Back to school with braces?

Summer is winding down and a new school year has started. Many of our patients are going back to school with braces on for the first time this week. At EMBRACE ORTHODONTICS, our team has prepared a few helpful tips that will make caring for your braces at school a breeze!

• Follow the 2×2 brushing rule: brush your teeth for 2 minutes, 2 times per day. It’s also a good idea to keep an extra toothbrush in your back pack to brush after lunch for extra clean teeth. Remember, clean teeth make for faster appointments and healthier teeth.
• Keep bottled water in your back pack. Drinking water keeps your mouth clean, helps fight cavities and promotes overall good oral health.
• Keep a bag of elastics in your backpack and locker. Elastics are key to moving teeth during treatment and not wearing them can prolong your treatment time.
• Check the school lunch menu online every weekend to plan ahead for meals. Pack healthy snacks like yogurt, smoothies and hard boiled eggs. Avoid foods that are hard, crunchy or chewy to prevent bending wires or knocking off brackets. Remember, damage to your braces can increase the time of your treatment.