Planning to go travelling while wearing clear aligners? No problem! With a bit of preparation, you can easily keep your smile journey on track while making the most of your holiday.
Clear aligners are designed to fit into your lifestyle, and with the right approach, travelling doesn’t have to disrupt your treatment.
Here’s a guide on how to care for your aligners while on holiday, so you can relax, explore, and maintain your progress, all at once.
Pack a travel-friendly aligner kit
To keep your aligners clean and fresh while travelling, it’s a good idea to pack a small, travel-friendly aligner kit. While you’ll likely already have a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss on your checklist, adding a clear aligner cleaning spray and disinfectant tablets can be useful.
These specialised products help clean and disinfect your aligners, keeping them free of bacteria throughout your trip. Since aligners are in constant contact with your teeth and gums, it makes them prone to bacterial build-up. Without regular cleaning, bacteria and plaque can accumulate on the aligners, leading to potential issues like bad breath, gum irritation, and even cavities.
Be sure to take your aligner case with you as well. This means you can keep them protected and prevent them from getting lost whenever you remove them for eating or cleaning teeth.
Remove aligners when eating and drinking
Eating with your aligners in can trap food particles and bacteria between the aligners and your teeth, which can lead to plaque build-up, bad breath, and an increased risk of cavities.
Certain foods, such as those that are sticky, hard, or crunchy, can also damage your aligners, causing them to warp or become misaligned. This will in turn affect the effectiveness of your treatment.
By removing your aligners before eating, you can protect your teeth and aligners while fully enjoying your meals and indulging in holiday treats without restrictions!
Maintain your routine
Holidays have a habit of throwing off routines, but sticking to your aligner schedule is key to staying on track with your treatment.
Smilelign aligners should be worn for 22 hours each day. While it may be tempting to leave them out a bit longer, doing so can delay your progress.
Try to keep meals and snacks scheduled at times you can comfortably take breaks to remove, clean, and reinsert your aligners. You might find it helpful to set reminders on your phone so you don’t forget.
Take your next set of aligners with you
When travelling, it’s a good idea to take your next set of aligners with you, especially if your trip will last more than two weeks or if you’re nearing the end of your current aligner set.
Having your next aligners on hand ensures that you can seamlessly transition to the next phase of your treatment without any delays, keeping your progress on track.
Just be sure to pack them securely in their case to protect them while you’re on the move.
Travel stress-free!
By following these simple tips for travelling with your Smilelign aligners, you can effortlessly enjoy your holiday while ensuring your smile journey stays on track.
So, relax and make the most of your time away, confident that your aligners (and your smile) are in great shape.
If you’ve not yet started your clear aligner journey, find your nearest Smilelign provider today!
