Traveling with braces can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to ruin your fun. With a bit of preparation and support from the Designer Smiles by Benton team, you can keep your teeth and braces in great shape while you explore new places.
How to Keep Up with Oral Hygiene
For many, traveling is a break from work. You get to kick back, relax, and pretend you don’t have responsibilities for a while. For some, traveling is work, but it’s a break from some things, and you might even get to see a cool new area. However, no matter the reason why you’re packing a suitcase, your trip is not a break from oral hygiene. You must still be diligent in keeping your routine so your teeth and gums can stay healthy and spotless.
We suggest bringing your electric toothbrush if you can, and don’t forget your charging cord or extra batteries! If you don’t want to risk losing or damaging your expensive Philips toothbrush (or other costly brand), make sure your replacement is a soft-bristled toothbrush. And, if the replacement isn’t electric, be certain you know how to brush with a manual toothbrush!
Also, pack your preferred toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash—in TSA-approved portions if necessary!
We also recommend you bring a portable or cordless water flosser that doesn’t take up too much space in your bag. Water flossers are essential for removing stubborn plaque, bacteria, and food residue from your teeth, gums, and braces. They’re especially helpful at cleansing those hard-to-reach areas, so your breath will be the last thing you’re worried about while making memories.
Keep your toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash in a bag you can easily access during the drive, flight, train ride, sailing, etc. You never know when you’ll want to freshen up!
Taking Your Braces Care Kit
You know that braces care kit you or your child takes with you every day to work or school? You should also bring it on vacation and carry it whenever you leave your hotel or Airbnb.
These small, easily transportable items can be the difference between a good day and a bad day, so before throwing your braces kit into your bag, make sure you have the following items:
- Travel-Size Toothbrush & Toothpaste: Great for keeping your teeth, gums, and braces clean after meals when you’re on the go.
- Interdental Brushes (interproximal brushes): Perfect for cleaning between braces and between teeth.
- Orthodontic Rubber Bands: If Dr. Benton or Dr. Barry has instructed you to wear orthodontic bands, make sure you bring more than you think you’ll need! They’re crucial for proper teeth movement; even one day without them can set your treatment back. You don’t want your post-traveling bliss to be ruined by our team telling you that we know you didn’t wear them.
- Waxed Floss: Like interdental brushes, floss keeps your smile healthy and photo-album-ready.
- Floss Threaders: Bring some floss threaders if you struggle with using thread floss. There’s no need to get frustrated on vacation because you can’t get the floss between the teeth when you’ve got these in your care kit.
- A Small Concave Mirror: Helps you see what’s going on with your braces. Especially helpful if something feels off or you need to put on bands or clean your teeth when you’re away from a bathroom.
- Orthodontic Wax: Smooths out any rough or poking areas to prevent irritation. Can also hold loose brackets in place and cover pointy wires.
- Nail Clippers or Wire Cutters: These can cut protruding wires. Don’t swallow the loose metal!
- Orajel: Numbs sore spots and provides relief from minor oral pain
- Ibuprofen or other OTC pain reliever: Helps manage pain or discomfort.
- Lip Balm: Keeps your lips moisturized, especially if they get dry from travel or braces adjustments.
- Reusable Water Bottle: Drinking water throughout the day keeps the mouth hydrated and rinses away food, plaque, and bacteria. A moist mouth is less likely to be irritated by braces or develop mouth sores, and a reusable water bottle keeps more money in your pocket for more exciting things than water.
An Itinerary with Braces-Safe Food
When planning your trip, make sure you know of places in your destination that serve food you can eat with your braces. We know not everyone likes to plan trips to that extent, but it might be necessary.
Need a review on what kind of things you should consider when looking for food? We got you covered!
- Avoid Hard, Crunchy Food that can break or damage your braces, including but not limited to raw vegetables, croutons, and nuts.
- Eat Tender Meat and Remove Meat From The Bone With Silverware instead of using your teeth.
- Skip Over Sticky Treats that can be a nightmare to clean off your braces later.
- Cut All Food Into Bite Size Pieces to avoid putting pressure on your front brackets; this also allows you to double-check that your meal contains no unwanted, dangerous surprises.
- Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Dietary Accommodations, but understand they might not always be possible. That’s why we recommend planning ahead!
If you’re setting out on an excursion and you’re unsure if braces-safe food will be readily available, pack snacks or lunch suitable for your plans and orthodontic journey.
A Visit to Designer Smiles by Benton
Hit us up during the planning stage of your trip! This way, you can make sure your travel plans don’t mess with any upcoming adjustment appointments. Plus, if a check-up is recommended, you’ll have plenty of time to schedule a convenient appointment before you go.
A thorough check-up is an opportunity for Dr. Benton or Dr. Barry to guarantee your braces are in top shape, lowering the chances of any surprises or emergencies while you’re away. It’s also the perfect time to grab any braces care kit items from the office, find out what else you might need, and get new aligners or retainers.
Though it may seem like this is an unimportant task on the seemingly never-ending list of preparations, we promise it won’t be a waste of time. You can travel with peace of mind by reaching out early, knowing your smile is still on the right track.
Bonus Tips
We could go on and on about traveling with orthodontic appliances, but we know you’re very busy and have a trip to plan! But please indulge us for a second longer before you close this tab and start another part of your traveling to-do list.
Here are some brief additional tips we think you should know:
- Bring Extra Clear Aligners
- Bring Cleaning Products For Your Aligners/Retainers
- Bring The Case For Your Aligners/Retainers
- Bring Your Mouthguard (if applicable)
- Bring The Boost DentalMonitoring System (if applicable)
- Don’t Try DIY Fixes On Broken Braces — Utilize your Orajel, orthodontic wax, ice, OTC painkillers, and wire cutters. In the event of an orthodontic emergency, contact us immediately for personalized advice based on your unique situation.
Designer Smiles by Benton is Here To Help You Travel and Smile With Confidence!
Though we only have locations in Oxford and Pell City, we want you to have a stress-free experience with us regardless of how far you briefly are from us. For more information about traveling with our metal or clear Damon braces, Spark or Invisalign clear aligners, or LightForce clear braces, please reach out to us! We’re happy to help keep you smiling!