Summer Travel, Sports, and Smile Care for Kids
June 10, 2026 • 6 min read
Summer is when good dental routines quietly fall apart.
Retainers get wrapped in a lunch napkin at the lake. Mouthguards live in a soccer bag for three weeks. Aligners skip a weekend because “we were on the boat.” None of that makes anyone a bad parent. It does show up in September.
This is the short version we give families at Carmel, Fishers, and North Indianapolis before the calendar fills.
Pack the two things that actually matter
If your child wears aligners or a retainer, pack the case. Not a napkin. Not a foil wrapper. The case.
If they play a sport with contact — or even a sport with elbows — pack the mouthguard. A chipped front tooth is a much longer appointment than a cleaning.
On the road:
- Brush after breakfast and before bed, even in a hotel
- Water over constant sports drinks
- Aligners back in after meals, not “later”
- A spare case in the carry-on if you fly
Sports are harder on teeth than homework
We see summer chips from pools, bats, and playgrounds. If something breaks, call the office that already knows your child. Do not wait for the first day of school so it can “go with the physical.”
If they are already in Invisalign®, trays come out for games and go right back in after. That is one of the reasons families pick aligners over a season spent in metal.
Invisalign for kids or adults is **$4,979**. The Invisalign Palatal Expander is **$749** only when a child needs that appliance. Consult required. Individual results vary.
Use recare before the school picture, not after
A recare visit is still a cleaning and an exam. For patients we already see, it also includes a complimentary Oral Health Scan when one is due — an iTero® look at how the smile grew over the summer.
That scan is part of the visit. It is not a coupon and it is not a new discount.
Book it at the office you already use:
- Smile in Fishers — 9865 E. 116th Street, Suite 100 · (317) 570-5480
- Simply Smile Carmel — (317) 564-8490
- Simply Smile North Indy — (317) 672-7511
New to Indy Smile Group? The New Patient Special is **$99** for the exam, cleaning, and necessary X-rays. New patients only. Not valid with insurance.
Summer should be the easy season. The smile only stays easy if the case, the mouthguard, and the recare visit make the trip with you.
Our team at Carmel, Fishers, and North Indianapolis is here to help. Choose your preferred location and appointment type.
Free consults available. We’ll match you with the right doctor and location.