Whether you are going for a long road trip, or you are traveling abroad for a long-awaited vacation, traveling with dentures must be planned ahead of time to avoid mishaps while you are on your destination.
Therefore, follow these simple tips below so that you can have a full blast on your getaway without worrying about something that might happen to your false teeth and get that picture-perfect smile!
When you travel wearing dentures, make sure to see your dentist first before you go, or look for a local dentist at your destination so that you come prepared in case of an emergency. Another tip is that you must familiarize yourself with the local food you will eat during your stay, and lastly, you must have a backup set of dentures on your dentures travel kit.
Well, following these simple tips may help you survive your journey as you travel wearing your dentures since oral hygiene is very essential, especially for denture wearers who are always on the go.
Wearing dentures must not be considered as a problem during trips; instead, it must give you the confidence and the enjoyment of a hassle-free vacation.
Therefore, here is an in-depth discussion of the things you must check on your list for a worry-free trip with dentures.
Tips When Traveling With Dentures
Are you nervous about traveling for long hours with dentures? Well, you should not be, since I got you covered with these simple checklists on the things you should do when traveling with dentures. The first and best thing you should do is to plan properly ahead of time before you go on your trip.
Here are some things included in the list:
Have an appointment with your dentist before you go
It is better to have an oral check-up if you are planning to go on an extended trip, aside from your annual oral check-up.
The main purpose of this tip is to check whether your dentures are still fitting properly or if there are hidden cracks that require immediate attention on the dentures while you are hundreds of miles away from your personal dentist.
Have them check so that the dentist will find other issues that may arise during your travel, and we do not want that to happen.
Search for a local dentist on your travel destination
Even though you do not experience some issues while you are traveling with your dentures, make sure you still come prepared and have a list of local dentists on your travel destination.
Aside from planning your travel itinerary and looking for local tourist attractions include this on your homework to search for a local dentist that is near to your accommodation so that if you run into some trouble with your dentures, you are prepared in case of emergency.
Make sure to ascertain the following information:
- The services they offer
- The dental clinic’s operating hours
- The dentist’s reputation or reviews of services
Option: If you have friends or relatives who are familiar with the place you are heading to, you can just simply ask them for recommendations of local dental clinics.
Prepare what you will eat during your stay
Have a little research on the type of food that is commonly eaten in the places you are traveling to. Having this check beforehand will help you prepare and determine the food that is available and will match with the diet suitable for your case.
As a denture wearer, the food you will eat will play a vital role during your trip because it will dictate where you will dine and the types of food you will eat during your stay.
Avoid dishes that are difficult to chew or maybe rough that can damage your dentures. By knowing this in advance will put you in ease and enjoy your much-awaited vacation.
Pack your denture travel kit on your luggage
Ideally, it is better to have a denture travel case that contains all your essentials you will need when you are traveling with dentures. The kit must include the following:
Denture care tools: you must have a dental brush, a container to soak your dentures, denture soap containers, mouthwash, and do not forget to bring breath mints. Trust me. These are a lifesaver!
Here are some of the best travel denture cases that are available on Amazon:
Gus Craft Lavender Purple Denture Box
Scotte Denture Case,Dentures Box
Denture adhesive: To keep your dentures on hold for a long period of time, use a denture adhesive that is zinc-free. If you hear the brand name, Poligrip, and Fixodent, these are the most popular denture adhesives available on the market nowadays.
Bottled water: This will come in handy, especially if you want to clean your dentures, but you do not have access to tap water.
Invest on backup dentures
Given that dentures are expensive; however, having them repaired or replaced while you are away from your regular dentist could even cost you more in this situation. That is why having a backup denture for traveling purposes makes a good investment.
Definitely, you do not want to break, crack, or lose some tooth on your dentures while you are on a trip. However, with a spare set of dentures properly pack along with you will help you deal in this kind of emergency.
It’s both a win-win situation, even though you never needed them, you will still be delighted you pack them.
Carry your documents
Alongside with your official documents and travel documents, you may consider carrying a copy of your dental insurance policy and the phone number of your regular dentist.
Through this, it can help the dentist attending your concern to have a quick background about your denture issues and concerns.
Flying with dentures
Due to the strict rules implemented by TSA on the things to pack on your carry on and checked baggage, here are some things to know when you fly wearing your dentures.
Traveling dentures may be a daunting task, but you must not be stressed out about packing things, especially the things you should and should not bring on the plane.
Well, to get you through this, here are some facts you must know when traveling with dentures by air:
Denture adhesives and creams follow the TSA 3-1-1 Liquid Rule
If you are planning to pack your denture adhesives and other dental creams on your carry-on baggage, make sure it follows the 3-1-1 Liquid Rule by TSA.
This means that (3) the denture adhesives must be placed in a travel size container with a maximum amount of 3.4 oz. or in 100mL bottle or less each item.
The (1) means that it must fit in a clear, quart-size plastic bag with zip-lock to avoid leakage of the items, and lastly, the other (1) means that each passenger is limited to bring one plastic bag during the flight.
If you pack your denture adhesives on your checked baggage, you may bring more than 3.4 ounces but must be kept properly to avoid leaky paste and creams inside your bag.
Rules may vary between airline operators; therefore, you may call your airlines before departure. You may check the TSA website for more information.
Flying with metal dentures
In this case, it sometimes depends on the sensitivity of the detectors. For instance, a gum wrapper that contains a small amount of aluminum may set-off airport security.
The same goes for your dentures if they contain metal, such as found on a milled bar attachment, or if you have dental implants made with metal, might as well set off the security at the airport.
There is nothing to worry about if the metal detector is triggered when you pass through since this is just a common problem in every security checkpoint; therefore, the airport personnel will screen you with a manual detector.
Unfortunately, you will expect some minor delays if you are going to security checkpoints with dentures.
Denture care tips when not in use
Your dentures will last longer and will fit better if you are properly taking care of them, especially when not in use. Hence, here are some tips on how to keep your dentures in good shape.
Clean your dentures daily
Brush your dentures the same way you are brushing your teeth. However, the only difference is that you skip using toothpaste. This is because there is a lot of commercial toothpaste that can damage dentures because of the contents that can cause abrasion.
You may use your soft-bristled brush, specifically designed for dentures, but make sure not to bend any attachments on your dentures.
Another way to keep your dentures clean is to rinse them with water every after a meal. You may consider buying a specialized denture cleanser such as Polident Antibacterial Denture Cleanser to soak dentures.
Polident Antibacterial Denture Cleanser
Note: Remember that soaking dentures are not a good substitute for brushing. You still need to brush your dentures to remove plaque build-up.
Handle dentures with care
When handling your dentures, make sure to place a towel in it to avoid breaking or cracking them if ever they fall into the sink. When you are not wearing your dentures, let them cool by soaking the dentures in cool water or in a denture cleaning solution to avoid them from drying out.
Be careful when soaking your dentures with metal attachments since there are some cleaning solutions that can tarnish the metal.
Note: Do not soak your dentures in hot water, as this can cause warping and wrinkling of the dentures.
Rest your dentures every night
Whether it is partial or full dentures, make sure to remove them every night as this allows your denture to have a break from a long period of wearing them.
Aside from this, you allow your gum tissue beneath them to have the chance to rest.
How to keep dentures safe
Aside from keeping your dentures free from plaque build-up, keeping them safe is another story; therefore, consider these three helpful tips to ensure that your dentures will last longer and longer.
Tip 1: Do not soak them in hot water
You might think that soaking your dentures in hot water is a brilliant idea since hot water can kill some germs. Well, unfortunately, this is NOT the appropriate approach to keep them clean.
You may stick with the above guide on how to clean your dentures, and you are good. As for hot water, soaking them in hot water, may cause warping and wrinkling your devices, so keep them out of hot water.
Tip 2: Do not leave your dentures dry out
Do not forget to soak your dentures after you remove them at night. This is because if dentures do not maintain their desired moisture, they will end up to dry out, and if this happens, your denture will alter its shape, which may need a replacement for refitting (even though you just got them)
Tip 3: Carry a denture storage case with you
It is very important to carry a denture storage case around just in case you need to remove your dentures to eat certain foods or you need to remove it and store it to a storage case while you are sleeping. This will ensure that your dentures are in a better place, instead of accidentally losing them.
Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay
Image by skeeze from Pixabay
