The school year is starting up once again, and for many of our patients here in Chapel Hill, NC, that means heading back to school with a new set of braces. Starting a new school year with braces can be exciting, but there are a few changes you’ll need to make as you settling into the rhythm of the school year. At Clifton & Mauney Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry, our mission is to be a comprehensive resource for dental and orthodontic health. Here are our tips for starting school with a new set of braces.
Keep Lunch Braces-Friendly
One of the most important parts of caring for your braces is avoiding any foods that are overly hard, crunchy, sticky, or gooey, and that’s not always the easiest thing to do in a school cafeteria. If you get lunch from your school, make sure to avoid any foods that might damage your braces – or, better yet, pack a braces-friendly lunch at home and bring it with you.
Make a Braces Care Kit
Oral hygiene is doubly important during treatment with braces, and one of the best ways to keep your mouth healthy and your braces safe is to create an on-the-go kit to help care for your braces. Put together a small bag containing a travel-size toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, floss threaders, dental wax, elastics, an interdental toothbrush, and anything else you use to keep your teeth and braces clean. This will make it much easier to maintain strong oral hygiene during the school day.
Don’t Forget Your Mouthguard
For many students, starting school also means starting sports practice. If this is the case for you, don’t forget to head to practice wearing a custom-made athletic mouthguard. Mouthguards help to protect your teeth and braces while playing sports, and they reduce the chances of oral injury by 60 fold. Be sure to always wear a mouthguard during sports practice or sports games, and if you still need one, schedule an appointment with us for a fitting.
Contact Your Chapel Hill, NC Orthodontists
We hope this list makes it a little easier to adjust to going back to school with braces. If you have more questions about caring for braces during school, we’re always happy to help. Contact us today for more tips on how to take care of your braces or to schedule an appointment at our office. We look forward to hearing from you, and we wish you luck in heading back to school with braces!
