The holidays are one of the busiest traveling times of the year, and it’s fairly likely that you might be amongst the throngs in airports and highways. We all know how common it is to accidentally forget something in the rush of getting ready to travel. In some instances, forgetting that hair dryer or extra shirt would be an inconvenience, but you can certainly do without. In the event of a toothbrush and other dental care items, they are much more essential to your health—and shouldn’t be forgotten.

Take a rule out of the man in the red hat’s book and make yourself a list of everything that you need to bring for the holidays. Start by going through your daily routine in your head, and write down each item you rely upon. Next, think of the holiday itself. Did you promise to bring your famous sufganiyot? Are you supplying the mac ‘n’ cheese this year? How many presents are you giving out on your holiday? Consider all these elements, and also record them on your list. This will make packing so much easier, as you can check off everything as you go.

Those dental health necessities, such as your toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss, might not seem all that important, but increasing your dental consciousness during the holidays is crucial. We often are eating more—particularly more sugary foods—and the plaque buildup can be highly detrimental to our teeth and health as a whole. Make your packing list, and double check that you have everything you need to ensure your dental health over the holidays.