Summer is the perfect time to sit back and relax, de-stress and enjoy yourself. But, it is not the time to forget about your essential daily routines.
Caring for braces is a job that must be completed every day, whether you’re at home or abroad. Your braces cannot provide the best results for you if you are not providing the best care possible.
Even if you have a schedule completely filled with Summer activities to complete before you return home, your dental routine should be one of your top priorities and will only take a few minutes out of your day.
Therefore, to keep your smile photo-ready for a series of holiday snaps, here is your guide to caring for your braces while on holiday:
Avoid Certain Foods
Hard shelled, chewy and crunchy foods are exactly what you should be avoiding at the hotel buffet. Choosing to eat these difficult foods can cause problems with your braces, as it can damage the brace design and consequently not work as effectively.
Examples of food to avoid:
- Tough Meats
- Hard Candy
- Chewing Gum
- Sticky Sweets
- Pop corn
- Corn on the cob
- Whole fruit and veg (cut up into smaller bites)
Being Cautious During Sports
If you’re looking to participate in sporting activities while you’re away, remember to wear a mouth guard. This is easy to fit and comfortable to wear, to protect your teeth and gums during any possible injuries, such as cuts, tooth chipping or potential damage to your braces.
Back Up Rubber Bands
If your braces have hooks, it is recommended to wear rubber bands throughout the day, with the exception of while eating and brushing your teeth.
Wearing these rubber bands are to stop the hooks of your brace catching the inside of your cheeks, which can be unpleasant. Nonetheless, rubber bands sometimes have the tendency to fall off and will need replacing as soon as you can, which is why you should always carry a spare supply.
Emergency Wax
Dental wax is also something you should be packing, as if the wire or bracket of your braces were to come loose it can make wearing a brace quite uncomfortable. By applying dental wax to cover the sharp end of the broken piece can prevent you from feeling any sharpness.
Packing Painkillers
If you recently had an adjustment before jetting off on holiday, your teeth may be feeling sore, which can be soothed by rinsing your mouth with warm, salty water. But in the unfortunate case that this is not effective, another alternative is to take painkillers short-term, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
If you’re planning on going away soon for a fun-filled holiday in the sun, always remember to take proper care of your teeth, gums and braces while you are away.
Here at Oldham Orthodontics our expert team is dedicated to providing the best level of dental care for all of our patients. If you think you may need braces or have any concerns about braces you already have, call us today on 0161 6220987.