From purchasing school supplies to setting up carpools, back-to-school season is a hectic time. While orthodontic emergencies are never convenient, they are especially troublesome in the weeks before or after a new semester. After all, you don’t want your child to miss valuable time in the classroom due to a broken bracket or wire, right? Don’t worry – here are five tips to help prevent an orthodontic emergency during back-to-school season.
Tip #1: Don’t Forget About the Dietary Restrictions
Bubble gum, popcorn, caramel apples, pretzels, and tortilla chips are just a few foods that your child should avoid throughout their orthodontic treatment, no matter how tempting it may be to indulge. Hard, chewy, and sticky foods like these significantly increase the chances of a loose bracket or broken wire. So, fill their plates with softer, nutrient-dense foods, like oatmeal, soup, yogurt, and applesauce.
Tip #2: Encourage Your Child to Wear a Mouthguard During Sports
Is your child a part of their school’s football team? Maybe they participate in extra-curricular activities, like organized soccer, baseball, or cheer. Either way, they should wear a custom-made mouthguard. That way, their braces (and their teeth!) are protected from rogue balls and accidental elbows to the face.
Tip #3: Help Them Implement a Solid Oral Hygiene Regimen
Over the summer, your child may have fallen off-track with their oral hygiene regimen. Luckily, there is no time like the present to implement good habits! To keep their teeth happy and healthy, they should be brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily. If they haven’t already, now is a good time to schedule their biannual checkup and cleaning as well.
Tip #4: Reinforce Good Habits
The start of a new school year can come with a bit of stress. If your child bites their nails or chews on their pencil when they are overwhelmed, then it’s of the utmost importance that you do your part to re-direct their behavior. Instead of punishing them, try positively reinforcing the times when they opt for healthier alternatives, like taking a break or practicing deep breathing.
Tip #5: Pack Them an On-the-Go Braces Kit
Of course, you can’t be with your child at all hours of the day. So, set them up for success by including an on-the-go braces kit in their backpack. In it, you can include their mouthguard, a toothbrush, some floss, dental wax, and anything else they need to care for their braces while away from home.
As a parent, you want your child to start the school year on the right foot. If they have braces, then keep the above tips in mind to prevent an orthodontic emergency from getting in the way of that!
About the Author
After earning her dental doctorate from Creighton University, Dr. Frances Hamman pursued her degree in orthodontics from Case Western Reserve University. Now, she has more than two decades of experience creating gorgeous, healthy smiles! Her dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed either. In addition to being a top-rated orthodontist in Ripon, she was named one of “Washington’s Top Orthodontists” by Northern Virginia Magazine and the Washington Consumers Checkbook magazine. If you want to learn more about how to prevent orthodontic emergencies, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment via her website or by phone at (920) 748-7130.
