If you aren’t prepared, travel can be especially complicated for people with braces. To help you stay on track with your orthodontic treatment even while on vacation, here are some tips from our Surrey orthodontists.
Bring Along an Oral Hygiene Kit
It can be very helpful to always keep an oral hygiene travel kit packed and ready to go. Prepare a small kit that’s easy to transport while your travelling. We suggest using a small pouch or case to store everything together. That way, it will fit easily into your luggage or carry-on, and you'll be able to find it quickly when you need it.
Include the following items in your travel kit:
- A travel toothbrush
- Toothpaste (travel size can be handy)
- Dental floss or picks
- Lip balm
- Mirror
- Anti-bacterial hand wipes
- Mouthwash
- Ibuporphen or anti-inflammatory pain relief tablets
Maintain Your Oral Hygiene Routine
Travelling doesn't mean that your oral hygiene routine needs to be thrown off! While you're wearing braces it's super important to clean your teeth every time you eat snacks or meals. Being on vacation doesn't reduce the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene! Allowing your oral hygiene routine to slide while on vacation can make it difficult to get back on track once you get home.
Make a conscious effort to keep up with your routine. If you happen to find yourself away from home without a toothbrush, be sure to rinse your mouth with mouthwash or clean tap water, and brush as soon as possible.
Braces-Friendly Snacks to Bring Along
Maintaining good habits outside of your normal routine is also important. Even on vacation, you will still need to avoid crunchy, hard, chewy or sticky foods that could damage your braces.
Don't take any risks with your braces while you're away. Avoid the temptation to eat the foods that could damage your braces by planning ahead and packing snacks that you enjoy. Some easy to transport snacks include:
- Avocado with sea salt and pepper
- Cottage Cheese
- Yogurt cups
- Soft fruit like grapes or bananas
- Pita slices with hummus
- Soft vegetables like peppers or cucumbers
Our orthodontists know that it can be tempting to bend the rules while you're on vacation, but it’s important to stay on track with you braces in order to achieve the results you want.