La Habra/Chino Hills, CA – Navigating a school day can be stressful – new teachers, new friends, crowded hallways, balancing studying with extracurricular activities, and everything else that comes with a new school year can take a bit of time to get used to. Plus, if you’ve added wearing braces this school year it’s just one more thing to think about. Dr. Robert Gire of Gire Orthodontics has some tips to help you make this a great school year with your braces.

1. Create an orthodontic care kit. It’s important that you take proper care of your smile and braces while at school. Create a small kit that includes floss threaders, toothbrush, toothpaste (optional), and floss for quick on the go brushing. At Gire Orthodontics we supply this kit the day we put the braces on. Travel size mouthwash is handy for quick rinsing and don’t forget orthodontic wax just in case a piece of your appliance begins to irritate your mouth during the day.
2. Make sure you stick to the foods you are allowed to eat. It can be helpful to pack a lunch and snacks each day so you are guaranteed to have food that is braces friendly. Stay away from the foods that could damage your braces, like whole apples, carrots, nuts, and anything sticky or too crunchy or chewy. It can be helpful to cut food into smaller pieces.
3. Drink lots of water during the day. If you have a snack or meal and can’t find time to brush, be sure to drink plenty of water to remove any excess debris that is left over that could get trapped in the brackets and wires.
4. Don’t forget your mouthguard if you play sports. If you are an athlete, even if it isn’t a full contact sport, consider adding a mouthguard to your uniform supplies. Taking a hit to the mouth is hard anytime and with braces it can be especially damaging.
5. If you wear Invisalign, don’t forget to remove the aligners when eating or drinking and then don’t forget to put them back in. The aligners can become damaged if you chew with them in or if you drink hot beverages so be sure you always remove them when you eat or drink. But remember that to effectively move your teeth they have to be worn a minimum of 22 hours a day. So be sure to remember to place the aligners back in as soon as you have cleaned your teeth.

“My most important tip is don’t forget to smile,” says Dr. Gire. “I know a lot of kids may be worried they’ll get made fun of for their braces but wearing braces is very commonplace and there is no reason to hide your smile while you’re in treatment. Braces are only temporary and in no time you’ll have a gorgeous smile to show off. But until then don’t be afraid to show off your braces.”