Canadian explorer Adam Shoalts, often called “Canada’s Indiana Jones,” has gone on remarkable expeditions through the wild Arctic and other remote areas. Shoalts often embark on canoe expeditions with minimal resources and may go months without seeing others. His adventures shed light on how challenging conditions and limited resources can affect oral health practices during these journeys.
Beyond the Tent: Innovative Dental Hygiene Product Storage
To maintain his oral hygiene on a long trip, Adam will typically pack:
- Four travel-sized toothpastes
- Two manual toothbrushes
- A few mini mouthwashes
- Floss
While prioritizing the need to travel as efficiently as possible and mindful of every added ounce in his pack, Adam justifies the inclusion of these products. He notes that floss can serve a dual purpose in survival or unforeseen situations, such as a fishing line and sewing thread. However, the extreme cold of his surroundings presents challenges, particularly with toothpaste freezing, rendering it difficult to use. Additionally, there’s the concern that toothpaste may attract bears, compelling him to exercise caution when storing it outside his tent. Adam must carefully select locations for spitting after brushing, often favouring streams or fires to mitigate potential wildlife encounters.
The Connection Between Expedition Diets and Oral Health
In addition to the significant shifts in available resources and environmental conditions during expeditions, Adam also discusses the impact of dietary changes on his oral health. Adam explains, during trips, “Your body is constantly burning calories, whether you are paddling in your canoe, or you are in your tent trying to stay warm, so you are ravenously hungry all the time.” Much like a professional athlete, Adam has a high demand for carbohydrate intake. Therefore, to fulfill his daily caloric requirements, Adam relies on protein bars containing calorie-rich ingredients like chocolate, peanut butter, nuts, and dried fruit, which are high in sugar and can easily adhere to teeth. Khan et al. found that due to elite athletes’ consumption of sports drinks, gels, and energy bars, despite having good oral hygiene habits, athletes were shown to have poor oral health and an increase in dental caries.1 The texture of the ingredients in the energy bars is likely to adhere to tooth surfaces for an extended period, which increases the risk of dental caries formation.2 Dental caries develop due to the combination of food, saliva and bacteria (plaque) that stick to the teeth and contain bacteria that can produce acid that demineralizes the tooth enamel, resulting in cavities.2 Moreover, the introduced sugar in energy bars interacts with the bacteria within plaque and generates acid, contributing to tooth decay.3
On a typical expedition, Adam mentions how he can eat up to 10 energy bars daily to sustain his energy levels. Nonetheless, Adam finds it impractical to halt his travels and brush his teeth after consuming each bar to prevent residue from clinging to his teeth. Adam maintains his oral health routine by using a manual toothbrush and toothpaste. He typically brushes his teeth once in the early morning, usually around 4 or 5 a.m., and again in the evening before retiring to his tent. However, Adam is mindful of how the contents of his diet can affect his oral health and carries small amounts of mouthwash, which he uses when he senses residual buildup on his teeth, but cannot take the time to pause his canoe journey for a thorough brushing. Furthermore, the toothpaste Adam chooses to bring can significantly impact his oral health routine. Research has demonstrated that high-fluoride toothpaste, which contains 1000 or 1100 ppm, can substantially lower the occurrence of cavities in fully developed permanent teeth compared to non-fluoride toothpaste.4
Aside from energy bars, Adam’s diet on expeditions also includes freeze-dried meals and fruits. Although consuming starchy and fresh fruits is associated with low levels of dental caries, the foods do not have the same qualities after freeze-drying.5 As a result, lyophilized food (freeze-dried) has a stickier consistency likely to adhere to the tooth surfaces, leading to an increased chance of caries and gingival inflammation.5 Interestingly, a study by Gronwald et al. discovered that a freeze-dried diet in isolated conditions does not have a diverse effect on oral hygiene and gingival status.5 The authors hypothesized that proper oral hygiene habits seemed to outweigh the benefits even with the sticky consistency of freeze-dried food.5
Given the potential negative impact of his wilderness diet on his oral health, Adam strives to be mindful of the timing of his food consumption throughout the day. For instance, Adam tries to eat sugary foods in the morning to brush his teeth right afterward, rather than waiting 9 or 10 hours before brushing. Adam should also consider the order in which he consumes his meals. The consumption of his protein bars will significantly reduce pH levels. Chewing on nutritious foods afterward, especially fibre-rich options like the berries that Adam occasionally enjoys, can trigger saliva production and naturally aid in removing food particles. Saliva is crucial in neutralizing the pH, rinsing away food debris, and remineralizing tooth enamel. Adam will also rinse his mouth with water after meals to remove remaining sugars and help rebalance his mouth’s pH levels.
Nature’s Dental Toolkit: Resourceful Oral Care Methods
Shoalts’ daily routine on his 4-month-long adventures consists of him using his travel toothbrush, mini toothpaste and mouthwash. He is sometimes forced to improvise using warm water he heats up over his fire or a thread from clothing. Adam is often placed in situations where he may lose personal belongings while canoeing through the rapids or a storm. When faced with losing his toothbrush or other dental necessities, Adam Shoalts turns to nature for solutions. Armed with his Swiss army knife and a toothpick attachment, he skillfully crafts his dental tools from the environment around him. When resources are limited, Shoalts opts to whittle a dental pick from a tree, carefully avoiding sap-producing trees to avoid sticky him and his belongings and prevent residue buildup. Adam searches for dead or dry wood and prefers aspen, polar or willow trees, depending on the region’s climate. The use of chewing sticks of plants dates to ancient times, the early Arab, Babylonian, Greek, and Roman civilizations who used them to clean their teeth as a part of their dental hygiene practices.6 Dried chewing sticks from a tree were often used for their antibacterial effects to prevent dental caries, tooth decay, gum disease and periodontitis.7 Shoalts turn to nature’s tools, whittling dental picks from trees or using a fishbone, proving that oral health can be creatively maintained even in the remote wilderness.
Some natural alternatives Adam has learned to search for include replacements for mouthwash and floss through the properties of a specific plant. Adam will scavenge for a plant resembling a large Irish clover called goldthread, using the yellow roots as a substitute for mouthwash and floss. Goldthread is a bitter-tasting herb valued for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.8 The plant contains an alkaloid known as berberine, an herb known for its antimicrobial activity.8 It has been found to prevent the destruction of periodontal tissue and alveolar bone.9 In his resourceful quest for natural alternatives, Adam Shoalts finds creative solutions, such as using goldthread roots as substitutes for oral care necessities in remote areas.
Adam’s Oral Health Advice for Adventurers (verified by a registered dental hygienist)
- Speak to a dental health professional before embarking on their expeditions.
- Schedule a dental cleaning both before embarking on the trip and upon returning.
- Take a high-fluoride toothpaste when travelling.
- Brush your teeth after eating whenever feasible.
- Drink lots of water to dilute sugars and avoid dry mouth.
- Consume healthy foods (e.g. berberine or berries) after consuming sugary items.
- Consider packing a small emergency dental kit with pain relievers, a small mirror for self-examination, and gauze.
Conclusion
Reviewing the oral health habits among Canadian explorers highlights the importance of maintaining a good oral hygiene routine during prolonged expeditions. Adam Shoalts’ extraordinary journeys illuminated the intricate connection between wilderness adventures and oral health. Through his resourceful practices, Shoalts demonstrates that even in the most challenging and remote environments, maintaining oral hygiene is possible with careful planning and creativity. Through Adam Shoalts’ remarkable journeys, we gather insights into the resilience of both explorers and their oral well-being amidst the beauty and challenges of the natural world.
Oral Health welcomes this original article.
References
- Khan, K., Qadir, A., Trakman, G., Aziz, T., Khattak, M. I., Nabi, G., Alharbi, M., Alshammari, A., & Shahzad, M. (2022). Sports and energy drink consumption, oral health problems and performance impact among elite athletes. Nutrients, 14(23), 5089. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14235089
- Atkinson, F. S., Khan, J. H., Brand-Miller, J. C., & Eberhard, J. (2021). The Impact of Carbohydrate Quality on Dental Plaque pH: Does the Glycemic Index of Starchy Foods Matter for Dental Health?. Nutrients, 13(8), 2711. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13082711
- Moynihan P. (2016). Sugars and Dental Caries: Evidence for Setting a Recommended Threshold for Intake. Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.), 7(1), 149–156. https://doi.org/10.3945/an.115.009365
- Walsh, T., Worthington, H. V., Glenny, A. M., Marinho, V. C., & Jeroncic, A. (2019). Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 3(3), CD007868. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007868.pub3
- Gronwald, B. J., Kijak, K., Jezierska, K., Gronwald, H. A., Kosko, K., Matuszczak, M., Bielawska-Victorini, H. B., et al. (2022). Influence of Freeze-Dried Diet on Oral Hygiene Indicators in Strict Isolation Condition of an Analog Space Mission. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1367. MDPI AG. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031367
- Malik, A., Shaukat, M., Qureshi, A., & Abdur, R. (2014). Comparative effectiveness of chewing stick and toothbrush: A randomized clinical trial. North American Journal of Medical Sciences, 6(7), 333. https://doi.org/10.4103/1947-2714.136916
- Niazi, F., Naseem, M., Khurshid, Z., Zafar, M. S., & Almas, K. (2016). Role of salvadora persica chewing Stick (miswak): A natural toothbrush for Holistic Oral Health. European Journal of Dentistry, 10(02), 301–308. https://doi.org/10.4103/1305-7456.178297
- Neag, M. A., Mocan, A., Echeverría, J., Pop, R. M., Bocsan, I. C., Crisan, G., & Buzoianu, A. D. (2018). Berberine: botanical occurrence, traditional uses, extraction methods, and relevance in cardiovascular, metabolic, hepatic, and renal disorders. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00557
- Mohammadian Haftcheshmeh, S., & Momtazi‐Borojeni, A. A. (2021). Berberine as a promising natural compound for the treatment of periodontal disease: A focus on anti-inflammatory properties. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 25(24), 11333–11337. https://doi.
About the Authors
Christina Grimo is in her final year of a Bachelor of Medical Sciences degree at Brock University. She is a Clinical/Sterilization assistant at Dr. Peter Fritz’s Periodontal Wellness and Implant Surgery clinic in Fonthill.
Fernanda Rosenboom is a Brock University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences. She is a Dental Administrative Assistant at Dr. Fritz’s Periodontal Wellness & Implant Surgery in Fonthill.
Shruti Patel is an MPH Candidate in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at Brock University, holding a BSc in Medical Sciences. She is a Dental Administrative Assistant at Dr. Fritz’s Periodontal Wellness and Implant Surgery in Fonthill.
Carly Zanatta holds an MSc from Brock University in Applied Health Science. Carly’s research focused on the effect of diet on healing after sanative therapy. She is a Treatment and Project Coordinator at Dr. Fritz’s Periodontal Wellness and Implant Surgery in Fonthill.
