Whether your summer plans include backpacking at a National Park, flying to the beach for some much-needed R&R, or vacationing in Europe, you might be wondering how to balance travel and clear aligner treatment. Although it may seem overwhelming at first, there are several steps you can take to enjoy your time away in a way that doesn’t result in you falling off-track with your treatment plan. With this in mind, read on to learn three helpful tips for traveling with Invisalign!
1. Bring All of the Aligners You’ll Need
One mistake that patients often make is that they only bring their current aligners. However, if your trip is longer than a week or you’re gone on the day you need to move onto the next tray, then you need to bring the next set! This is crucial because not changing trays at the designated time can quickly cause you to fall off-track with your treatment plan.
Bonus tip: don’t pack your additional aligners with your shoes or any other items that can cause them to accidentally break while your luggage is being tossed around in the car, on the plane, etc.
2. Keep Up with Your Oral Hygiene Routine
Does your usual routine go completely out-the-window on vacation? While that may work for certain things, like your usual wakeup time, it doesn’t work for your oral hygiene regimen. No matter what your travel plans entail, it’s important that you consistently brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash. Otherwise, you may develop a cavity or two, which will need to be treated before you can move on with your Invisalign treatment.
Bonus tip: pack some travel-sized oral hygiene essentials to make cleaning your teeth on the go significantly easier!
3. Always Place Your Aligners in Their Storage Case
All too often, patients choose to place their aligners on the table or in a napkin out of sheer convenience. However, this is one of the most common ways they get misplaced. When you’re away from home, it can be difficult to know what to do next, especially if you can’t get in touch with your dentist because they are in a different time zone. To reduce your chances of losing your aligners, always take them out and place them in their designated storage case.
Bonus tip: always place your storage case in a specific place as well (like the front pocket of your luggage or purse).
With these tips, you can have the best of both worlds: enjoy your vacation and stay on-track with your Invisalign treatment plan!
About the Practice
In addition to a phenomenal team, Willow Bend Orthodontics has two exceptional orthodontists, Dr. Jones and Dr. Hanson. Together, they use their experience, advanced training, and passion for helping others to offer a multitude of teeth-straightening treatments – from traditional braces to Invisalign. If you have any questions about life with braces, they are here to answer questions and provide advice as well. So, if you would like to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to visit our website or call (972) 732-1400.