Getting dental braces for your children is a great way to improve their bite and straighten their teeth. It has almost become a rite of passage in the United States. But orthodontic treatment is a gradual process that often takes two years or more. How do you safely and comfortably travel when they have braces on their teeth? Below are some tips:
Try to schedule an appointment with your orthodontist before your trip. Let the orthodontist know about your trip. They can make sure that everything is hooked up correctly, trim any poking wires, and make sure that everything is as stable as possible. With orthodontic braces, there are some processes are very effective at straightening teeth and improving the bite, but are more prone to breakage. Other processes are more stable, but might move the teeth a bit slower. Before a longer trip, ask the orthodontist to make things as stable and secure as possible.
Pack nail clippers and orthodontic wax for your trip. These are both great for preventing irritation or cuts to the inside of your child’s cheeks, and they don’t take up much packing space. If something from the braces starts to irritate or hurt your child’s mouth, the wax can be pressed onto the brackets and wires to smooth out any irritating areas. The nail clippers are important in case of a poking wire. Sometimes the orthodontic wires can poke the cheek at the back of the mouth. If this happens, use the nail clippers to cut the long wire and make it flush with the last bracket.
Also pack a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss to keep your child’s teeth and braces clean. Good oral hygiene is as important while on vacation as it is at home. A vacation should be a getaway from the normal daily routine, but not a getaway from brushing and flossing.
Foods to avoid. When traveling, have your child follow the same rules your orthodontist gave you at home. Avoid foods that are very sticky or very hard, as they can knock brackets off of your child’s teeth; when that happens, wires can start poking the cheek. Have your child follow the same food rules as at home.
When you are traveling, if there is braces problem that you cannot solve, you may wonder: What should I do? Is there even an orthodontist near me? If possible, before your trip, look up the address and phone number of an orthodontist near where you will be traveling. That way, if there is a problem that you cannot solve, they can make your child comfortable. Be aware that in very remote areas, like camping trips, summer camps, and national parks, there may not be an orthodontist nearby.
