As school lets out and summer begins, many people plan vacations. Will this be your first time traveling with braces? How do you keep your orthodontic treatment on track? What do you do in a braces emergency if you’re out of town? Will your braces set off airport security scanners?
Rest assured, your braces won’t have you tangling with TSA, but there are a few things you can do to ensure your vacation is worry-free, even in braces. Fergus Orthodontics offers a few tips for you if you’re traveling with braces or aligners, such as Invisalign.
Preparing to Travel With Braces
Whether you’re traveling for a few days or a few weeks, it’s not a bad idea to get a braces checkup before you leave. You’ll want to address any problems you may be having, such as a wire poking you or a shortage of rubber bands for your braces.
Will your regular braces visit fall during your vacation? It’s okay to arrive a little early or schedule it a little later. Simply call Fergus Orthodontics, and we can accommodate your schedule.
What if you’re traveling with Invisalign or Invisalign Teen? You want to ensure you have enough sets of clear aligners to last you through your vacation. Check with us to ensure you don’t have an interruption in your Invisalign treatment while you’re taking a break.
What Should You Bring For Your Braces?
You want to make sure you have everything you need while on vacation, including things you might need “just in case.”
Obviously, you’ll want your toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, and dental floss. Don’t forget to bring extra floss threaders with you so you can easily floss your teeth with braces. It wouldn’t hurt to bring some fluoride mouthwash with you, as well, and a proximal brush to help with the flossing.
Don’t forget to bring extra orthodontic rubber bands with you, in case you need more braces elastics than you expected. You also want to bring extra dental wax in case a wire or bracket starts to irritate you. You can probably use the braces wax on the area until you get home.
What Should You Bring While Traveling With Invisalign?
What if you have Invisalign or Invisalign Teen? You’ll want to keep your aligners safe on vacation, so you’ll need your storage case. Bring an extra one in case you lose one. Make sure to bring plenty of clear aligner cleaner tablets to clean your aligners daily. You should probably bring an extra set of clear aligners with you just in case you lose yours.
If you have to change to the next set during vacation, don’t throw away your old set of clear aligners. If you lose one of the new ones, you can wear the old one until you get back to us for a replacement.
Remember to keep your Invisalign away from heat sources, including leaving them in hot cars or even in direct sunlight through a hotel room window. Make sure to store your Invisalign in a proper storage container when they aren’t in your mouth. It wouldn’t hurt to take an extra storage container in case you lose the first one.
Be sure to rinse your clear aligners before putting them into your mouth. If you aren’t around a faucet, take a bottle of water with you so you can rinse your Invisalign.
Drinking and Eating With Braces on Vacation
Let’s face it: One of the fun things about being on vacation is enjoying the area’s food and drink offerings! Being on vacation in general doesn’t mean being on vacation from the food restrictions you have with braces, but you can still enjoy eating out during your travels.
Remember, the foods to avoid with braces are crunchy, sticky, chewy, and hard foods, so that you don’t damage your braces. You also want to avoid consuming too much coffee, tea, soda, dark wine, or dark fruit juices to prevent staining your teeth and clear braces.
It’s a good idea to rinse your mouth after meals. We know when you’re out and about, you probably won’t want to stop and brush your teeth often. Rinsing your mouth after meals helps remove plaque and food particles, making it easier to clean your teeth with brushing and flossing later.
One thing you should do frequently is drink water. Plain water is best, of course, but any water will keep you and your mouth hydrated, which helps maintain the health of your teeth and gums. Drinking lots of water will also help wash away bacteria from your teeth. So if you’re out enjoying a hike or even relaxing on the beach, take a bottle of water with you and stay hydrated!
Braces Emergencies While on Vacation
What happens if you have a braces emergency while traveling? What if you lost your Invisalign while traveling? We hope you never need emergency orthodontic care while on vacation, but here are a few tips to keep in mind if you do.
The first step is to call us if you can. We can help you evaluate whether you need to see an orthodontist in the area or if other solutions can keep you and your braces safe until you get home and to us for repair.
It’s a good idea to research “orthodontists near me” for the area where you will be staying. That way, you know your options if something happens. We can work with you and the local orthodontist if a braces emergency comes up and you need an immediate repair.
Often, though, repairs can wait until you return. For example, you can cover a broken wire or a loose bracket with braces wax to keep it — and your mouth — safe until you return.
Additionally, if you experience an Invisalign emergency, we can advise you on whether you can use your previous aligners until you return home or proceed to the next set. Call and let us know if you have a clear aligner emergency.
Airport Traveling With Braces
We know what you want to know: Will my braces set off alarms at airport security? Rest assured, you should be able to get through security just fine with braces. Scanners usually won’t pick up on them, but if they do, just flash a big smile while they use the scanner wand, and you should be fine.
You shouldn’t have any problem getting through airport security with clear aligners. However, it’s a good idea to keep your spare clear aligners, cases, and cleaners in your carry-on luggage. The same goes for your braces supplies. For one, it’s to ensure they get through security. For another, it’s to ensure you have them just in case the worst happens and your luggage is lost.
Travel With Braces and Invisalign
Traveling with braces and Invisalign isn’t much different from your everyday oral hygiene routines. It helps to be prepared for every contingency, but don’t let it stress you out too much. Go and enjoy yourself on vacation, but know you can give Fergus Orthodontics in Jonesboro, AR, a call for any braces emergency!
