Taking care of your teeth while you’re wearing braces takes a little extra work.
You have to be careful to avoid certain foods and use special tools to properly clean your teeth despite the brackets and wires in the way.
Now, we know, and you know, that in the end, it’s all going to be worth it once your braces come off!
But aren’t there times when caring for your orthodontia is little more challenging?
Yes, and oral hygiene while traveling can be one of them!
So our team at Smiles by Dr. W & Dr. R thought we’d offer some helpful tips if you want to take good care of your teeth and your braces while you’re on summer vacation!
Caring For Braces During Summer Vacation
Here are two helpful tips to keep in mind if you’re traveling this summer while wearing braces!
*Pack The Right Tools For Good Oral Hygiene*
With limited space in the family car or the weight restrictions at the baggage claim, everyone wants to pack as light as they can for vacation.
But you also want to bring the right tools with you, especially when it comes to good oral hygiene!
If you’re wearing braces, there are some specific items that can really come in handy while you’re away from home:
*A small dental mirror
*Travel-size mouthwash and fluoridated toothpaste
*Your orthodontic rubber bands and wax
*Your toothbrush (& extra batteries or a charger if you use an electric toothbrush!)
*Dental floss and a floss threader
Keeping your oral care items in a small zippable tote bag is a way to prevent losing or misplacing something, and it’s a way to pack light!
*Snacks & Treats To Avoid*
We know that part of the fun of a vacation is to splurge with your diet. It’s an important part of the traveling experience to explore new restaurants and various snacks and treats you’ve never tried before.
But when it comes to traveling with braces or staying home, the same rules apply about what you can eat and what you should avoid.
Here are the sort of foods, candies, and other treats you really want to avoid if you want to protect your brackets and wires from damage:
*Bubble gum & Chewing gum
*Whole fruits like pears, apples, etc., unless you cut them up first.
*Sticky food or candy like taffy, caramel, marshmallows, or gummy worms
*Hard candies like suckers and jawbreakers
*Hard foods like nuts and pretzels
We certainly want you to enjoy the delicious foods you’ll have the chance to try while on vacation, but we also don’t want you to face an orthodontic emergency during your trip like a loose or broken bracket.
Schedule An Appointment
No matter what your summer plans are, you have our friendly team in Boca Raton, FL to support you all throughout your orthodontic treatment so your smile is healthy and beautiful!
We’d also like to help those who are visiting our neck of the woods! If you’re in the Boca Raton or Coral Springs area from out of town and have any issues that arise with your braces during your stay, give us a call and we’ll do all we can to help!
Call Smiles by Dr. W & Dr. R at 561-327-6775 or fill out our convenient online form to schedule an appointment!
