It’s time to get ready for school again. If you have braces and are going back to school, here are some tips from an orthodontist in San Antonio, TX, to help you through the change.

Eat carefully

You have to eat well if you want to do well in school. Here is a list of foods you shouldn’t eat while getting braces:

• Popcorn, ice, chips, and other crunchy foods.
• Raw carrots, nuts, and apples are hard to chew.
• Hard candies, gum, and caramel are examples of sticky snacks.
• Soft drinks and sports drinks

Eating these foods can damage the wires and cause them to break. It can also make you feel bad and make your treatment last longer. To take the best care of your teeth and braces, you should avoid these foods.

Here are foods you can eat with braces:

• Foods made from bread, such as tortillas, pancakes, and muffins
• Yogurt, soft cheese, and puddings are all dairy products.
• Easy to chew fruits like bananas, papayas
• Chicken and fish like tuna and salmon that are softly cooked
• Eggs, fruit smoothies, macaroni and cheese, and mac and cheese are also good choices for lunch.

Check the cafeteria menu at your school to make sure there is something you can eat even though you have braces. If you only eat at school, you might be limited in what you can eat, and it could be bad for your braces. Pack a lunch for school that you can eat with your braces on.

Drink plenty of water

Bring a bottle of water with you to school. It is a smart and easy way to stay hydrated all day and helps keep your braces clean. During your orthodontic treatment, you shouldn’t drink soda or other sweet drinks because they leave behind residue that can lead to cavities.

Keep your teeth clean

If you take care of your teeth and gums, they will be healthier. The most important thing to do during treatment is to keep your braces and teeth clean. Make sure to brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day to get rid of any leftover food. Keep a toothbrush and toothpaste with you if you want to brush your teeth after lunch. Threaders and flossing picks can also be used to get food out from between your teeth and prevent cavities.

Take care of your braces

During your orthodontic treatment, it’s important that you know how to take care of your braces. Your treatment may take longer if your braces are broken. Your orthodontist will tell you to wear rubber bands, retainers, and other devices to make sure your jaws and teeth are in the right place. You should also keep a second set of rubber bands in your backpack so that you always have them on.

Be careful while playing sports

Sports and gym activities are an important part of school curriculum and are vital for staying fit. While you can play sports when undergoing orthodontic treatment, it would be good that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and braces from any injuries. Let your orthodontist know if you help in finding the best mouth guard.

Going back to school after summer is exciting and having braces on should not stop you from making the most of your school time. There could be times when you have a loose wire or a loose band, but this should not worry or upset you. You can fix the loose wire using the back of a spoon or the back of a pencil and push the wire back in its place. If a part of your appliance falls off, make sure you contact a Blalock Orthodontics.

Good luck for the upcoming school year!