Like many, you probably think clear aligners are easy to manage when you’re staying at home. You just need to wear and maintain the trays amidst your everyday life; these things are often simple. That said, keeping up with your treatment can get trickier on vacations and trips. You’ll want to ensure you know what to do in that situation. So, please keep reading to learn four great tips for traveling with clear aligners.
Maintain Your Tray Routine
As tempted as you may be, don’t skip your clear aligner routine during your trip. You should maintain it just as you would if you were at home.
You see, the aligner treatment process doesn’t take breaks when you do. It always requires that you brush your teeth twice daily, floss at least once daily, and wear your trays 22 hours per day. If you don’t stick to those steps, you’ll increase your risk of oral problems and delay your treatment progress. That means you should set teeth cleaning and wear time reminders for yourself, as they’ll keep you from falling behind.
Pack a Dental Essentials Kit
You must keep your teeth and trays clean while you’re away. Given that fact, please pack a dental essentials kit that includes the following:
- A Travel Toothbrush – You’ll need a toothbrush to brush your teeth (and aligners) on your trip. At the same time, it’s a good idea to pack multiple toothbrushes in convenient places such as your suitcase, a carry-on, and a handbag.
- Dental Floss – You need to floss once a day to thoroughly clean your teeth. If regular floss isn’t available, you could also bring a flosser tool or something similar.
- Travel-Size Mouthwash – By rinsing with mouthwash, you can clear away oral debris that a toothbrush can’t reach.
Bring Extra/Spare Aligners
If you plan to travel far, you should bring extra or “spare” aligners. Doing so will ensure your treatment stays on track.
Remember, today’s clear aligners are small and nearly invisible to the eye. That means they’re very easy to lose or misplace, which could cause treatment delays. You’ll thus want to bring spare trays if you lose your original ones amidst your travels. By doing so, you’re more likely to maintain solid treatment progress while away from home.
Consult Your Dentist Before Leaving
You can certainly use clear aligners while traveling, but you’d do well to consult your dentist before leaving. They’ll set you up for treatment success while you’re away.
Indeed, a pre-trip checkup can ensure your treatment plan remains stable. It also allows you to discuss later appointments if your travel plans are long-term. By hashing out your future visits before the trip starts, you won’t have to wait as long to switch to new aligners. You can then rest easy as you enjoy a fantastic vacation.
Do you want more tips on traveling with clear aligners? If so, just consult your dental provider – they’ll gladly share relevant ideas!
About the Practice
Goodlettsville Smiles is based in Goodlettsville, TN. Led by Dr. Deidra Harrison-McClain, our practice welcomes every opportunity to improve a patient’s grin. That means we offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments tailored to your specific smile, as well as emergency oral care. Our office is also a certified provider of Reveal® Clear Aligners. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (615)-859-0188.