Going back to school is a busy and exciting time! It is a time to reconnect with old friends and rehash your summer adventures. You have new
teachers, new classes, and some will even have a new school. It’s normal to feel nervous
butterflies, but we at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics don’t want your braces to be a reason a stress!
The Smile Makers Team at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics in Morehead City, Jacksonville, and Havelock want to
make your back to school experience pleasant and fun. Here are some tips to
help you deal with your braces at school.
1) Pack Braces-Friendly Lunches
Packing a braces-friendly lunch for yourself or your child can be a challenge,
but there are many great foods to choose from.
Remember, raw carrots, pretzels, nuts and
corn chips may cause your teeth more pain and they may even damage your braces, and gummy foods such as taffy and fruit roll-ups get caught
in braces and create a brushing nightmare or potentially embarrassing situation!
Some fruits, like apples, are hard to eat whole, but they can be eaten easily when they’re sliced thinly.
Yogurt is a great option for kids with braces. Our
Coastal Carolina Orthodontics patients also like muffins, pasta, quinoa, soup, pudding,
avocados, mashed potatoes, applesauce, coleslaw and soft fruits
like strawberries or blueberries. Add protein to your meal
with beans, meatloaf, tofu, pulled pork, meatballs and tuna. Salsa and hummus
are good snacks to bring to school, too, but bring softer pita slices instead
of hard tortilla chips for dipping.
Watch out for sugary foods; you don’t want the sugar to stay on your braces and breed bacteria.
Slow-cooking food in a crockpot will make basically anything
soft and easy to eat. You can also cook in bulk this way and freeze meals for
later.
For some great braces-friendly recipes check out our Pinterest Page: http://pinterest.com/coastalcarortho/boards/
2) You’ll want to clean your teeth thoroughly after you eat.
It’s helpful to have
all the supplies you need for your braces in one place. Make your own braces
survival kit, or browse already assembled kits online. Keep the kit in your
backpack or in your locker so you can access it easily.
Here’s what you need:
•Dental wax for sores and scrapes
•Floss
•Toothpaste and a toothbrush
•A small mirror to check for trapped food
•A small (or collapsible) cup for rinsing
•A spiral dental brush (a "Christmas Tree Brush")
•Lip balm
You may prefer a toothbrush made for braces, but a regular toothbrush
will be effective too. Lip balm keeps lips from drying out.
3) A Few More Tips!
If you are using Invisalign or Invisalign Teen to straighten your teeth, remember to remove your aligners before you eat. You should brush your teeth after your meal and put your aligners back in as soon as possible!
Remember to bring a protective mouth guard if you play sports during or after school. If you need a mouth guard, contact one of our offices! And, as always, contact your parents and your orthodontist if your braces or Invisalign need repairs
Whether you are in Morehead City, Jacksonville, or Havelock we at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics are always here to help you!
