Do you remember when you’d pack your suitcase as a kid to go stay with grandma and grandpa? It always seemed like you were forgetting something. Well, that’s because you did, so you’d often end up having to sleep in grandpa’s oversized pajamas!
These days, you must remember to pack your Invisalign when you are traveling to keep your smile progressing toward perfect. You know the routine of wearing and maintaining your aligners during a normal week at home, but what considerations do you need to be aware of when you are traveling with Invisalign?
Pack a Dental Essentials Kit for Your Trip
Make sure to bring these essential travel items to maintain your oral health:
- Travel toothbrush: Bring multiple toothbrushes and stash them in convenient places so you can easily clean your teeth after eating and drinking before replacing your aligners
- Floss: Being able to clean between your teeth once a day is a travel necessity
- Mouthwash: Rinsing is a great way to clear any debris your toothbrush can’t reach
- Next set of aligners: If you are planning on traveling for multiple weeks, there’s a good chance you’ll need to change your aligners
- Invisalign case: Keep track of your current aligners when you take them out to eat, plus you can store your next set
Maintain Your Routine
Vacation is a great time to leave your responsibilities at home, but this doesn’t apply to your oral health. Continue to brush at least twice a day and floss at night before bed.
A key benefit of Invisalign is you can eat and drink whatever you want when your aligners are removed. Even so, it can be easy to neglect the mandatory 22 hours of wear if you are having drinks on the beach all day, so be sure to set a timer when eating and drinking to avoid falling behind on your progress.
Make Sure the Tap Water Is Safe
Depending on where you are traveling, you may need to be careful about the water supply you’re using to brush your teeth. If you are advised not to drink water from the tap, you should not brush or rinse with it, either.
When in doubt, use only bottled water on your toothbrush. Since Invisalign requires you to brush after everything you eat, always be sure to have a bottle of safe water with you.
Let Your Dentist Know Before Your Trip Begins
It’s a smart idea to schedule a pre-trip appointment with your dentist. They can ensure your treatment plan stays on track while you are away.
By caring for your teeth on vacation in the same way you would if you were at home, you can prevent mishaps and ensure that the progress with your Invisalign treatment stays on track!
About the Practice
At Island City Dental, we want to give our patients peace of mind in addition to beautiful smiles. Whether you need a consultation or an extensive restorative procedure, you can trust that you’ll receive excellent dentistry and top-tier customer service every single time. We offer full-service general dentistry, as well as a long list of specialty services in-house, including all-inclusive dental implant care and customized cosmetic procedures. To schedule an appointment to get Invisalign crafted for you or simply to ask a general dentistry question, visit our website or call (954) 564-7121.