Here are some back to school tips to take care of those braces.
- Toothbrush & Toothpaste – yes, we know. It sounds strange, right? Well it’s not! Oral hygiene is always important but it’s especially important for braces wearers so make sure you brush after lunch to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
- Floss Picks – these helpful tools will help you keep your braces clean.
- Compact Mirror – sometimes, you can’t always make it to the restroom to check out your braces. If something feels funny, it’s good to have a mirror so you can check things out.
- Wax – you never know when you may have a pokey wire or irritation on your cheeks so make sure you keep extra wax with you at all times.
- Retainer Case – DO NOT PUT YOUR RETAINER ON YOUR LUNCH TRAY. Sorry for the “text shouting” but seriously, ONLY keep your retainer in your retainer case. Otherwise, there’s a 99% chance you’ll throw it away by accident one day.
- Lip Balm – your lips can get dry quickly in braces so keep a lip balm in your bag to prevent cracking.
- Elastics – It’s important to wear your elastics exactly how Dr. Bernstein tells you to. Not wearing them can prolong treatment. Keep extra elastics with you in case one breaks and to replace after you eat.
- Mouth Guard – If you play sports, wear a mouth guard to protect your braces and your mouth!
Oh Snap!
If one of your wires or brackets ever breaks, don't panic. Simply cover any sharp edges with wax and contact your orthodontist so that you can get it fixed as soon as possible. Do NOT try to remove the wire or pull the bracket off.
Can Adults Get Braces? …Of course!
Straight Talk About Braces for Adults Does the word braces call to mind a teenager with a mouth full of metal? If so, it's time to rethink that picture. These days, people of all ages want to straighten their teeth. In fact, a huge number of adults are...