You might love the beautiful weather that summer brings, and you probably enjoy the food, too. There are so many delicious choices to choose from, but you need to be careful of your braces. We want you to know how to enjoy the summer, but we also want to help you maintain your braces even while doing your favorite activities and eating your favorite foods.
Summer Athletics
A beautiful summer day invites you to get moving outside like no other time of year, but if you’re not careful, you could get hurt and break your braces. If you’re playing touch football, soccer, basketball, or any other sport with even light contact, it’s easy for someone to knock into you, and the ball could hit you, too. To avoid breaking your braces, wear your mouthguard while playing.
Summer Snacks and Sweets
When you’re at a party with your friends and family, it’s hard to say “no” to all of the tasty treats that your favorite aunt only makes during the summers. But there can be major consequences to not choosing the right types of foods. For instance, hard pretzels and candies can break a bracket on your braces. Corn on the cob and popcorn can get stuck in your teeth and braces’ wires. And don’t forget that chewing on ice can break fillings and other parts of your teeth and dental work.
Sweets are another type of treat to avoid. Not only is the high concentration of sugar bad for your teeth and overall oral health, but some kinds, such as gum and taffy, can get stuck in your braces.
Burnt Lips
Your lip line might be more sensitive if you have certain kinds of braces. That’s why you should take extra care to ensure that your lips stay covered in a lip balm with SPF sunscreen so that they don’t get burnt.
Don’t Skip the Routine
During the school year, many people have much more regimented routines. But when summer comes, it’s easy to fall out of your routine. Your teeth need the same amount of care in the summer that they need the rest of the year.
Summer Trips
Whether you’re going on vacation with your family or on a trip to a summer camp, you need to maintain your oral hygiene. You should pack all of the products and tools that you need for your teeth, which will include:
- Mouthwash
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Orthodontic wax
- Floss
- Name and phone number of orthodontist in the area in case of a mishap
There are a lot of fun things to do during the summer, so it’s easy to lose track of your oral hygiene. Make sure that you stay prepared wherever you go, and avoid foods that could damage your teeth. If you have certain activities and sports that you like to do, go ahead and enjoy the time that you spend on it. But don’t forget to wear your mouthguard, and always make sure that you have a nearby orthodontist in mind in case something happens.