As the new school year begins, students with braces may feel a bit overwhelmed by the thought of juggling their orthodontic care with classes and extracurricular activities. But don’t worry—balancing school life and maintaining your braces is totally doable with the right strategies. In this guide, we’ll share Designer Smiles by Benton’s favorite tips for returning to school with braces.
Balancing School Activities & Orthodontic Care
If your child was really looking forward to joining or restarting extracurriculars or more creative classes, they don’t need to postpone that because they’ve become a Designer Smiles by Benton patient. Orthodontic treatment won’t stop your child from participating in their favorite school activities, including band and choir. Your young musicians and singers should be able to perform with their braces without difficulty. It might take some practice, but orthodontic care won’t decrease the quality of your music!
For students who prefer athletic extracurriculars, wearing a mouthguard is essential to protect braces and teeth from impact and prevent injuries. When worn correctly, it can considerably reduce the severity of injury!
Make Sure Their Braces Care Kit Is Stocked
A mouthguard isn’t the only orthodontic thing your child could need at school. Double- and triple-check that their braces kit has all the essential orthodontic supplies to make your child’s orthodontic experience comfortable and pleasant while away from home. Below are some items that can make a huge difference in your child’s day.
- Toothbrush & Toothpaste
- A Small Mirror
- Floss & Floss Threaders
- Orthodontic Wax
- Interdental Brushes
- Orthodontic Bands (if applicable)
- Over-The-Counter Painkillers (optional)
- Reusable Water Bottle
- Mouthguard (if applicable)
Bonus: If your child just got their braces for the first time and is struggling to speak how they used to, tell them it’s okay! Over time, they’ll be sounding like themselves again. However, if they don’t want to wait for Father Time, they can read aloud, sing, or engage in more frequent conversation to get used to their braces faster.
Habits For Success
At first, your child might find having clear or metal braces at school annoying or frustrating, especially if they didn’t have much time before the first day to get used to them. However, most of our young patients adjust to orthodontic treatment quickly. The biggest thing for student orthodontic patients to remember is that school shouldn’t get in the way of orthodontic treatment and vice versa. If they can develop and maintain these habits in and out of the classroom, simultaneously getting orthodontic care and education will be a breeze.
- Oral Hygiene Routine: Brushing and flossing twice daily will keep their breath fresh and their teeth and gums healthy so they can socialize, smile, and confidently present all their big projects.
- Pack a Braces-Friendly Lunch: Avoiding sticky, crunchy, or chewy foods can metal and clear braces from damage and make maintaining good oral health easy,
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking water throughout the day helps keep the mouth clean and removes food particles. A hydrated mouth is also less likely to get mouth sores or dry mouth, both of which make wearing braces uncomfortable.
- Refresh After Lunch: No one wants lunch souvenirs stuck in their smile all day! A quick stop to the bathroom after lunch would allow your child or teen to clean their braces with their braces care kit.
- No Chewing On Gum or Pencils: No matter how difficult the test is or how delicious that hard-shell taco sounds, you shouldn’t put them anywhere near your braces. It might break them!
Handling Discomfort & Emergencies
Let’s say your child just started braces treatment or had a wire adjustment. They will likely be a little uncomfortable or sore as their mouth adjusts. This can be treated by taking over-the-counter pain relievers as directed or using Orajel to numb the area.
For bigger problems, like a broken bracket or wire, your child should go through this mental checklist:
- Did I Assess The Area for further damage or issues?
- Can I Use Orthodontic Wax to hold a loose bracket or severed wire in place until my parent or guardian can take a look? DO NOT REMOVE OR REGLUE LOOSE BRACKETS to/from the teeth.
- Am I Unsure What To Do? If so, have I Talked To A Teacher or Nurse?
- Have I Safely Stored Dislodged Brackets so I can bring them to Dr. Barry or Dr. Benton?
- Did I remind myself of the “DO NOT REMOVE OR REGLUE LOOSE BRACKETS to/from teeth” rule?
- Schedule A Comfort Visit With Us to repair broken appliances. These appointments are urgent, so we usually do them around lunchtime so that it doesn’t disrupt your schedule.
We’re Here For You!
At Designer Smiles by Benton, we not only pride ourselves on providing excellent orthodontic care, but patient support and customer service, too. This commitment is highlighted during back-to-school season. Combining school and orthodontic care can be challenging, but your child can thrive with the proper support and guidance. If you have any questions or need extra tips, our team is just a call away.
Ready to start orthodontic care for one or more of your children? Schedule a free consultation with us in Oxford or Pell City, Alabama, today!