Worried about what will happen to your clear aligners treatment during traveling? You don’t have to stop your orthodontic treatment when you travel. Clear aligners are made to fit right into your lifestyle whether you are going away for a short break, a business trip or a long overseas vacation. However, straying from your normal routine can make it easier to lose track of important habits, such as sticking to your aligners for the advised 20 to 22 hours a day, or cleaning them properly. Mistakes made during travelling can cause delays and impact on your treatment timeline. Fortunately, you can stay the course wherever your journey takes you. Some pre-trip planning and good oral hygiene habits can help you enjoy a great trip and keep your clear aligner treatment on track without unwanted interruptions.
Remember to Pack Everything
You’ll want to pack a few necessities for your aligner treatment to prepare for your trip. Carry your current set of aligners, aligner case, regular toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and cleaning pills if you use them. Another good tip is to bring your old set of aligners with you in case you lose or break your current trays while you are traveling. If you have been given your next set of aligners by your orthodontist and will be due for a tray change while on your trip, be sure to bring those along too. Keep these things in your hand luggage, not in your checked baggage, should your suitcase be delayed or lost. It’s much easier to keep to your routine when you have everything at hand.
Stay On Your Wear Schedule
One of the most difficult things about traveling is sticking to the suggested wear time. Sightseeing, long flights, family get-togethers, or tasting new foods can make it enticing to take your aligners out for longer periods than you should. But you have to wear them 20-22 hours a day to keep your teeth aligned as planned. Take your aligners out only when eating or drinking something other than water and put them back in your mouth immediately after. If you are crossing time zones, alerts on your phone or watch can be extremely helpful. If you wear them on a regular schedule, you’ll feel less discomfort when you change trays and be less likely to have to extend your overall treatment time.
Keep Your Aligners Close By
When travelling often, you are eating out more and spending extended periods of time away from your hotel or home. This makes preserving good oral hygiene all the more important. Whenever possible, brush your teeth before placing your aligners back in to help avoid food particles and bacteria from getting trapped against your teeth. If you can’t brush right away, rinse your teeth with water and wash your aligners before putting them back in until you can clean them properly. Do not wrap your aligners in tissues when eating as they can be mistaken for trash and thrown away. Instead, always keep them in their protective case. Taking out a couple of minutes each day to clean your aligners prevents unpleasant odors and possible oral health problems on your journey.
Be Ready for Unanticipated Situations
You can plan things out to the last detail, but things can go wrong when you are travelling. You could lose an aligner or accidentally damage a tray or find that one just doesn’t fit correctly anymore. This is why it is so important that you keep your old aligner with you, your orthodontist might recommend wearing it short-term until you can seek professional advice. If you are travelling for a long time, check with your orthodontist before you leave if your treatment schedule needs to be modified. Make sure to save your clinic’s contact information in your phone, so you can reach out immediately if you have concerns or problems.
Clear aligners are intended to be flexible, so you can go about your daily life with minimum disruption, travelling and socializing when you want. The key to effective treatment while traveling is consistency, not perfection. Staying on track with your treatment is about packing your aligner necessities, wearing your trays according to the suggested number of hours, maintaining good oral hygiene and understanding how to deal with unexpected situations.