stay on track this summer with our wellness tips and travel toothpaste

Summer has finally arrived! And with it often comes warm days, lighter moods, and plenty of travel plans. Summer trips can be full of excitement, spontaneity, and the kind of freedom that shakes up everyday life in the best way.

But whether you’re planning a weekend road trip or a two-week international adventure, it’s easy to lose track of the habits that keep you feeling grounded and well. Between unfamiliar environments, busy itineraries, and tempting indulgences, even the most committed routines can fly out the window.

But staying consistent with your wellness and oral care doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Bringing a few small rituals (and small products like our travel size toothpaste) with you can make your trips feel more enjoyable, helping you maintain a sense of routine while you’re away from home. It’s about creating moments of calm and familiarity that help you feel your best, wherever you are.

In this guide, we’re sharing tips to help you stay grounded while you’re on the move. From smart packing strategies to on-the-go oral care advice, explore some tips to help you feel grounded, healthy, and refreshed all summer long.

how travel can disrupt our routines

It’s no secret that leaving home can immediately disrupt your habits and schedule. The good news? Research shows that being off-schedule for a little while can actually improve your mental health, boost your mood, and reduce stress! 

But that doesn’t mean it comes without a few roadblocks. Being on vacation in a new environment can also lead to irregular sleep, different eating habits, and distraction from your oral and overall hygiene habits.

• irregular sleep: whether you’re crossing time zones, staying up later than normal, sleeping in an unfamiliar bed, or all of the above…travel can disrupt your internal clock. Did you know that changes in your circadian rhythms can impact your oral health? It can cause changes in saliva production, which can increase your risk for tooth decay and other health complications.
• different eating habits: when you’re in a new place, it’s only natural for your eating habits to change. Whether it’s because you don’t have access to a kitchen, or you’re just excited to indulge in the local food scene, changes in your eating habits can impact your energy, oral health, and mood (for better or worse)!
• disrupted hygiene habits: travel can impact the products you use (don’t forget your floss and travel size toothpaste!), your water quality, how often you brush/floss, and more. All of these things can lead to changes in your saliva production, enamel health, gum health, plaque buildup, breath, and beyond.

Let’s dive into a few more specific oral health challenges during summer travel.

common oral health challenges on the go

When you’re on the go, oral hygiene is often one of the first routines to be impacted. 

• missed brushing or flossing: if you’re on a red-eye flight, don’t forget to pack your toothbrush, travel size toothpaste, and floss in your carry on to stick to your routine in the airplane or airport. We highly recommend a bamboo toothbrush over single-use mini toothbrushes to reduce plastic pollution. Travel can lead to increased waste, so why not cut it where you can?
• forgotten retainers, mouthguards, and more: be sure to make a packing list before you go to remember these essential items. Without your retainer, your teeth can shift in as little as a few days.
• more sugar or acidity: are you enjoying a few extra coffees, ice creams, or citrus fruits on your vacation? We’re all about indulging, but be sure to give your teeth a little extra love if you’re having more sugary or acidic foods/drinks.
• environmental changes: different humidity, altitudes, and water quality can all impact your oral health. Plan ahead by looking these details up, so you’re not surprised when you arrive at your destination.
• dehydration: whether you’re dealing with a long car ride, long day trips with limited access to water sources, or decreased water quality, it can be hard to stay hydrated on a trip! Be sure to carry safe drinking water, a reusable water bottle, and electrolytes to stay hydrated and ensure your mouth is producing enough saliva to keep your teeth and mouth healthy.
• long airplane rides: the pressure and dry air inside an airplane can also lead to dry mouth, which can leave your teeth and gums more vulnerable to bacteria and plaque.
• dental emergencies: when you’re away from home, it can be hard to find a place to go in case of dental emergencies. If you or a loved one are prone to them, be sure to look up dental facilities around your destination just in case.

We may be biased, but we believe your smile deserves as much planning as your travel itinerary!

pack smart: the power of travel size toothpaste and essentials

There’s something grounding about having your favorite products close by, even when everything else around you is unfamiliar. Packing smart doesn’t mean overpacking; it means being intentional about the few things that make you feel most like you. Travel-size essentials help maintain a sense of normalcy, especially when routines are out the window.

Beyond convenience, having your self-care basics…like your favorite toothpaste, moisturizer, or shampoo…can boost confidence, support oral and overall hygiene, and reduce stress while you’re on the move. You’re more likely to stay consistent when your routine is easy to access, lightweight, and TSA-ready. Once your essentials are packed with purpose, it becomes so much easier to carry those grounding rituals with you throughout your summer travels.

maintain mini rituals while traveling

While you’re on vacation, it can be tempting to throw caution (and routine) to the wind. But for the sake of your oral and holistic health, we encourage you to challenge this mindset and create mini rituals while you’re on vacation (to pair with your mini self-care travel kit). Here are a few tips to help you do just that.

• pick one special morning and evening ritual: this can be something as simple as brushing with your Davids travel toothpaste or going for a short walk.
• keep your self-care items visible: if you can, lay out your self-care items in your rental space. This can encourage and remind you to keep up with your mini rituals.
• carve out time to reset your nervous system: whether you choose to watch the sunrise, do a meditation, practice deep breathing, or take a moment alone to admire your surroundings, nervous system resets are so important to keep your stress low on vacation.
• set self-care reminders: vacation days can be busy! Set reminders to carve out time for yourself and your needs, no matter where or what you’re doing.

It might seem silly that we’re reminding you to practice self-care while on vacation (isn’t that what it’s all about?), but we’ve learned that summer travel isn’t always sunshine, rainbows, and beachside hangs. Vacations can be full of long days of go-go-go, unpredictable group dynamics, more walking than you’re used to, travel hiccups, unfamiliar environments, and more. Why not do your best to stay grounded and relaxed using mini rituals and routines?

prioritize mouth-friendly foods, drinks, and habits

Whether you’re heading out on a weekend getaway or an extended vacation, your oral health shouldn’t take a back seat. Here are a few mouth-friendly habits you can turn to wherever your travels take you.

• limit alcohol, soda, and caffeine: these drinks can dry out your mouth and introduce excess sugar, making it easier for cavity-causing bacteria to thrive. Try to enjoy them in moderation and balance them with water to keep your mouth hydrated.
• be mindful of sneaky acidic/sugary foods: sauces, dressings, dried fruits, and even some “healthy” snacks can be surprisingly high in sugar or acid. Swish with water after you eat, then brush about 30 minutes later (this is the best timing to protect your enamel).
• eat mouth-friendly foods: some crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples, celery, and carrots help naturally “exfoliate” your teeth and stimulate saliva. Foods rich in calcium and phosphorus, like some nuts, cheese, and yogurt, also support strong enamel.
• drink lots of water: warm temperatures in the summer can cause dehydration, and travel days/unfamiliar environments tend to make this worse. Many experts recommend at least 8-10 cups of water during summer months, but if you’re sweating more than normal, traveling by plane, walking long stretches, or experiencing dry mouth, it’s important to listen to your body and increase this intake as needed.
• chew sugar-free, xylitol gum: having xylitol gum on hand can help with dry mouth. Xylitol (which you’ll also find in our travel toothpaste) is a natural sweetener that stimulates saliva production, helping to tame bad bacteria in your mouth, reduce bad breath, and maintain a healthy pH level in your oral microbiome.

With a little intention, you can keep your smile healthy and fresh, no matter where the summer fun leads.

stay grounded in wellness, not perfection

Don’t forget, summer travel is meant to be exciting and enjoyable! It’s possible to strike the perfect balance and maintain your mini rituals without being too hard on yourself. 

Using a few familiar products, like your travel size toothpaste, your favorite moisturizer or a comfy pillow can keep you psychologically grounded and feeling your best. If you slip out of routine for a couple of days, just get back on track whenever you can! Small consistent actions are what keep routines intact, and your mind, body, spirit, and smile will thank you.

Holistic wellness involves straying away from the all-or-nothing mindset. It’s about staying connected and grounded in what makes you feel good, even in new environments.

Davids travel size toothpaste: the perfect travel buddy

Your oral care routine doesn’t have to take a vacation just because you are. Our travel toothpaste is thoughtfully designed to keep your mouth healthy, fresh, and cared for all summer long (and every other season, too).

• TSA compliant travel toothpaste: at 1.75 ounces, our little travel size toothpaste is TSA compliant. It’s perfect for your carry on, glove compartment, weekender duffle, purse, or back pocket.
• safe, high performance ingredients: small but mighty, our travel toothpaste is full of the high performance ingredients you’ve come to love with Davids. From mouth-watering premium mint oils to gentle, exfoliating micro-abrasives, each ingredient plays a unique role…whether it’s polishing your teeth, freshening your breath, fighting bacteria, strengthening your enamel, or nourishing your gums and tissue.
• nano-hydroxyapatite option: our famous nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste also comes in a travel size. It’s been third-party lab tested to remineralize enamel and relieve tooth sensitivity to give you a bright healthy smile that feels as good as it looks.
• fluoride and SLS free: our travel toothpaste is free from fluoride and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), making it a great choice if you have a sensitive mouth or want to avoid harsh ingredients without sacrificing performance or freshness.
• sustainable: packaged in a recyclable aluminum tube and sustainable cardboard packaging, our travel toothpaste helps cut down on plastic waste while still being durable and travel-friendly. Good for your mouth, good for the planet.
• proudly made in the USA: no matter where your travels take you, feel proud bringing a USA-made travel size toothpaste along for the ride. Not only is our toothpaste USA-made, but it also contains 98% USA-origin ingredients, which means lower shipping emissions and costs that result from importing ingredients from overseas.

Small tube, big benefits: upgrade your travel essentials with a travel toothpaste that doesn’t compromise on quality, sustainability, or performance.

buy now.