May 28, 2019
Shhh, do you hear that? It’s the sound of the ocean. The sound of the wind moving freely without classroom walls in its way. The blissful silence that follows the final bell, signaling the start of your summer break.
It’s… the sound of freedom!
That being said, with freedom comes a smidge of dental responsibility — but don’t worry, we promise you don’t have to think too hard about your braces. After all, you deserve to give your brain a break after a year of hard work at school!
And that’s why we’re here to give you our three keys to summer survival with braces. Once you’ve got these down, tackling the summer with the brightest and healthiest smile will feel like the most natural thing in the world:
- Summer Snacks, Dental Danger
First things first: when you’re not in school, you may not always have the structured meals or regular snacks you’re used to eating in the classroom. It’s easier to grab for the trail mix or other snacks that are on-hand without really thinking about what they could do to your wires and brackets, so be sure to stay away from these tempting goodies while sitting on the sandy beach or around your evening campfire:- Marshmallows, gummies, and other sticky foods
- Nuts and pretzels
- Hard, uncut fruits like apples (be sure to slice them before eating!)
- Hard candy and bubblegum
- Popcorn
- Upkeep, upkeep, upkeep
We get it — it’s just so easy to be a little more lazy than usual during the summer! Between afternoon naps, mornings where you can sleep in, or late nights when you can stay up for hours doing nothing, sometimes all of that freedom leads to… forgetfulness. It’s important to remember to keep up with your regular cleaning habits and pack your hygiene tools if you’re going out of town for any length of time. If you’re still worried you’ll forget, we recommend writing a packing checklist for your dental toolkit and/or setting regular alarms on your phone at least once in the morning and once at night. - A Visit Now Means More Free Time Later
We understand that you might drag your feet a little at the prospect of walking into your orthodontist’s office when you could instead be poolside or at the movies with your friends. But by coming in for your regular summer visits, you’ll increase the likelihood that your braces will remain in a healthy condition — thereby reducing the amount of time you have to spend in the chair!
If you have any further questions about your braces — or if they are in need of an adjustment before you launch into your long-awaited summer vacation — be sure to contact SouthShore Orthodontics. We provide exceptional service in a welcoming environment, so don’t forget to call us today to schedule an appointment!