Dental Care For The New School Year!
With the summer behind us, it’s time to start thinking about the start of school! We know going back to school can be an exciting time for children. There are so many new opportunities and experiences waiting for them on the first day! However, it can be a stressful time for students who recently got their braces. Students who go back to school with braces have a new responsibility in addition to the homework and extracurricular activities they will be involved in. These students will need to alter their daily routine to ensure they are properly caring for their braces! Whether you visit our Iowa City, Fairfield, Washington, or Williamsburg office, our orthodontic team is happy to provide some tips on how to best care for braces during the school year.
Pack A Braces Care Kit
Packing a braces care kit for school is highly recommended. A small plastic bag or zippered pouch will work. Students can keep the kit in their backpack or locker for when they need it! The braces care kit will help your child be prepared for a quick clean or any uncomfort that comes along during the day.
Some items you should include in the braces care kit include the following:
- Travel toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Dental Floss
- Dental Wax
- Extra Elastics (if needed)
- Lip Balm
Encourage your child to use the travel toothbrush after lunch. Sometimes braces collect food after meals, so it is important that children set aside time to brush after lunch. Even if there is no time for toothpaste, brushing with just water can help to remove food particles. If a bracket begins to irritate the lips, cheeks or gums, the student can take a small amount of dental wax and place it on the problem area to reduce irritation. Lip Balm will help with dry lips that can be caused by braces.
Eat & Drink Smart
After children receive their braces, they are told to steer clear of hard, crunchy, gooey, and sticky foods that can damage or break their braces. Remind them to avoid these foods in school, too. Teach them about healthy snack alternatives to sugary sweets so they can avoid harming their braces. The temptation to eat candy is higher in school. Encourage them to eat snacks such as yogurt, applesauce, or other soft-sweet foods to satisfy cravings!
Drinking water is not only important for your overall health, it also benefits your dental health. We recommend students take a water bottle with them to school so they can drink water throughout the day. The water will rinse away remaining food particles that are lodged in the braces after eating. This means less time in the bathroom cleaning their teeth! Also, drinking water will help neutralize acids in their mouths to keep teeth healthy.
Protect Your Braces & Mouth
We know that part of the excitement of back-to-school time is because students look forward to playing sports with their peers. If your child is involved in a sport, it is very important that they wear a mouthguard to protect their teeth and jaw. A mouthguard should be worn whenever they play a sport to avoid injury and to ensure proper oral health. We recommend the boil-and-bite style mouthguard.
Contact Your Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty Orthodontist Today!
We hope you utilize these tips to ensure your child’s braces receive the best care! If you have any additional questions about how to care for braces during the school day, feel free to give us a call at (319) 338-8658. We offer orthodontic treatment to patients of all ages. If you or your child are in need of braces or any other orthodontic service in areas surrounding Iowa City, Washington, Fairfield, or Williamsburg, Iowa, we encourage you to give us a call or fill out our form for a complimentary exam to schedule an appointment with us. Dr. Suzanne Stock and her staff wish all our school-aged patients good luck in the new school year!