Advice for Traveling with Braces

Message

#1 Post by **eternalshrew** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 6:17 pm

I've been braced for 3 years and recently got a forcus appliance on.
Next month, I will be traveling in India. I'll be overseas for about 45 days.

Right now, I use a lot of stuff to take care of my braces.
The regular toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, waterpik, mouthwash...

I won't be able to take my waterpik or any mouthwash with me to India, nor is it likely I can purchase some there.
All I can bring is toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and some interdental brushes.
Any tips for roughing it with braces?

I would have been okay before I got this forcus appliance on but now I don't know how I will make it without my waterpik. Everything that could possible get stuck in it does. It is bulky, awkward, and hard to clean.

Ideas? Tips?

#2 Post by **TumbleDryLow** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 6:36 pm

I've had braces for two years and all I've ever used is a manual toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. I've gotten a clean bill of health from both my ortho and my dentist. As for cleaning your forcus appliance, how about one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Watts-Syringe-Irr ... B002OXEURA
All you need is water and your thumb.

Enjoy your trip!

#3 Post by **catgyrl** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 6:36 pm

Maybe this is an ignorant question, but... why can't you take your waterpik and mouthwash with you?

#4 Post by **eternalshrew** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 6:38 pm

catgyrl wrote:Maybe this is an ignorant question, but... why can't you take your waterpik and mouthwash with you?

I have to carry everything in a single backpack.
Mouthwash is quite heavy, as is the waterpik. Not to mention, it won't work overseas anyway because plugs/number of amps is different.

#5 Post by **eternalshrew** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 6:39 pm

TumbleDryLow wrote:I've had braces for two years and all I've ever used is a manual toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. I've gotten a clean bill of health from both my ortho and my dentist. As for cleaning your forcus appliance, how about one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Watts-Syringe-Irr ... B002OXEURA
All you need is water and your thumb.

Enjoy your trip!

Yes! I don't know why I didn't think of using a manual syringe.
Thank you.

#6 Post by **catgyrl** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 6:46 pm

eternalshrew wrote:
catgyrl wrote:Maybe this is an ignorant question, but... why can't you take your waterpik and mouthwash with you?
I have to carry everything in a single backpack.
Mouthwash is quite heavy, as is the waterpik. Not to mention, it won't work overseas anyway because plugs/number of amps is different.

Oh, okay. DUH! Yes, that does make sense. I think TumbleDryLow's suggestion is fantastic! I may even get some of those, as I don't want to spend the money on a waterpik (I just spent $$ on a sonicare toothbrush).

Happy and safe journey to you!

#7 Post by **tacoma braced** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 10:59 pm

I just returned from an extensive trip to Africa and my sonic care lasted 3 weeks with out needing to be recharged. An electrical adapter is cheap and light weight if you choose to go that way.

I did bring a regular toothbrush as well.
More importantly
Bring a hand sanitizer product- you may not be able to wash your hands in potable water, prior to needing to "fix" something in your mouth.

Most importantly, don't forget your sense of humor-not alot of metal mouths in some of these countries....

#8 Post by **eternalshrew** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 12:15 am

tacoma braced wrote: Bring a hand sanitizer product- you may not be able to wash your hands in potable water, prior to needing to "fix" something in your mouth.

Most importantly, don't forget your sense of humor-not alot of metal mouths in some of these countries....

Trust me, I'm prepared on the hand sanitizer front haha.

I was supposed to have my braces off by now. Sigh.
Some advice on how to explain braces to people who have never seen them?

#9 Post by **TigerLily** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 1:56 pm

Hope you have a great trip!

>>All I can bring is toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and some interdental brushes. Any tips for roughing it with braces?

Well.. I am sure that many people in India's idea of 'roughing it' is fairly different...

>>I won't be able to take my waterpik or any mouthwash with me to India, nor is it likely I can purchase some there.

If carrying stuff is an issue, how about a 2 in 1 toothpaste and mouthwash? Colgate do something like that. Not the same as two separate products but not bad. Otherwise, I am sure not only will you be able to find mouthwash in India, but you will be able to find travel-sized ones throughout your travels (to westerners travel-sized but in India often the only way they can afford a 'luxury' product like mouthwash or shampoo)

>>Some advice on how to explain braces to people who have never seen them?
Presumably you are from the USA.

#10 Post by **TigerLily** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:02 pm

>>Some advice on how to explain braces to people who have never seen them?
Sorry I can't edit my previous comment. I didn't mean that comment as a disservice to people from the USA. I was just surprised that someone would say something like that. Braces are pretty big in many non first world countries (and in places like say Brazil pr Philippines far more common than in say the UK), in India maybe braces are more likely to be worn by middle or upper income levels (which even as a small % is obviously a large amount of people given India's population). The poorest of society are obviously less likely to have them but many would of course know what they are/look like, though I'd imagine it's unlikely that a visitor would get into enough of a one-on-one equal discussion.

#11 Post by **TigerLily** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:20 pm

"All I can bring is toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and some interdental brushes"
Actually that's not my perception of 'roughing it' either. Must be a cultural thing. I read once that a baby in the US consumes 8 times as much as a baby in the UK (and something like 20 times one of southern Italy and 200 times of a baby from India). If I were travelling with limited luggage, I'd be happy with a toothbrush and toothpaste, it wouldn't be roughing it to me unless I didn't have a toothbrush. Many people in developing countries use salt as a toothpaste, not because toothpaste isn't available, but because they can't afford it.

#12 Post by **tsmurfenator** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 4:37 pm

TigerLily wrote:>>Some advice on how to explain braces to people who have never seen them?
Sorry I can't edit my previous comment. I didn't mean that comment as a disservice to people from the USA. I was just surprised that someone would say something like that. Braces are pretty big in many non first world countries (and in places like say Brazil pr Philippines far more common than in say the UK), in India maybe braces are more likely to be worn by middle or upper income levels (which even as a small % is obviously a large amount of people given India's population). The poorest of society are obviously less likely to have them but many would of course know what they are/look like, though I'd imagine it's unlikely that a visitor would get into enough of a one-on-one equal discussion.

I agree with the comment, and have seen way more people with braces in India than any other country I've ever been to except Colombia, Thailand, Brazil etc.. (Philippines? I have never seen too many there) . Way, way, way more people with braces in India than in USA or Europe, both kids and adults. Extremely normal. Although India is a big country and my comment applies more to South India than maybe North India, maybe not true in the whole country ..

The question by eternalshrew is interesting.
However, you'd have to get totally off the beaten path to meet anybody on the planet who has never seen braces before. I have seen braces everywhere, even sub-Saharan Africa. Maybe rare in certain countries (e.g. Japan) but surely they get visitors from outside with braces. Anybody who deals with foreigners or even domestic tourists, anywhere, sees braces regularly. People all over the world have all sorts of crazy stuff on their teeth and won't be judgmental.

#13 Post by **tacoma braced** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 5:47 pm

Sounds like others had a difference experience than I recently had while traveling thru Africa regarding braces. Children were mesmerized and wanted to touch, adults were very curious- my favorite reaction? the man who yelled out "oh my god" in English, when he saw me smile.

Smile Broadly, and laugh together.. and enjoy every moment.

#14 Post by Le » Tue Apr 13, 2010 4:39 am

I travelled across Europe in braces, and though I'm not suggesting it is at all like India in terms of wealth, there were lots of braces. I would gesture to my braces and theirs with a big smile or a thumbs up... a great ice breaker where language is a barrier!!

#15 Post by **eternalshrew** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 5:24 am

You know, just because I am American doesn't mean I am lacking in worldly understanding and am just so consumeristic I can barely function.

My teeth have always been high maintenance, even before braces. I've always taken exquisite care of my teeth and still have halitosis and cavities. Braces have been very rough on my teeth, and I am afraid that this forsus appliance will worsen cavities under my bands (especially because I can't reach it with a toothbrush).

As you don't know my travel plans or my situation, it is really inappropriate for you to judge me for my comment about explaining braces to people who haven't seen them.

I have been conversing with an email partner who doesn't speak English very well. I showed her a picture of myself. She asked me what was on my teeth. I told her orthodontic braces. She didn't understand. That's why I responded to someone who had been in a similar situation before.

Metal Mouth Message Board

Advice for Traveling with Braces

Advice for Traveling with Braces

travelling with braces

Re: travelling with braces