Tips and Reminders for Travelling with Your Braces

25/06/2025

Tips and Reminders for Travelling with Your Braces

Travelling with your braces requires some additional preparation to ensure a pleasant trip with no negative impact on your orthodontic treatment.

The summer holidays are fast approaching, your vacations have been booked, your suitcase is almost done and you’re excited. But before you go, you need to make sure you have everything you need.

In this article, Dr. Normand Bach reminds you of some important points and gives his best pieces of advice before you travel.

Plan a Control Visit Before Your Trip

If you’re thinking of being away for more than four weeks – and if you risk missing one or several follow-up appointments – it is strongly recommended to make an appointment at the clinic before you leave.

This preventive control visit will allow your orthodontist to:

Check if the brackets or the fixed appliance are in the right position
Ensure no wire is causing discomfort or improperly placed
Tighten the wires, adjust the elastics or replace the aligners if needed
Confirm that everything is okay before you leave
Give personalized recommendations

A simple appointment before your vacation can make all the difference and prevent many inconveniences once you arrive at your place of destination.

Prepare a Toiletry Bag with All Your Orthodontic Essentials if You’re Thinking of Travelling with Your Braces

For most travellers, it is generally enough to bring toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and mouthwash.

But if you’re travelling with your braces, you might want to add some additional items to your toiletry bag. It’s a small effort to ensure you can keep a healthy smile and well-aligned teeth!

So, in addition to the usual essentials, don’t forget to bring the following:

Floss threaders and interdental cleaners, for deep cleaning between teeth and around the dental appliance
Elastics, if your treatment requires them
Orthodontic wax, in case of irritation
Over-the-counter pain medication to relieve orthodontic treatment pain.
Aligners: those you’re wearing currently, and the next ones scheduled in your treatment plan
Storage case for your dental appliances, to protect them when you’re not wearing them
Small pocket mirror, to check your mouth if needed

Consider always carrying this bag with you, especially if you’re travelling by plane. In case of delays or lost luggage, you’ll have everything you need to take care of your appliance and your smile.

Be Mindful of What You Eat

When you’re on vacation, it’s perfectly normal to want to enjoy all sorts of delicious treats. After all, it’s a time to relax and indulge a little!

But if you’re travelling with braces, a little extra caution can go a long way. You probably already know this, but it’s worth the reminder: some foods can compromise your treatment.

If you wear braces, avoid hard, sticky or very crunchy foods, which could loosen braces, break a wire or cause unnecessary pain.

If you wear aligners, don’t forget to remove them before eating. After your meals, be sure to brush your teeth thoroughly before putting them back in. Also, don’t drink sweet or hot beverages with your aligners in your mouth, as this could damage them or encourage tooth decay.

A little vigilance at mealtimes will save you a lot of discomfort and keep your treatment on track.

What to Do If Orthodontic Issues Occur While Abroad

Orthodontic issues can always pop up when you’re travelling: a poking wire, a loose bracket, sudden pain or a misplaced aligner… Stay calm!

Here’s what you need to do to handle the issue until you get back:

Poking wire: Apply a little orthodontic wax to the end of the wire to prevent friction and relieve discomfort.
Loose bracket: If it’s still attached to the wire, leave it in place, taking care to avoid pressure. If it has completely detached, keep it in a safe place.
Sudden pain: Take an over-the-counter painkiller and opt for softer foods for a few days.
Misplaced or lost aligner: If you’re near the end of a treatment phase, move on to the next aligner. If not, return to the previous one to avoid any regression in treatment.

If a problem arises during your trip, contact your orthodontic clinic as soon as you return to schedule an appointment as soon as possible, especially if it’s a situation that requires an emergency consultation.