Braces are beneficial for straightening the teeth, but if you’re going on a vacation, there are a few tips that you need to remember so that you enjoy time with your family while keeping the braces secure. Before leaving on your vacation, Austin orthodontist, Dr. RJ Jackson can recommend a few supplies to take with you to help keep the brackets clean and to prevent any damage to the brackets or wires. When you pack your bag to take on your vacation, there are some items that you don’t want to leave at home:

• Floss for getting between brackets and underneath wires
• Toothbrush to ensure that the teeth stay clean
• Mouthwash to remove debris from the mouth after brushing
• Wax that can be put on wires to prevent them from poking the mouth

You can get a small plastic travel bag for toiletries to use as an oral hygiene kit. Some stores sell kits for people who have braces.

If you can’t contact your orthodontist office while you’re on vacation, you could search online for an office in the area you’re visiting. Many orthodontists will provide some kind of answer or relief to any questions that you have.

There are a few foods that you should avoid while on vacation as there are a few more temptations while away from home:

• Anything sticky
• Whole fruits
• Corn still on the cob
• Foods that are hard, like cookies or nuts

If you have an aligner and happen to lose the tray, you can wear the tray you had in before or the next one until you can get back to the office. Have a fun vacation, but take care of your teeth and braces at the same time.