Let’s be honest, skipping a few days won’t cause irreversible damage to your teeth – but it’s not very festival-friendly, either,” says Charlie.
“Plaque and bacteria will build up, your teeth will soon become soft and decaying, it’ll trigger early gum disease, and your breath won’t attract many new friends.”
Charlie warns that acidic drinks such as beer, prosecco and energy drinks can soften tooth enamel, which combined with the sugars in these drinks, makes them more prone to decay – especially if you rush into your tent without brushing.
To help festival-goers prepare, Clyde Munro shares some festival-friendly dental care tips:
Pack smart: travel-sized mouthwash, toothbrush and toothpaste take up little space.
Chew gum: Sugar-free gum can stimulate saliva production – a natural mouthwash.
Hydrate regularly: Still water or milk can help neutralise acid (bonus: it can also help with hangovers).
Brush before bed: “At night, saliva production decreases, which means your natural protection against acid is reduced. Brushing your teeth before bed is the most important cleaning of the day.
Do not rinse your mouth with mouthwash or water immediately after brushing, as this will wash away the higher concentration of fluoride in the toothpaste, which has a protective effect. This will leave a film of toothpaste on the teeth.
Using mouthwash at noon can increase the fluoride content again.
Quickly resume normal dental hygiene habits.
“Just clean the teeth you want to keep – it’s that simple.” Charlie added.
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