Plenty of people in Greenville want to straighten their smiles but prefer to avoid the frustration and hassle of having standard braces. Fortunately, many dentists offer more discreet and comfortable solutions, such as 3M Clarity Aligners.
This service uses transparent plastic trays that fit over your arches to gently shift your teeth into their ideal positions. But if you plan to travel this holiday season, you may need to take a few precautions to remain on track with your treatment timeline. Continue reading to learn about 3 tips that can help you avoid potential pitfalls!
Tip #1: Stick to Your Wear-Time Schedule
Many patients opt for clear aligners because the smooth plastic trays are removable, so you can take them out of your mouth to clean them or to enjoy all your favorite foods. However, you must wear them for 20 to 22 hours daily to prevent your pearly whites from shifting back to their original positions, which can add weeks or even months to your treatment timeline.
It can sometimes be harder to stick to the allotted wear times when you’re far from home or if you’ve traveled to another time zone. You can try setting alarms on your smartphone or other devices to help you remember when to reinsert them after taking them out for meals or washings.
Tip #2: Pack All the Necessary Supplies
Another perk of choosing 3M Clarity Aligners is that the trays are completely transparent so your natural smile can shine through and boost your confidence. But they can become cloudy, dirty, or discolored if you don’t take proper care of them.
It’s essential to clean all surfaces twice daily with a soft-bristle toothbrush and mild dish soap or non-abrasive toothpaste that won’t injure the plastic. If you’re going to be on a plane, train, or automobile for an extended period of time, it’s a good idea to pack all the necessary supplies in your carry-on so you can freshen up wherever you go.
Tip #3: Bring Extra Aligners With You
Try though you might, you can never predict when you might have an emergency, such as realizing you’ve lost or broken one of your 3M Clarity Aligners while you’re far away from home and can’t contact your dentist right away to replace it. If you’re going to be traveling for a week or longer, you might plan to take extra trays with you on your voyage.
This can also ensure that you have the next set of aligners you’ll be asked to switch to, so that you can start wearing the new trays as required to stay on track with your timeline.
Thankfully, taking a few simple precautions can help you maintain your clear aligners and make progress in your treatment while you travel!
Meet the Author
Dr. Alison Garrad enjoys helping patients improve their daily lives by enhancing their dental condition. She graduated in the top 5% of her class at the Texas A&M College of Dentistry, and today, she offers a comprehensive menu of services, including 3M Clarity Aligners, to meet all your needs conveniently under one roof. She takes the time to learn about your unique concerns and goals, then uses advanced technology to deliver customized treatment plans to address them. You can request an appointment on the website or call (903) 455-6075.