Back To School Tips

Time slips by quickly, especially during the summer months when kids are home from school and families spend more time together having summer fun.

But before you know it, school will be back in session and students will return to classes.

For children and teenagers with braces, it’s a good time for tips on how to best care for their teeth, braces and retainers while they are in classes for the day.

With offices in Destin and Panama City Beach, the staff at Dr. M. Scott Runnels Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics wants all patients to have a successful and fun return to school and a great 2014-15 academic year.

Here are some tips to ensure our school-age patients keep up with their good habits:

• Pick up a bag or pouch that can serve as a teeth bag during school hours and other time spent away from home. There are pouches available that can fit in notebooks and are big enough to hold toothbrushes, toothpaste, rubber bands and retainer cases.
•  Backpacks also are a good place for dental care items. Backpacks typically have many storage pockets. In a pinch, you can place your toothbrush and other items in plastic bags and store them in your backpack.
• Brush your teeth after you eat lunch. Don’t return to class after lunch with food build-up in your braces, a habit that is not conducive to dental health and can lead to bad breath. A quick brushing doesn’t take long and helps keep braces free of food – not to mention keeping your teeth, gums and breath in A+ shape!
• Bring your retainer case with you to school. Many patients who need their retainers replaced have forgotten to bring their cases and leave their retainers on a cafeteria table or another place where it is likely to disappear in the garbage. Replacement retainers can be costly. Retainer cases are easy to pack and keep the device safe from breaking or being accidently thrown out.
• Don’t forget to change rubber bands if you need to. The school day offers a number of opportunities to remind yourself to do so. Rubber bands lose effectiveness over time, often just a few hours after you put them in. So use class periods as a reminder that it may be time for new rubber bands!

At Runnels Orthodontics, we understand that going back to school, or going to school with braces for the first time, can be difficult for students and parents.

So take time to plan ahead and be aware of what you need each day to take care of your braces, your teeth and your health.

At Runnels, our friendly and professional staff can help you and your child prepare their teeth and braces so students can have a positive and fun school year.

To learn more about proper care of braces, or to schedule an appointment, contact Runnels Orthodontics today so your child can be ready for the bell when school is back in session. You’ll be glad you did!