With the start of a new school year comes new challenges for patients with braces or Invisalign®. It can be difficult to maintain proper dental hygiene while juggling a busy school schedule. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some back to school tips for braces and Invisalign® patients to help keep their orthodontic progress a priority during the school year.
1. Pack an oral hygiene kit
One of the biggest challenges for patients with braces or Invisalign® is maintaining proper oral hygiene throughout the day. To help combat this, pack an oral hygiene kit that includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and any other necessary supplies. Keep the kit in your backpack or locker so that you can easily access it throughout the day.
2. Plan your meals
Certain foods can damage braces or get stuck in Invisalign® aligners, making it important to plan your meals ahead of time. Consider packing lunches and snacks that are orthodontic-friendly, such as soft fruits, yogurt, and cheese. Avoid hard, sticky, or chewy foods that can damage braces or get stuck in aligners. This is especially important for students who might otherwise be eating cafeteria food, which isn’t always ideal for patients with braces!
3. Stay hydrated
Drinking plenty of water throughout the day can help wash away food particles and prevent tooth decay. Make sure to carry a water bottle with you to school and take frequent sips throughout the day.
4. Schedule orthodontic appointments in advance
During the school year, it can be difficult to schedule orthodontic appointments around classes and extracurricular activities. To help make scheduling easier, schedule your appointments in advance and try to book them during non-peak hours, such as early mornings or after school.
5. Wear a mouthguard
If you have braces and plan on participating in sports, don’t forget to wear a mouthguard. Sports, and particularly contact sports, are some of the most common causes of injuries and damage to braces. Getting injured while wearing braces is never a fun experience, but to make matters worse, this can prolong braces treatment in the event that your braces hardware gets damaged!
6. Don’t forget to wear your aligners
For Invisalign® patients, it’s important to wear your aligners for the recommended amount of time each day. Set reminders on your phone or calendar to ensure that you don’t forget to wear them. The biggest mistake patients make is forgetting to put them back in after eating lunch, or worse, accidentally throwing them away!
7. Keep up with oral hygiene at home
Even with a busy school schedule, it’s important to keep up with your oral hygiene at home. Make sure to brush your teeth for 2 minutes three times a day and floss at least once a day. This can help prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues.
Drs. Savage, Sabol and Visser are here to support you through your braces and Invisalign® treatments at any time of year. To get a headstart on your treatment before the school year starts, contact us today.
