Dr. Ross Taddeo Orthodontics strives to deliver the best in orthodontic care when you're looking for an orthodontist in the East Orlando area. As your trusted orthodontist, we realize that orthodontic care shouldn't stop when you leave our East Orlando office – we want to make sure that you're comfortable and content with your orthodontics at all times. For those of you who are new to braces and getting ready to go to school with braces for the first time, we want to give you a few tips to help make the transition into the school year much easier.
Pack a Braces-Friendly Lunch
Patients who wear braces understand that there are two types of food that they need to avoid: hard foods and sticky foods. When you're at home or deciding which restaurant to go to, you can pick and choose your meals based on what foods you can and can't eat. However, at school, you don't always have the luxury of deciding what's on the menu. For these instances, we recommend packing a lunch with all of the braces-friendly foods you find enjoyable. You can bring sandwiches, pasta, salad, or anything else you like that's suitable for someone wearing braces.
Bring a Dental Kit
When you're wearing braces, it's very important to brush after every meal because of the likelihood that food particles will get trapped in your braces. When you eat at home, this isn't a problem as you can just go and brush your teeth after you're finished with a meal. This can seemingly pose a problem when you eat your meal at school. Not to worry though! By bringing a dental kit with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss, you can brush your teeth at school when you have a few minutes of free time.
Drink Plenty of Water
While drinking water obviously provides many health benefits to the body, it can provide just as many oral benefits as well. Drinking plenty of water can keep your mouth clean, fight bad breath, prevent cavities, and neutralize any acids in your mouth. We recommend keeping a water bottle or two with you so you can drink some throughout the day and ensure that your mouth stays healthy.
Wear a Mouthguard During Sports
When you play sports, you're not just risking bodily injury - you're risking dental injuries as well. This is why it's important to always wear a mouthguard when you play any sports where physical contact is involved. While mouthguards are mandated in only a few sports (football, hockey, and lacrosse), the American Dental Association recommends wearing a mouthguard for a number of other sports that also include basketball, volleyball, and soccer.
Contact Your East Orlando Orthodontist Today!
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. If you would like to schedule an appointment with us, we encourage you to fill out our online appointment request form or give us a call at (407) 482-3700. Our team is proud to serve patients throughout Avalon Park, Waterford Lakes and the greater East Orlando area. We hope to hear from you soon and help give you the smile you've always deserved!