Smile Confidently on Holiday When You’re Straightening Your Teeth
This is a collaborative post.
Planning a well-earned holiday while you’re in the middle of teeth straightening can bring up all kinds of feelings. You’re excited for time off and sunny photos, but also worried about cleaning routines, packing dental kits, and whether your aligners or braces will ruin the fun (or your selfies).
The good news? With a few small, realistic changes, it’s absolutely possible to enjoy your trip and feel good about your smile, even if you’re still mid-treatment for teeth straightening. This post will walk you through practical travel tips, food choices, and mindset reminders to help you feel confident while looking after your braces or clear aligners on holiday.
Just a quick note: this is general lifestyle advice only. Always follow the personalised instructions your dentist or orthodontist gives you, especially for your specific teeth straightening treatment plan.
Why teeth straightening can feel stressful on holiday
Travelling while you’re having orthodontic treatment can be unexpectedly stressful. Whether you’re using clear aligners or fixed braces, there’s often a nagging worry in the background: “What if I forget something? What if I can’t clean my teeth properly? What if I hate my holiday photos?”
These are common concerns, and you’re absolutely not alone in having them.
The truth is, holidays often happen in the middle of treatment, not at the neat “before” or “after” stages. That means you might still be adjusting to new routines or managing appearance-related anxieties. And that’s OK. You don’t need a flawless system, just a few steady habits that work for your break.
“You deserve to enjoy your holiday photos now, not just when teeth straightening treatment is over.”
The worries no one talks about
It’s totally normal to feel unsure about:
- Taking aligners out discreetly at a restaurant
- Wondering if food is stuck in brackets during a group photo
- Feeling “teenagery” even if you’re straightening your teeth as an adult
- Losing a case or forgetting elastics in hotel bathrooms
You’re allowed to enjoy your smile now
Confidence doesn’t have to wait until the teeth straightening treatment ends. Smiling in photos, even with braces or a lisp you’re still adjusting to, is part of your journey. And that smile still tells a beautiful story.
Planning ahead with your dentist or orthodontist
A bit of planning before you travel makes everything feel calmer. If your trip is more than a few days, it’s worth checking in with your dentist or orthodontist beforehand.
They can walk you through anything you need to know about your teeth straightening during your time away. This might include aligning your travel dates with your next aligner change or giving advice on managing brackets or wires if something goes wrong.
Here are a few questions you might want to ask:
- Should I bring extra wax or elastics?
- What should I do if an aligner cracks or a bracket comes loose?
- Is it OK to delay my next aligner switch if I’m away?
- What are the emergency contact steps while I’m abroad?
You can also check the NHS overview of braces and orthodontic treatment for more general information about teeth straightening, how they work and what to expect during treatment.
Daily routines and travel kit for braces and aligners
Once you’re actually on holiday, a small travel kit and a flexible routine can make braces or aligners far easier to manage.
Here’s what to pack in your dental travel kit:
- Travel toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste
- Floss or interdental brushes
- Mini mouthwash
- Orthodontic wax (for rubbing brackets)
- Spare aligner case
- Hand sanitiser and tissues
When it comes to routines, be kind to yourself. On airport days or long excursions, you might not manage a perfect clean, and that’s OK. Rinse with water if you can’t brush straight away, and set a gentle reminder on your phone to keep aligner wear time on track.
If you wear clear aligners for teeth straightening, these clear aligners travel tips from Linea offer a deeper guide to packing, flying, and keeping things discreet while travelling.
Keeping everything clean matters, but don’t aim for perfection. Just do your best each day and make adjustments to your teeth straightening and cleaning routine when you’re back home.
Food, drinks and treats without losing your smile
Holidays are for indulgence, and yes, you can still enjoy your favourites even while looking after your teeth.
That said, there are a few foods and drinks that can make things trickier when you’re wearing braces or aligners. Super-sticky sweets, hard snacks like popcorn or boiled sweets, and very sugary fizzy drinks are best enjoyed in moderation (or swapped out entirely).
For a deeper dive into this, have a look at the post on foods you should avoid for good dental health.
A few easy swaps that can help:
- Drink water after sweet or acidic treats
- Save sugary snacks for mealtimes instead of grazing all day
- Brush or rinse as soon as you can, especially after coloured drinks (like cola or red wine)
It’s not about strict rules, just small steps to help your smile stay on track.
Body confidence and holiday photos during treatment
Let’s talk about those holiday photos. The ones you’re excited for… but also maybe dreading because of how your smile looks right now during the teeth straightening process.
It’s OK to feel that way. Lots of people feel self-conscious about braces or aligners in photos when they are undergoing teeth straightening, especially on big occasions like holidays or family trips.
But here’s the thing: you deserve to enjoy the moment now, not just later. If you’re learning how to lose weight with self-love rather than harsh diets, this is just one more area where self-compassion can change everything.
Some mindset tips to try:
- Focus on what the photo means (the memory) more than how it looks
- Celebrate progress, not perfection, your smile is in motion, not broken
- Choose angles and lighting that help you feel relaxed, not posed
If you’re having a low day, try some of these 50 simple ways to boost your mood right now. A walk, a kind word to yourself, or five minutes away from your phone can help more than you’d think.
If something goes wrong while you’re away
Even with the best planning, things can go sideways. Maybe a wire comes loose, an aligner cracks, or you misplace your case.
The key is staying calm.
Your travel kit will come in handy: use wax to protect rubbing brackets, stick to soft food, and use pain relief (if appropriate) to get through the day. If you’re travelling abroad, hotel staff or travel insurance may help you find a local dentist if you really need one.
You can browse the NHS information on different orthodontic treatments to get a sense of how common issues are handled, but remember, this is no substitute for contacting your dentist or orthodontist for actual advice.
Most issues can be stabilised enough to finish your holiday and then sorted properly once you’re home.
You’ve got this
You can have a joyful, relaxing holiday while have teeth straightening work.
With a bit of prep, a travel kit, and permission to let go of perfection, you’ll find ways to feel good in your skin, and your smile, even while treatment is ongoing.
If you’re unsure about anything, always check with your dental professional. But don’t forget to enjoy your trip, take the photos, eat the gelato, and make memories that matter.
If you found this post helpful, feel free to share it, someone else might need a confidence boost too.
