Tips for going back to school
Going Back To School With Braces or Invisalign
It’s that time of year again! The temperature is cooling off, fall sports are underway, and all the kids are headed back to school.
Getting prepared for the new school year can be exciting for kids! However, for students who have recently started orthodontic treatment, starting school can feel a little more stressful than usual. With changes in appearance, daily oral hygiene routines and meal options, what seemed like small changes at home may be a little overwhelming at school, particularly in the first few weeks. At Noorani Orthodontics we try our very best to make every patient’s orthodontic experience as easy and fun as possible. If you have a child who is going back to school with braces or invisalign, here are some helpful tips we’ve put together to make the transition as smooth and stress-free as possible!
- Keep a braces care kit on hand: We recommend every student to take a travel tooth brush, floss, and dental wax to school because you never know when these helpful items may be needed.
- Keep snacks and lunches braces-friendly: We give each patient a list of “No-No Foods” to avoid. These are extremely important because broken brackets can lead to discomfort and/or delays in treatment. Foods that are too sticky, crunchy or chewy should be avoided because they have the potential to break wires and brackets.
- Purchase a mouthguard for your student athlete: If your child has braces and also plays sports, or has gym class, you may want to consider investing in an orthodontic mouthguard. Sports and other physical activity can increase the risk of braces being damaged or your child’s cheeks, gums, or mouth being injured.
- If you wear retainers or invisalign, make sure to keep them in the retainer case when they're not in your face! Storing them in a cafeteria napkin is a surefire way to accidently toss them in the garbage and we don't want that!
