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If you’re going on holiday this summer, your teeth travel too! Remember to take with you:
Toiletry bag or case
Essential to carry everything you need, ideally it should be small and not take up too much space. We gave you one at the beginning of the treatment, if you have lost it ask us and we will provide you with another one.
Toothbrush
Even if you eat “tapas” or are on an outing, take it with you.
If you wear braces, whether they are behind your teeth or cemented on the outside, we recommend you use a special orthodontic toothbrush that has shorter bristles in the centre than on the outside (V-shaped) so you can better clean above and below the brackets.
If you wear braces with clear aligners, the best brush is the same as if you were not wearing braces, i.e. a medium or soft brush with a small head that allows you to reach all the nooks and crannies.
If you use an electric toothbrush, you can take it with you in its case, making sure that the battery is 100% charged, although bear in mind that if you are going to be going on excursions and going back and forth, it is better to take a manual toothbrush as it will weigh less.
Travel toothpaste
Travel toothpastes are very convenient to carry in your handbag or backpack and will fit perfectly in a toiletry bag or small case.
You can pick yours up at the dentist’s office, as we always have them available when you come in for a check-up.
The important thing is also the amount of fluoride they contain. If you have sensitive gums, you can use toothpaste with Triclosan or another mild disinfectant. In case of sensitivity, Prevdent has a line of toothpastes and mouthwashes that are great for remineralising the enamel and serve both to prevent caries and to solve sensitivity. You can get them through the practice as they are not sold in pharmacies.
Interproximal brushes
These brushes are great for cleaning between the brackets and the arch. They are used differently than in non-orthodontic patients as they are only used to clean around the brackets.
In the front part you can use them straight and in the back part you can bend them with your finger to make it easier to access the area between the molars.
It is convenient to change them every month, so even if you go camping for 1 month or to a language course, 1 or 2 (in case you have an “accident” and they fall out or get lost) is enough.
Mouthwash
If you have healthy gums and teeth, the important thing is the amount of fluoride they contain. To be sure, it is better to compare them in pharmacies and not in the supermarket. The ones that are specific for orthodontics can be very useful, you can find them in different flavours (strawberry, mint, apple,… choose the one you like the most).
In the surgery we give you sample bottles that you can refill to put in your bag if you need to brush away from home.
If you have problems with your gums, we recommend using a mouthwash containing Triclosan to help eliminate bacteria. Prevdent also has a mouthwash in its sensitivity and caries prevention range.
Do not use mouthwashes with alcohol which will dry out your mucosa and end up irritating the mucous membranes.
Orthodontic wax
Even if you’ve been in treatment for months and you’ve never needed to use it, it’s essential! Because you only need to be in the middle of the desert taking the photo of your life for something to slip out of place.
It’s like an umbrella. If you carry it, you probably don’t need it, but it’s better to have it handy so you don’t have something poking you and giving you a trip.
Remember to replenish it when you come to the practice or pick it up to prepare your kit.
Intermaxillary elastics
If you have been advised to use them, remember to put the bag in your bag so you can change them when you need to.
Chlorhexidine gel
In case you end up with a sore, take the tube of gel with you so that you can put it on the sore and it will heal in 1-2 days.
The best way to avoid unforeseen events is prevention:
Remember that when eating, we recommend you avoid anything you can’t prick with a fork, and sticky things (coffee caramels with milk, sugus, chewing gum,…).
Nail file
If you wear orthodontic aligners, sometimes (rarely) it may happen that an edge of the aligner is not sufficiently polished and rubs against you. In this case, you can use a nail file (preferably new) and file the edge that is bothering you.
