If your child or teen got braces this summer here’s what you need to know before they go back to school:
1. Make sure they have a braces care kit in their backpack.
What is a braces care kit? It’s a case with the necessary items to keep your child braces clean and comfortable during the school day. An ideal kit includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, floss threaders, a proxybrush, lip balm and wax. The toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss will come in handy, especially after lunch. Braces have a tendency to collect food so it’s important that kid’s set aside time to brush after lunch. If the brackets begin to irritate the lips, gums, or cheeks, taking a small amount of dental wax and placing it on the problem area can help reduce irritation. Lip balm will help with dry and irritated lips that can be caused by braces. If their braces require rubber bands, a few extra bands is also a good idea. Dr. Bocage orthodontic kit has everything they might need. All our patient will receive an orthodontic kit once they start treatment. Ask Caro, our front desk assistant if you need more information about it.
2. Pack easy lunches.
There is plenty of yummy, healthy lunches that your child can eat with braces. Make sure that raw carrots, whole apples, nuts, hard bread, or sticky snacks like taffy or caramel are not on the menu. Here is a complete list of foods to avoid: https://bocageortho.com/education/life-with-braces/
3. Make sure they carry a water bottle.
Drinking enough water is essential for health, but it is especially important when your teen has braces. Not only does drinking plenty of water help to clear away food pieces that might be hiding around the brackets or underneath the wire, water helps to neutralize the acids from the foods we eat, which keeps your mouth healthier. While most schools have water fountains, having a water bottle in their backpack is the best way to encourage them to drink plenty of water.
4. Get a new mouth guard for sports.
The mouth guard your child wore last year for football or soccer is not going to work now that she/he has braces. It’s time to get a new one, especially if her/his team uses the molded kind. Any sport that might cause injury to the mouth usually requires their players to wear a mouth guard. Ask any member of our team for the right mouth guard for your child!
5. They are not alone!
Thirty years ago, they might have been one of only a few kids who had braces at school. Now, most of their classmates, friends or siblings either had or are currently wearing braces. They shouldn’t feel embarrassed about smiling or laughing. In reality, very few people are even going to notice that they are wearing braces. Today’s braces are much thinner and more discreet!
