The next time you’re cleaning or decluttering, keep an eye out for a little bottle. Don’t throw it away! It can be glass or plastic—it doesn’t matter. It’ll be invaluable the next time you’re on the road.
Some grocery stores sell little liquor bottles, though they’ve been getting banned in some towns. They’re of a good size too, perfect for travel use once the label is soaked off.
Sometimes you can find these empty travel-size bottles on sale, too. Look for one at the store if you have to.
Whatever the source, keep your eyes open for one to repurpose. Before you leave home on your next trip, sanitize that little bottle in the dishwasher or in hot water. Dry it. Pour your favorite mouthwash in.
Your hotel, if it’s part of a national chain, will probably have its own shampoo, conditioner, and lotion.
It won’t have any mouthwash.
Only about half of the population uses mouthwash.
Mouthwash can make a big difference in resisting colds and augmenting your dental health.
Little bottles (about 2 ounces or 60 mls) are perfect for travel
Many big-box retailers carry a travel size of Listerine. That’s convenient, but also expensive considering you may not like that one flavor and also considering that it’s much less expensive when sold in larger sizes. That premade travel size always seems to be the blue or green one. There are many other flavors and brands of mouthwash you may like more and would rather take with you on the road. There are also medicated mouthwashes and saltwater gargles many people use too.
If you don’t plan ahead, you may find yourself buying that travel size of Listerine out and dumping out the contents just for the little bottle. Not every store has the little bottles on sale.
Without that little bottle, you’re going to be faced with lugging a small jug of fluid around with you.
If you carry that in your carry-on, the Transportation Security Administration might find it and throw it away. They allow only certain sizes of fluid on planes.
Traveling well is a skill. Mouthwash is a tool that can aid in traveling well. It can help you sleep well on the road by helping you put a neutral flavor in your mouth before bed. Sitting in a plane or riding in a car can affect your digestion as can the food you get on the road or in a foreign country. All of that might very well be mitigated by planning ahead with a little bottle of your favorite mouthwash.
More than that, a good germ-killing mouthwash can be a vital part of your arsenal in controlling gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease. Periodontitis is a later stage when the gums get infected and the teeth start to loosen. Nobody wants that and nobody wants to pay those dental bills that come along with that.
Mouthwash makes a good ally along with your dentist, your toothbrush, and your favorite method of flossing.
Of course, in the age of COVID, we’d be remiss to not mention that COVID complications were found to be more common in patients with periodontitis and gingivitis.
Keep those problems in check.
Remember: bacteria don’t take a break from their assault on your mouth when you’re on the road.
For Further Reading:
How to always sleep well on a bus
Go on a mental vacation with sleeping sounds
Lose the light pollution! Six ways to add enjoyment to the night sky
App helps jet-lagged travelers cope
James Cobb RN, MSN, is an emergency department nurse and the founder of the Dream Recovery System. His goal is to provide his readers with simple, actionable ways to improve their health and maximize their quality of life.
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