In the upcoming months, you’ll likely be invited to celebrations for the holidays, and if they live in different states or towns, it means you’ll need to travel with your Invisalign trays. If you’re wondering what this looks like and how you can stay on track with your treatment timeline, all while having a wonderful time, look no further! Read on for four traveling tips as you’re straightening your smile with Invisalign.
Create an Invisalign Travel Kit
Before you leave your home, you’ll want to put together an Invisalign travel kit that includes all of your basic oral hygiene items as well as a few special extras, like chewies, Invisalign cleaning crystals, and more. While it may be tempting to cut a few corners during your treatment while you’re out enjoying yourself on vacation, it’s important not to do this, as it could alter your routine and treatment timeline.
When creating your travel kit, be sure to include:
- The phone number of your orthodontist, in case any emergencies arise.
- Mouthwash to help clear away debris in the nooks and crevices of your mouth.
- Dental floss so you can floss daily, ideally after each meal.
- A travel-sized toothbrush and toothpaste to brush several times throughout the day.
- Invisalign cleaning crystals to easily clean your trays.
Keep Up with Your Regular Oral Hygiene Routine
While you’re relaxing and having fun with friends and family, it’s important to continue taking care of your smile, especially if you want to avoid developing cavities or other oral health problems during your Invisalign treatment. Continue to brush after each time you eat, being sure to floss regularly to clear away any food that has become stuck between your teeth. Additionally, be mindful of continuing to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours every day!
Bring Your Next Series of Trays
If you’re planning to be out of town for awhile, you may need to bring the next series of aligners in your treatment with you on your vacation. This will keep your teeth on track with your treatment timeline. Plus, if you accidentally lose or damage your tray, you may be able to use the next series in the meantime to make sure your teeth continue to shift towards your final alignment goals.
Schedule Any Check-Ins Before Heading Out of Town
If you know that you’ll miss a check-in with your orthodontist while you’re out of town, it’s a good idea to contact them to see whether you should come in before you leave, allowing you to get the next sets of trays in your aligner and make sure you’re on the right track. This will provide you with peace of mind that your holiday vacation won’t be ruined by a developing oral health problem or that there’s a hiccup in your treatment.
About the Author
Dr. Frances Hamman has been a practicing orthodontist since 1993 and has straightened thousands of smiles over the years. Her specialty training allows her to help patients experiencing a wide range of alignment issues, from simple cosmetic cases to more complex and functional situations. She offers several different orthodontic appliances to meet each of her patient’s unique needs, including Invisalign clear aligners and classic braces. For questions or to schedule a consultation, visit Sensational Smiles Orthodontics’ website or call 920-748-7130.
