New backpack? Check. Fresh notebooks? Check. Braces care kit? Definitely check.
Whether you’re heading back to Thomas Edison High School, Key Middle School, or another Alexandria-area school, braces shouldn’t add stress to your back-to-school checklist. A little preparation can make everything from lunchtime and sports practice to picture day easier.
If you’re starting the school year with metal braces, clear braces, or clear aligners, your First Impression Orthodontics team has you covered with the top 10 braces tips for school.
TL;DR: Your Back-to-School Braces Checklist
Before that first bell rings:
- Pack a small braces care kit.
- Keep your teeth and braces clean after lunch.
- Choose braces-friendly school lunches and snacks.
- Bring a reusable water bottle.
- Keep orthodontic wax handy.
- Know what to do if a bracket or wire bothers you.
- Protect your smile during sports and PE.
- Give yourself time to adjust to instruments and activities.
- Keep clear aligners in their case; never a napkin!
- Keep up with your orthodontic appointments.
Got all 10? You’re ready for class.
1. Build a Braces Care Kit for School
First assignment of the year: make yourself a mini braces survival kit.
Keep a small zippered pouch in your backpack or locker so you have what you need when food gets stuck in your braces, a wire starts bothering you, or you simply want to freshen up after lunch.
Your school braces kit can include:
- Travel-size toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste
- Floss or orthodontic flossers
- Interdental brush
- Braces wax (orthodontic wax)
- Small mirror
- Lip balm
- Extra braces elastics, if prescribed by your orthodontist
- Clear aligner or retainer case, if applicable
You probably won’t need everything every day. But when spinach decides to make itself at home in your braces five minutes before your next class? You’ll be very glad you packed it.
2. Have a Game Plan for Cleaning Your Teeth at School
Braces and clear aligners can make it easier for food and plaque to hang around, so a simple cleaning routine goes a long way.
- After lunch: Brush if you can, focusing around brackets and along the gumline.
- No time to brush? Rinse thoroughly with water to help wash away loose food particles.
- Wearing clear aligners? Clean your teeth before putting them back in whenever possible.
- At home: A water flosser, such as a Waterpik®, can help gently clean around brackets and wires or throughout clear aligner treatment.
- Remember: A water flosser is a helpful extra. It’s not a replacement for brushing.
3. Make School Lunch Braces-Friendly
Having braces doesn’t mean resigning yourself to a year of applesauce. You can still enjoy plenty of your favorite foods. You may just need to change how you eat some of them.
Good school lunch and snack options include:
- Soft sandwiches and wraps
- Pasta
- Yogurt
- Cheese
- Soft fruits
- Apples cut into small pieces
- Cooked vegetables
- Eggs
- Soft granola or snack bars
- Smoothies
Be careful with foods that are particularly hard, sticky, crunchy, or chewy, which can damage brackets and wires. Think popcorn, hard candy, sticky caramel, whole nuts, and biting directly into hard foods.
And yes, pizza is still on the table. Just be cautious with particularly hard or chewy crusts.
Clear aligner patients have fewer food restrictions because the aligners come out for meals. Just remember to remove them before eating.
4. Make Your Water Bottle Your New BFF
This may be the easiest tip on the entire list: bring water.
Drinking water throughout the day helps rinse away food particles and keeps your mouth from feeling dry. It’s especially useful when you can’t brush immediately after lunch or a snack.
For students wearing clear aligners, plain water is also the easiest drink to enjoy while your aligners are in. Remove your aligners before drinking other beverages unless your orthodontist has instructed you otherwise.
Bonus: hydration might help you survive that 2 p.m. math class, too. We make no promises.
5. Keep Orthodontic Wax Within Reach
A bracket or wire rubbing against the inside of your cheek can become very distracting when you’re trying to concentrate in class.
That’s why orthodontic wax (also called braces wax) earns a permanent spot in the school care kit.
If a bracket or wire is irritating your mouth, dry the area as much as possible and place a small amount of wax over the bothersome spot. This can create a smoother surface and provide temporary relief until the irritation settles or our team can take a look.
6. Know What to Do if Something Happens to Your Braces at School
First: don’t panic. Most braces problems aren’t true orthodontic emergencies.
If a bracket becomes loose, a wire starts poking, or something simply doesn’t feel right, tell a parent or guardian and contact your FIO team for guidance.
Orthodontic wax can often make a poking or irritating area more comfortable temporarily. Avoid pulling, cutting, or trying to repair your braces yourself unless your orthodontic team has specifically instructed you to do so.
Knowing the plan before something happens makes a school-day braces mishap much less stressful.
7. Protect Your Braces During Sports & PE
Football, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, cheer, gymnastics – braces don’t have to keep you on the sidelines.
But protecting your teeth, lips, cheeks, and orthodontic appliances is important during activities where you could take a hit or fall.
An orthodontic mouthguard is designed to accommodate braces while your teeth are moving. We recommend ShockDoctor® braces-fit mouthguards, or SISU® brand mouthguards.
Keep it in your gym or equipment bag, clean it regularly, and perhaps most importantly, actually wear it. A mouthguard can’t do much for you from inside your locker.
8. Give Yourself Time to Adjust to Band, Chorus & Other Activities
Calling all trumpet players!
Students who play brass or woodwind instruments may notice that braces initially change how the mouthpiece feels against their lips. That’s normal. Most students can continue playing their instruments with braces, although it can take some practice to adjust.
If you’re new to braces, shorter practice sessions at first may help your mouth adapt. Orthodontic wax can also help if a bracket is irritating the inside of your lips or cheeks.
The same general rule applies to other activities: give yourself a little grace while you adjust. A new school year and new braces are both transitions. You don’t have to master either one on day one.
9. If You Wear Clear Aligners, Remember the Case!
We need to discuss one of the great mysteries of orthodontics: Why do so many clear aligners end up wrapped in cafeteria napkins?
You take your aligners out to eat, wrap them in a napkin, finish lunch, clean up your tray and… whoops.
If you wear clear aligners at school, bring your case and use it every single time you remove them. Don’t put aligners loose in a pocket or backpack, and don’t wrap them in tissues or napkins.
You’ll also need to continue following the wear schedule prescribed by your orthodontist throughout the school day—20 to 22 hours total.
Remove your aligners for eating and drinking anything other than plain water, clean your teeth when possible, and put them right back in afterward.
10. Put Orthodontic Appointments on the Calendar Now
Between classes, homework, sports, clubs, rehearsals, and everything else that fills a family’s calendar, orthodontic appointments can sneak up quickly.
Add upcoming visits to the family calendar at the beginning of the school year and plan ahead when possible.
Keeping your scheduled orthodontic visits allows your Alexandria orthodontist, Dr. Lu or Dr. Schneider, to monitor your progress, make necessary adjustments, and make sure treatment continues moving in the right direction.
If something comes up and you can’t make an appointment, give us a call (703) 822-0010 rather than simply skipping it. Our team is happy to help you find another time that works.
Ready to Take on the School Year?
Going back to school with braces or clear aligners may require a few new habits, but those habits quickly become part of your normal routine.
Pack your care kit. Protect your smile. Keep those aligners out of the cafeteria trash. And don’t be afraid to ask questions.
At First Impression Orthodontics in Alexandria, VA, Dr. Lu, Dr. Schneider, and our team provide personalized orthodontic treatment for children, teens, and adults.
From metal and clear braces to clear aligners, we’ll help you find a treatment option designed around your smile, lifestyle, and goals.
Whether you’re already in treatment or considering orthodontics for the new school year, we’re here to help you put your best smile forward.
Ready to get started? Request a complimentary consultation at our Alexandria orthodontic office today.
Back-to-School Braces FAQs
What should I put in a braces care kit for school?
A school braces care kit should include a travel toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, floss or orthodontic flossers, an interdental brush, braces wax, a small mirror, and any elastics prescribed by your orthodontist. Clear aligner patients should also keep an aligner case handy.
Should I brush my teeth after lunch at school if I have braces?
If possible, yes. Brushing after lunch helps remove food and plaque from around your brackets and wires.
If you can’t brush at school, rinse thoroughly with water and brush when you’re able. Good teeth cleaning with braces is especially important because brackets and wires create additional places for plaque to collect.
Can I play school sports with braces?
Absolutely! Braces don’t have to keep you from participating in school sports. If you play a contact or high-impact sport, ask your orthodontist about an orthodontic mouthguard designed to protect your teeth and braces.
Can I wear clear aligners at school?
Yes. In fact, clear aligners generally need to be worn throughout the school day to stay on track with your prescribed wear schedule.
Remove them for meals and drinks other than plain water, store them safely in their case, and put them back in after cleaning your teeth whenever possible.
What should I do if a wire or bracket breaks at school?
Most braces problems can wait until you’ve spoken with your orthodontist. Braces wax can temporarily cover a poking or irritating area.
If something breaks or feels wrong, let a parent or guardian know and contact us for instructions rather than trying to repair it yourself.
