Dr. Andrew W. Skorobatckyj (Dr. Andy) has been your Strongsville orthodontist for more than 10 years and knows how active a Mustang’s summer can be. Even so, he often recommends summer as the best time to get braces; you don’t have to worry about missing school and it allows plenty of time to develop a good brace care routine before returning in the fall. Once the braces are on, you can use these simple tips to keep your fresh set of braces safe while you remain active this summer:
Festivals and Braces
One of the best things about summer festivals is the amazing food. For those with braces, however, some foods can cause more pain than pleasure. While many festival treats such as hamburgers and hot dogs are safe to enjoy with braces, there are some foods you should avoid. Crunchy or excessively sticky foods are especially hard on braces. If you’re planning to party at Strongsville’s 75th Homecoming Festival, just keep away from things like popcorn, nuts, corn on the cob, and caramel apples.
PRO TIP: Cut food into bite-size pieces before eating it. If you bite into something with your front teeth, it’s likely that food will get caught in your braces.
Sports and Braces
Do you play a summer sport, participate in a marathon event like our local Race for Kids, or frequent the Ehrnfelt Recreation Center or Royalton Fieldhouse? If so, the most important precaution to take to protect your braces is to wear an orthodontic mouth guard.
Unlike a regular mouth guard that has to be boiled to shape, an orthodontic mouth guard is made from high-grade silicone that conforms to the shape of the teeth at any stage of treatment. More importantly, is has large rubber flanges that are specially designed to protect your lips and cheeks from being cut by braces.
PRO TIP: Clear aligners, such as Invisalign, are a much safer alternative to traditional metal braces for athletes.
Camping and Braces
Whether you’re “destination” camping in a faraway land or simply spending a weekend at American Wilderness or Willow Lake Park, make sure you have everything you need to properly care for your braces. Consider putting together a compact braces care travel pack that you can carry in your pocket for convenient access. Stick to the basics so it’s not too heavy or bulky:
- threader floss
- spiral brushes
- dental wax
PRO TIP: Find a manufactured braces kit that suites your needs, then stock up so you can grab and go whenever you hit the road!
Swimming and Braces
You don’t have to worry about braces rusting or being damaged by chlorine, even if you’re a devoted SwimStrong athlete and spend the whole summer in the pool. That being said, if you participate in any sort of contact water sport (water polo, water skiing, wake boarding, etc.) be sure to wear an orthodontic mouth guard.
PRO TIP: If you wear a retainer, make sure you take it out before diving in; you don’t want it to end up at the bottom of a deep pool or lake!
Schedule a Free Consultation
With a little forethought and extra care, it is possible to have new braces and a full and active summer. To find out what treatment options are best for you or your child, contact us online or call 440-842-8015 to schedule a free consultation.
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