Summer is usually a time for creating lifelong family memories. The kids being out of school means that summer is when most people opt to take vacations. However, an orthodontic emergency is the last thing you’ll want to have happen on your summer vacation. For this reason, our Houston orthodontics office has put together these handy tips to ensure that your orthodontic work remains in perfect condition while you’re away.
Pack an Orthodontic Essentials Kit
Just because you’re going to be away from home doesn’t mean that you don’t still need to take your oral hygiene seriously. For this reason, it is important that you remember to pack up everything you’ll need to keep your braces in good condition while you’re away. We recommend creating an oral hygiene kit to allow you to keep everything in one place and ensure that you don’t forget anything.
In addition to a travel toothbrush and toothpaste, this kit should also include a dental pick or other interdental cleaners and a small bottle of mouthwash. It’s also a good idea to pack some orthodontic wax to allow you to prevent pain from protruding wires until they can be fixed when you get home. As well, you may want to consider bringing a small compact mirror, which will make it easier to identify any potential issues.
Avoid Foods That Could Damage Your Orthodontics
Vacation is a time where most people tend to relax and let their hair down; doing many things that they wouldn’t otherwise do at home. However, the fact that you’re on vacation shouldn’t be seen as an excuse to eat any of the foods that Dr. Jennings may have warned you against. In fact, if anything you should actually be more diligent about avoiding any foods that could potentially damage your braces since you won’t be able to immediately see us to fix any problems that arise.
Although you were probably given a full list of foods to avoid when you had your braces put on, it doesn’t hurt to have a reminder. Therefore, whether on vacation or not, anyone with orthodontic work is best off avoiding all of the following foods:
- Sticky or gummy foods, including many candies, chewing gum, etc.
- Pears, apples and other hard, whole fruits (these are usually OK if you cut them into small pieces first)
- Hard foods, such as cookies, hard candies, pretzels, nuts crusty breads, etc.
- Overly chewy foods like bagels
- Corn on the cob (corn is fine; just cut it off the cob first)
Seek Help When Necessary
If you suddenly find yourself in pain or discomfort due to your orthodontic work, don’t be afraid to look up local orthodontists in the area. Most orthodontists are always willing to help out and should be able to make minor adjustments to alleviate the pain and discomfort until you get back from vacation. Still, it’s usually a good idea to also schedule an appointment with us when you get home in order to ensure that the problem is fully taken care of and there are no other issues.
Don’t Fret Over Your Clear Aligners
If you wear clear aligners instead of traditional braces, you’ll need to remember your trays in addition to the aligners. However, don’t worry if you happen to lose the tray. Simply use the previous or next tray and then call us to get a new one when you get home.
Keeping your braces in good condition while on vacation isn’t all that difficult. As long as you remember to bring along what you need and keep doing what you’ve been doing at home, you’ll be in good shape to enjoy your vacation without having to worry about your braces.