Having braces can be very exciting, but also a bit confusing or even frustrating to navigate until you get used to them. Here are a few things to keep in mind to help you take care of your new braces, especially while you are at school.

#1 – Eating Tips

Since braces are on your teeth, and those teeth are pretty important for chewing, meal or snack time at school is a big thing to consider. So, what can you eat and what should you avoid? Basically, you want to stay away from foods that could get stuck in your braces, damage them, or those that you really have to bite into in order to eat.

• Things that get stuck include chewy or sticky items like: caramel, licorice, tootsie rolls, gum, or even bagels.
• Things that could damage the braces include crunchy or hard foods like: chips, popcorn, ice, nuts, or hard candies.
• Things that require biting in order to eat them would be things like: uncut apples, corn on the cob, or raw carrots.

So what can you eat? While there are many options, we recommend choosing foods like cheese, pasta, rice, or meats. Anything soft, like pudding, applesauce, or mashed potatoes works great too! You can also have sweet treats from time to time if you like, such as ice cream (no nuts), cake, and the especially fun and wiggly Jell-O!

#2 – Brushing Tips

It is a great idea to pack a small kit for school with brushing and brace cleaning essentials inside. This will not only help you with your hygiene, but also come in handy if a little lunch gets stuck where it doesn’t belong! Here are some great things to include in your kit, for after meal brushing at school:

• A toothbrush & toothpaste
• Dental floss & dental wax
• Extra rubber bands
• A pocket sized mirror

#3 – Repair Tips

Remember those extra rubber bands that we recommended for your brushing kit and that dental floss? These can come in handy from time to time when you need to do a quick fix to either a wire, band or a bracket on your braces while at school.

• For a loosened bracket – Use something firm but not sharp to position the loose bracket back to where it belongs. Sometimes a pencil eraser or the back of a spoon will work. Be extra careful not to dislodge it again throughout the day, and visit your orthodontist as soon as you can to have it repaired.
• For a broken wire – That pencil or spoon can be used again, this time to maneuver the wire back into place as much as possible. Use the dental wax in your kit on the pointy end of the wire to keep it from rubbing and irritating your lip, mouth or cheek too much, until your orthodontist can fix it properly.

#4 – Sport & Activity Tips

Having braces does require a little extra care when participating in athletics, but it doesn’t mean you can’t play that game of kickball or be a part of the normal gym time events. What it does mean is that you should bring your mouthguard to school each day, and wear it when involved in sports and similar activities. Think about it like you would any other piece of protective sports gear, like knee pads or a helmet.

#5 – Smile Tips

Smiling with braces on can feel a little awkward at first, and sometimes people complain that their lips get chapped more quickly. Drink lots of water throughout the day and keep chapstick or lip balm in your bag or pocket to help too, especially during the winter months. While your smile may look a little different with braces, it is just as special and as bright as before! Remember to show it off all day long, at home and at school!

Contact Your Barrington & Portsmouth Orthodontist

If you are looking for an orthodontist in the Barrington or Portsmouth area, or if you have questions and want more information about braces, feel free to contact Jaffe Orthodontics. We look forward to helping you achieve the smile you want!