Summer is fast approaching and the countdown to vacations, plans with friends, and delicious cookout meals have begun.
While you are on summer vacation, you cannot take a vacation from caring for your braces. Braces in the summer need special attention as you spend more time eating at backyard barbecues and participating in summer activities.
Let’s learn about how to clean, protect and maintain your braces in the summer months to keep your treatment on track.
Keep your routine consistent
With no school in session, it’s easy to sleep in, stay up late, and skip your regular oral health routine. However, neglecting your regimen after late-nights all summer can have a negative impact on your braces treatment and can create bad habits.
We know it’s difficult during the summer, but sticking to your oral hygiene routine will help you maintain your good habits while avoiding creating negative ones. Plaque becoming lodged
around your brackets and wires and lingering for extended periods of time can lead to cavities, gum disease, and tooth decay. This can cause additional issues once you remove your braces.
Remember, a healthy smile is a beautiful smile! Spend extra time this summer following Dr. Frey’s directions for healthy teeth.
Enjoy the cookouts, but no corn on the cob
It’s summer and the cookouts are calling! What’s not to love about a backyard barbecue? Fresh air, good company, and food that makes you look forward to the next bite. But if you have braces, it’s important to be mindful of what you’re eating, because it’s not fun to have a wire come loose or a bracket pop off in the middle of summer vacation.
Fortunately, there are some easy ways to make sure you’re still enjoying your summer without compromising your orthodontic treatment. Corn on the cob is a big no-no with braces, as one bite into the cob could damage your wires and brackets. But, you can still enjoy this summer delicacy by cutting the kernels from the cob.
When it comes to ribs, choose leaner cuts instead of fatty ones—the fat can get trapped in between your brackets and teeth and cause plaque buildup. And don’t forget about those tasty sauces! It’s best to stick with tomato-based sauces rather than sugary barbecue sauce, which can lead to tooth decay.
Pack for your braces when you go on vacation
No matter what your summer plans entail, it’s important to include your orthodontic essentials in your travel bag. If they’re forgotten, the results could be painful, costly, and require an inconvenient trip to visit us. Here are some suggestions for packing for your braces when you go on vacation:
Travel Kit:
- Your orthodontic wax — wax is great at covering up the rough edges of your braces that might irritate the inside of your mouth.
- Your rubber bands — you’ll want to keep these in a case so they don’t get dirty or fall out.
- Dental floss and a water flosser — these will help you clean around your wires and brackets after you eat.
- A travel toothbrush and toothpaste — you can use this to clean up after meals when you’re on the go.
We also recommend that you bring along a small first aid kit in case one of your brackets or wires causes irritation or pain. A few extra items such as ice packs and over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen will come in handy if needed.
Visit Drs. Frey
While you are enjoying your summer vacation, it is still important to schedule appointments with your orthodontist. Schedule your appointment at FreySmiles Orthodontics today.