You’ve been dreaming about this moment for a long time – the day you finally get your braces taken off! What you’ll see underneath is a stunning, straight, beautiful smile. But that’s not the only thing that will be different. While life after braces is more or less the same as life before braces, there is at least one extra thing you’ll have to pay attention to: your retainer.

Get the scoop now so you’ll know what to expect.

When you’re in the middle of an orthodontic treatment, taking care of your braces is a full-time job. Even when you’re away from home, you need to have the right tools on hand to keep your braces – as well as your smile – in excellent shape. As such, if you’re getting ready to travel, you should put together a braces survival kit; here are 6 items that you should make sure are in it.