Back To School With Braces

Back To School With Braces
Posted on 08/31/2022


It’s that time of year again, which means getting back into your school routine. However, going back to the school routine means breaking your summer routine, which can cause some problems for those who just got their braces over the summer. During the break, it may have been easy to change your oral hygiene routine and take care of your braces, but the transition process back into school can throw things off and can put you at greater risk of damaging your braces or developing tooth decay.

To make sure that doesn’t happen, and keep you on the path to the most perfect smile possible, our team here at Lindsey Orthodontics have put together this back to school with braces guide just for you!

Beware Of What You Bite

Parents may already be familiar with the foods that can cause damage to braces, such as hard or sticky foods, and know not to pack them for lunch. However, on the days that you have to get lunch from the cafeteria, you have to be careful with what you choose to eat. Even snacks like pretzels, nuts, or candy can cause some serious damage to your braces. When you’re at school, make sure you are always mindful of what you’re about to eat, and ask yourself if it’s safe to eat with your braces. The last thing you want is to have to go to the orthodontist after school to get your braces fixed instead of going home to relax!

Pack A Braces Care Kit

With your braces, you should be brushing and flossing after every meal to keep food particles and bacteria from building up in your braces and causing your teeth to decay. Over the summer, it’s easy to maintain that oral care routine since you’re at home where your toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss are all the time. Once school starts, you’ll just need to bring that stuff with you so you can brush your teeth and floss after you eat your lunch. We recommend going all out and making a braces care kit, which has everything you could possibly need throughout the school day to properly take care of your smile. The things we recommend putting in your care kit are:

  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Floss
  • Mouthwash
  • A small mirror (for when you’re checking for stuck food in your brackets)
  • Proxabrush/Interdental toothbrush (for cleaning in between wires and brackets)
  • Orthodontic wax
  • Extra rubber bands

Extra Protection For Extracurriculars

If you play any sports at school, we recommend taking extra precautions with your braces by getting a special orthodontic mouthguard. Instead of your typical mouthguard, orthodontic mouthguards are designed with extra room to accommodate your braces. While an accidental or intentional impact could still break your braces, the orthodontic mouthguard will also prevent the brackets or wires from cutting your lips, gums, or tissue in your mouth. If you need an orthodontic mouthguard before you go back to school, reach out to us at Lindsey Orthodontics and we’ll help you!

Contact Us For More Back To School Tips!

If you have any questions about what you should do to take the best care of your braces as you go back to school, contact us at Lindsey Orthodontics. Don’t forget to come to your regularly scheduled checkups with Dr. Lindsey so we can make sure that you stay on track to getting you that new, perfect smile. Schedule your next dental check-up at our Griffin or Locust Grove office. We look forward to seeing you on your next visit, and hope that you have a fun and exciting back to school experience!