{"id":354,"date":"2016-05-16T11:59:09","date_gmt":"2016-05-16T15:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.skororthodontics.com\/blog\/?p=354"},"modified":"2018-01-23T16:31:26","modified_gmt":"2018-01-23T21:31:26","slug":"strongsville-orthodontist-summer-tips-for-braces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skororthodontics.com\/blog\/strongsville-orthodontist-summer-tips-for-braces\/","title":{"rendered":"Surviving a Strongsville Summer with Braces"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Andrew W. Skorobatckyj (Dr. Andy) has been your Strongsville orthodontist for more than 10 years and knows how active a Mustang\u2019s summer can be. Even so, he often recommends summer as the best time to get braces; you don\u2019t 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:<\/p>\n

Festivals and Braces<\/h2>\n

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\u2019re planning to party at Strongsville\u2019s 75th<\/sup> Homecoming Festival<\/a>, just keep away from things like popcorn, nuts, corn on the cob, and caramel apples.<\/p>\n

PRO TIP: Cut food into bite-size pieces before eating it. If you bite into something with your front teeth, it\u2019s likely that food will get caught in your braces.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sports and Braces<\/h2>\n

Do you play a summer sport, participate in a marathon event like our local Race for Kids<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

PRO TIP: Clear aligners, such as <\/em><\/strong>Invisalign<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, are a much safer alternative to traditional metal braces for athletes. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Camping and Braces<\/h2>\n

Whether you\u2019re \u201cdestination\u201d camping in a faraway land or simply spending a weekend at American Wilderness<\/a> or Willow Lake Park<\/a>, 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\u2019s not too heavy or bulky:<\/p>\n