care of your teeth as well. Don’t forget to clean the toiletries bag in which you keep your toothbrush while traveling. If not cleaned regularly, such a bag can become a home for many bacteria.
Additionally, you should remember not to pack a wet toothbrush for the same reason. Whenever you can, try to dry your toothbrush before packing it. If it’s not possible, clean it and dry it immediately after unpacking.
Maintain your routine
When traveling, it’s easy to forget to maintain your daily oral hygiene routine. This can be a big mistake, especially for someone like a travel nurse, who travels so often. You should always remember to brush your teeth at least twice per day, never for less than 2 minutes long.
In addition to that, don’t forget to floss. If flossing is not always convenient, using sugar-free chewing gum can be an efficient substitute. Studies have shown that using such chewing gum can be almost as efficient as flossing for getting rid of food particles from your teeth.
Be ready to act
While maintaining your routine is very important, it is also important to be ready to break your daily routines and act in case of an emergency. This can be especially difficult when you are in a new city, but when you have a dental emergency, which is something that can happen to anyone, you should be ready to find a local dentist and seek professional help.
Water
Unfortunately, not every place has clean drinking water available. Try and find out about the water conditions in the city you are moving to. If the local tap water is of low quality, it might be a good idea to use bottled water to rinse your teeth after brushing.
But having water with you at all times is generally not a bad idea when it comes to oral hygiene. It can not only help you stay hydrated but also be of great help in keeping your mouth clean at all times while traveling.
Travel food
When we travel, it’s easy to forget ourselves and to indulge in fast food, simply out of convenience. As much as you can, you should try and avoid consuming unhealthy sugary food. It can really have a detrimental effect on your teeth and health in general.
But we are all human, and sometimes it’s almost unavoidable to eat something unhealthy, especially while waiting at the airport in-between flights, for example. But when that happens, you should remember some of the previous advice about maintaining your oral hygiene and the daily routines which are connected to it. If, in such a situation, brushing and flossing are not convenient, you can always use water and chewing gum to clean your teeth and mouth.
Travel nurses dedicate their professional lives to helping other people with their health problems. But as is the case with many professionals, it is sometimes easy for them to neglect their own potential health problems. This is especially true for professionals who travel a lot, and travel nurses as a profession defined by it.
This is why it’s imperative to learn to always maintain certain practices connected to oral hygiene in all kinds of surroundings and also while traveling. Informing yourself about the place you are moving to is also a big part of that, as is being ready to act in a new environment and seek professional help when necessary. But above all, the key is in avoiding bad habits and maintaining your daily oral hygiene routine.
We hope you found these tips for caring for your teeth while on assignment. Have you found any ways to care for your teeth while on assignment? Comment them below.
Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Have the assignment secured but need to find housing? Click here to view our housing page.
