A new school year opens you up to all kinds of new possibilities: new teachers, friends, activities, and memories. And if you’re starting this year with new braces, you’ll want to make sure those memories don’t include any embarrassing orthodontic faux-paus! Don’t worry, going to school with braces takes a few adjustments, but once you get it down, it’s no big deal at all. We’ve even created this handy guide for you to help you make sure that you’ve set yourself up for success all year!
- Keep a Care Kit in your Backpack: Now that you have braces, you’ve got just a few more things to keep track of in your daily routine. After lunch, you’ll want the tools to make sure you don’t have a big glob of sandwich stuck in your wires. Or if you get a stray, poking wire in homeroom, you won’t want to have to spend all day without some wax to relieve it! The easiest way to keep up with the little things you might need in a pinch is to find a small pouch to keep your tools in, and let it live in your backpack. Pack things like a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, wax, extra rubber bands, a compact mirror, and lip balm, and you’ll be well covered for any occasion!
- Bring a Water Bottle: We all know that drinking water is good for us, and it’s especially good when you have braces. Keep a water bottle with you at school to help flush out any leftover food particles and stave off any dry mouth problems you might run into (especially if your braces are really new). Also, this can help you resist the temptation to buy soft drinks or sugary sports drinks at lunchtime.
- Get to Know Your Lunch Menu: Be a little more discerning when it comes to your choices at lunch to avoid causing damage to your braces at school. As always, avoid anything hard, crunchy, or sticky. Chips are a no-go, and even biting into sandwiches can leave you with a mess of bread, mayo, and lunchmeat stuck to your teeth. Look ahead at your lunch menu and choose options like cooked vegetables, softer foods like spaghetti or mac and cheese, and lean meat. Your best bet might just be to pack a lunch ahead of time—that way you can make sure your lunch is orthodontist-approved and something you actually enjoy eating!
- Gear Up for PE: If you know you’ll be participating in sports during PE, wear a mouth guard if possible. This will save your mouth if you happen to take a dodgeball, an elbow, or anything else to the face during an exercise. And don’t worry about looking goofy—quite the opposite. Professionals wear mouth guards, so you look more like a powerhouse in the gym than anything else!
- Take a Little Extra Time in the Morning, or Before Bed: None of these habits are particularly difficult, but sometimes it can feel like a lot to remember, especially when you’re also carrying books, assignments, and anything you need for after-school activities. So take a little extra time before bed or in the morning before you leave to prepare for the day ahead. Be honest with yourself—if you know you’re not going to wake up 15 minutes early, make fixing your lunch or packing your braces care bag the last thing you do before brushing your teeth at night.
With these easy adjustments to your normal routine, you’ll be well on your way to a straight-A smile. We can’t wait to hear all about what you’ve learned at your next appointment!
Wishing you a fantastic and fun new school year, Your Friends at Birmingham Orthodontics.
At Birmingham Orthodontics, our mission is simple: we create smiles. Not only do we straighten the crooked grin, fix the bite, and adjust the jaw, we also brighten yearbooks, help young people come to like their looks, and give adults the confidence they have wanted for a long, long time. We also believe in our staff. Our culture of continuous learning has allowed us to host monthly training sessions for each team and bring in leading industry consultants to help keep us ahead of the curve. Contact us for a free consultation, or any questions you might have.
