HEALTHY TOURING 101: CHRIS RAFOTH, DDS
- SMASH STAFF
- Aug 4
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
In our new blog series HEALTHY TOURING 101, SMASH healthcare partners, providers, and supporters share realistic (and affordable!) ways for musicians to stay healthy on tour.
NAME: DR. CHRIS RAFOTH, DDS
PROFESSION: DENTIST @ LYONS CREEK DENTAL CARE
LOCATION: SHORELINE, WA
SMASH PARTNER SINCE: 2019
SMASH DENTAL SERVICES DONATED: 412
Let's toss out some pro tips for what musicians can do to maintain great dental health when they are performing to audiences across the city, the country and the world. The thing that really strikes me is how important it is when we travel that we always have a manageable strategy for how we take care of ourselves.
NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT AN ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH.
I don't care if it's worth $5 or $500. You can rely on any mechanical brush to do a way better job than a manual. The Quip Electric Toothbrush is a fantastic product. Oral B also makes a very price-conscious model. You can find these products online in many places.
FLOSS IS REAL. JUST KEEP A ROLL OF SOMETHING AROUND AT ALL TIMES.
If you want to focus on not adding to the landfill, consider bamboo floss. As long as you're disrupting the gunk that gets stuck between your teeth, and you do that on a daily basis, it's going to keep you out of trouble.
USE A MINERAL-BASED TOOTHPASTE.
Teeth are creatures that demand minerals. They need to be fed. When you feed teeth calcium, they are happy. There is a nano-particle calcium product called BOKA I use. There's a lot of other competitors out there in the market. Using the right toothpaste means you're going to create more resistance to tooth decay, you're going to create more protection for sensitive teeth, and you'll be able to tolerate those hot and cold things a little bit more easily. If you have a recent history of tooth decay, then a paste with an active fluoride ingredient is an intelligent move.
Above all, when you use the toothpaste, remember there is a cardinal rule: You put it on your teeth like you're moisturizing your skin. You use the toothpaste for a two minute period and then you spit out the excess and you walk away from the sink. Do not rinse it off!
PERFORMING IS A FULL-CONTACT SPORT. IT'S A CARDIO WORKOUT, IT'S WEIGHTLIFTING, IT'S RUNNING A MARATHON, AND IT'S KICKBOXING ALL IN ONE. DEHYDRATION IS REAL – AND NEEDING TO CONSUME CALORIES AND KEEP ENERGY UP IS REAL, TOO.
The things that go with a lifestyle on the road can really turn dental care into a challenge. There's an intersection between dehydration and a dry mouth. Because we're breathing hard, we're singing hard, and whenever we need to grab something to to wet our whistle usually comes in the form of something that's going to give us a little pick me up. With calories, sugar, or maybe even alcohol involved, those things are going to diminish the mouth's protective properties.
One thing that I used to do is tuck a piece of gum away in my cheek while I was performing and that helps stimulate some protective saliva to take care of my teeth. While I was doing our live shows, I also moved away from substances that would dry my mouth out. That would be alcohol, tobacco and cannabis. All of those things are going to create a more corrosive environment for our teeth. I'm not telling everybody that teetotaling these substances is the way to go, although there's some sense in that. I am trying to reinforce the notion that when we're mindful of how these substances affect our teeth and gums, that there's a lot we can do to just create more neutral oral balance.
If you're going to have something in play that dries your mouth out because you're either hard at work or you're trying to rejuvenate yourself, just remember that keeping your mouth balanced means 1) keeping it moist and 2) being mindful of high carbohydrate or alcohol products. If you add those things to the mix when you're eating or drinking anything to give you a boost to energy or a boost to confidence. So chewing gum, brushing your teeth, or even neutralizing things with some sips of still water afterward are going to work.
A great trade secret that I'm going to share with you all: Carbonated water is not friendly to teeth. It is corrosive in that every time it comes in contact with teeth, it's acidic. And over a long period of time and several events with carbonated beverages, it's going to do the dirty work of forming some cavities and sensitivity that send you straight over to my clinic!
FIND A WAY TO TAKE SOME TIME FOR YOURSELF.
Everything you do on the road revolves around meeting schedules and expectations and connecting with people in ways that keep your life and career moving ahead. And stress can build up.
One of the things I've seen as a growing trend over the past several years is people's insatiable need to grind their teeth in the face of stress. So be holistic about things in your life. Take some time every day to meditate, exercise, set yourself up for a proper sleep cycle, laugh, and give yourself a hug. You need to have that kind of therapy available each day and that will tone down that tooth-grinding monster that lives deep within us all. It'll save you troubles with tooth sensitivity. It'll save you from chipping and cracking a tooth or a crown.
Generally, you'll find that there is a rhythm and a rhyme to how the body starts to calm itself. When you have a routine that includes time for self care. I prefer a little Qi Gong or Tai Chi, mixing it in with running and bodyweight exercises. And then finding an artist I can listen to on my cool-down that matches my vibe.
I hope that gives you a basis for making the best of your care on the road. Be well!
-Dr. Chris