written by Dr Shaik Farhatulla, Reviewed by Dr satish Chandra date: 08.07.2025 "Aligners During Travel – Tips to Keep Your Treatment on Track" Traveling—whether for work, vacation, or family—can be a great experience. But if you're undergoing orthodontic treatment with clear aligners (like Invisalign), it’s important not to let your travel plans disrupt your progress. At Mydent, we want to help you enjoy your trip without compromising your smile journey. Here are practical tips to keep your aligner treatment on track while you're on the move. ✈️ 1. Pack Smart – Don’t Forget the Essentials Before you hit the road, make sure you carry: Your current aligner trays The next set (if you're due for a switch during travel) Your aligner case – Never wrap trays in tissue (they’ll likely get thrown away!) Travel-size oral hygiene kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss) Aligner cleaning crystals or tablets Chewies – To help seat your aligners properly A backup set of previous aligners – In case of loss or damage 🕒 2. Stick to Your Wear Time Aligners need to be worn 20–22 hours a day, every day. While traveling, it’s easy to get distracted, but skipping hours can delay your progress or cause discomfort. Tip: Set a reminder on your phone to help you stay on schedule. 🍽️ 3. Eat, Rinse, Reinsert Whether you're enjoying street food in Bangkok or fine dining in Paris: Remove aligners before eating or drinking anything except water Rinse your mouth and aligners after eating before reinserting Avoid sugary drinks or wine with aligners in—they can cause staining and cavities 🧼 4. Clean On the Go You may not always have access to your full dental routine, but at the very least: Rinse aligners with water if brushing isn’t possible Use cleaning wipes made for aligners or soak them in water with cleaning crystals when possible 📅 5. Plan Ahead with Your Orthodontist Before your trip: Let your Mydent orthodontist know your travel dates They may advise you to carry additional aligners or adjust your schedule Ask about virtual check-ins if you’ll be away for a long time 🦷 6. In Case of Emergency Lost or broken aligner? Wear the previous set to prevent teeth from shifting Contact your orthodontist immediately for advice Never skip ahead to the next tray unless instructed 🌍 7. Stay Consistent Across Time Zones Traveling across time zones? Adjust your aligner schedule to local time, but keep intervals consistent. For example: If you switch trays every 10 days, maintain that interval even if you're in a different country. 🎒 Bonus Travel Tip: Keep Aligners With You Always carry aligners in your hand luggage, not checked baggage. If your luggage gets lost or delayed, your treatment doesn’t have to be.