Quick answer
Pack the kit (wax, travel brush, floss picks, mirror, elastics), the clinic's number and, for aligners, the case, chewies, the current tray and the next one or two, plus the previous tray as a backup. Have an adjustment shortly before a long trip so the wire is fresh. If a bracket comes loose abroad, wax it and wait; it can be rebonded when you are home. If an aligner is lost, wear the previous tray and call the clinic; they may advise moving to the next. Keep aligner changes on the home schedule in days, not clock time, and count hours honestly on holiday.
Before you go
- Book an adjustment or aligner check for the week before a trip longer than two weeks; mention the trip so wire ends are trimmed and the next trays are supplied.
- For aligners on a long trip: take the current tray, the next one or two, and the previous one as a spare. Ask the clinic how many to take.
- Pack the kit in carry-on, not checked luggage. The kit.
- Save the clinic's number and email; ask what they want you to do if something breaks abroad (usually: wax it and wait).
- Elastics: take twice as many as you think you need.
- Travel insurance rarely covers orthodontic repairs; a dentist abroad can trim a wire or remove a loose bracket but should not rebond it (the clinic will).
On the road
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Poking wire | Wax; eraser; if unbearable, any dentist can trim it in minutes |
| Loose bracket | Leave it on the wire, wax it, soft food on that side, rebond at home. If it is off entirely, keep it |
| Lost aligner | Wear the previous tray (or the next, if the clinic says so) and call or email the clinic the same day |
| Cracked aligner | Keep wearing it if it still fits; call |
| Trays out too long (long flight, big meals) | Get back to 20 hours the next day; do not skip to the next tray to "catch up"; if a tray feels loose after a poor-wear week, wear it an extra day or two before changing |
| Time zones | Change trays every N days as prescribed, counting days from the last change; the clock time does not matter |
| Retainers on holiday | On your usual schedule, as at home. A lost retainer abroad: call the clinic; wear the aligner backup if you have one; book a replacement scan for your return |
| Sore after an adjustment on travel day | Cold drinks, soft food, a pain reliever you already use; it passes in two or three days |
Camp and sleepovers
Camp is fine with braces: send the kit, the food-rule list and the mouthguard, and tell the counsellors that wax and a phone call handle everything. Aligners at camp are the harder case: hours are easily lost to activities and the tray is easily lost to a dining hall. A confident teen manages it; a reluctant one loses a week. Decide honestly, and if the answer is "probably not", ask the clinic whether the camp fortnight can be a planned pause with the trays in at night at least.
Flying
Nothing about braces or aligners is affected by flying. Metal braces do not set off security scanners. Cabin air is dry; drink water and, with aligners, expect the trays to feel slightly tighter after a dehydrated day. Brush at the airport before a long flight; you will not want to in the aircraft bathroom.
Why this matters clinically
A loose bracket or a lost aligner away from home costs, at most, a few weeks of progress on one tooth or one tray. The things that cost months are cumulative: aligner wear below 20 hours for a fortnight, or elastics abandoned for a holiday. Planning for travel is mostly about keeping the routine, not about the hardware.
Questions people ask
Can I see a dentist abroad if something breaks?
Yes, for a wire trim or to remove a loose bracket. Rebonding is best left to your own clinic, which knows the plan.
How many aligners should I take on a month-long trip?
Enough for the schedule plus one spare set, and the previous tray. Ask the clinic; some will supply extra trays for long trips.
Will airport security detect my braces?
No. Orthodontic brackets and wires do not trigger metal detectors.
References
- American Association of Orthodontists. Handling orthodontic emergencies at home. Consumer guidance. https://aaoinfo.org/
Where Surrey families get this treatment
Guildford Orthodontic Centre
A specialist orthodontic practice in Guildford where Dr. Aly Kanani and Dr. Aida Mesbahi, both Certified Specialists in Orthodontics, provide braces, Invisalign and growth-appliance treatment for children, teens and adults.
The complimentary first visit includes an examination, photographs and a digital scan, with radiographs when indicated, and ends with a written plan and quote. Braces adjustments, aligner checks, emergency visits and retainer follow-up all happen at the same Guildford office.
- Address
- Suite 200 – 10203 152A Street, Surrey, BC V3R 4H6 (Guildford)
- Hours
- Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm
- Website
- guildfordorthodontics.com
Disclosure: SurreyBraces.com is a treatment guide published by the myORTHODONTIST network, which operates Guildford Orthodontic Centre. The guidance above applies whoever provides your care. Full disclosure.
About this guide
- Published by
- The myORTHODONTIST network
- Written by
- SurreyBraces.com editorial team
- Clinical reviewer
- Dr. Aly Kanani, Certified Specialist in Orthodontics (profile). Review assigned; sign-off date will be shown here once complete.
- First published
- 20 September 2026