Traveling can be a stressful undertaking, especially in the post-COVID age. Some people forget to consider how to best travel with their Invisalign and run into some tough situations as a result. 

When you’re in a new place, far from your orthodontist’s office, and stopping at so many different places, it’s easy to remove your aligners and leave them behind. Here are some tips from Dr. Gordon C. Honig and Dr. Lisa Honig at Honig Orthodontics for traveling with your Invisalign, to make sure you don’t have to take time out of your vacation for an orthodontic emergency!

What if I Lose my Invisalign while Traveling?

When traveling for longer periods of time, always take your previous set of aligners, your current set, and your next set of aligners with you. Whether you will go back to the previous set or move forward to the next set if your aligners get lost will be determined by how long you have been wearing your current set. The general rule of thumb is if the current aligners are tight, go back.  If you can remove them easily and are in your second week, move forward to the next set. 

If you are going to be out of town for more than two weeks, we can order replacement aligners if needed and ship them to you directly. Continue wearing your previous set until they arrive and start again with the new set.

Invisalign in Transit

While in transit, be prepared. Always carry your aligners in your purse or carry-on luggage when flying. Baggage can be delayed or lost. If you’re concerned about losing aligners, an extra case is always a good idea.  If you leave one behind in a hotel or restaurant, you’ll have a spare.

Oral Health Away from Home

When you’re away from home it’s important to maintain good oral health, even though you might not have all the resources you’re used to. It isn’t always convenient to brush your teeth after eating when traveling, we understand! But make sure you rinse out your mouth and aligners before reinserting them into your mouth. You can brush your teeth when you get back to your room.  It isn’t ideal, but acceptable in a pinch, and taking two minutes out of your vacation could save you a dental visit in the future!

Invisalign is a great alternative to wearing braces for many teens and adults. But unlike braces, your aligners aren’t bonded to your teeth, so be sure to consider them when you’re traveling! If you have questions or problems when traveling with aligners, don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to help.