Travel & Orthodontics

When Dr. Sharma isn’t doing his thing as an Abbotsford and Surrey orthodontist, he frequently travels. We know a lot of our patients and their families at Aura Orthodontics share his love of adventure and a few have even asked, “Can I travel with braces?” Of course you can. Traveling with braces or Invisalign will take a little extra planning but even a lengthy vacation can go off without a hitch if you’re prepared.

Pre-Trip Planning

If you plan on travelling while having braces on or while wearing Invisalign, you’ll want to make sure to keep your treatment on track, particularly if it will be a long trip. Let Dr. Sharma know you’ll be out of town in advance if you can. This way you can schedule an appointment close to your departure date. He’ll check out your mouth to monitor your progress and make adjustments if necessary.

Make a Braces Travel Kit

Whether you’re flying with braces or Invisalign to an exotic locale or going camping, putting together an orthodontic travel kit will ensure you have everything you need to keep your mouth clean and happy. Here are a few necessities you’ll want to pack:

• Invisalign aligners if you’ll be switching to a new set during your getaway
• Your Invisalign aligner case (you don’t want to lose them!)
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Mouthwash
• Dental floss and, if wearing braces, floss threaders or special orthodontic flossers
• Orthodontic wax
• Over-the-counter pain reliever if having an adjustment before leaving or popping in new aligners
• Small mirror
• Bottled water for rinsing and brushing (if camping or in a country with unsafe drinking water

Dealing with Braces Emergencies While Traveling

In the majority of cases you’ll get through your trip unscathed but every so often an orthodontic emergency crops up and being away from home can cause some anxiety. Have no fear. You’ll deal with it the same way you would in your daily life. Follow our tips and call the office and make an appointment for when you get back. Here are some of the more common braces-related issues and how to handle them while travelling:

• Sensitive Teeth: If travelling right after you get your braces on or after an adjustment, you can deal with sensitive teeth by sticking to soft foods and cold drinks for a day or two. If necessary, take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed and rinse with warm salt water regularly until any discomfort subsides.
• Poking Wire: Use the back of a spoon or a pencil eraser and gently try to push the wire under your braces and out of the way. If it’s still poking, dry the teeth in the area with a tissue. Then, bust out your orthodontic wax, tear off a small piece and roll it into a ball. Stick it onto the bracket and wire and adjust it until you no longer feel any poking. If you’re left with a long piece of wire hanging out after a bracket breaks, you can extremely carefully cut it with nail clippers.
• Broken Brackets: If a bracket breaks on one of the front or middle teeth, you’ll do the same thing you would with a poking wire, which is dry the tooth with a tissue and place a small piece of orthodontic wax on it so it doesn’t irritate you. If the broken bracket is on a back tooth, you can gently remove it from the wire.
• Lip or Cheek Irritation: If the wires or brackets are irritating your lips or cheeks, rinse with warm salt water regularly. You can also use orthodontic wax to cover any bothersome brackets or wires.

So there you have it, our guide to travel and orthodontics. Wearing braces or Invisalign won’t put a damper on your adventurous side. You’ll just want to make sure you plan ahead and pack your braces essentials. Schedule your free consultation with Aura Orthodontics and we’ll help you find the treatment option that works best for your lifestyle even if you happen to have a case of wanderlust.