The lunchbox is packed, the backpack’s zipped, and the first-day outfit is already laid out on the bed—but something still feels off. Then your teen walks in, slipping in their clear aligners for bedtime. That’s when it hits you: it’s not just back-to-school season. It’s back-to-school with orthodontic treatment season. We know this time of year comes with enough stress, so our Goings Orthodontics team put together this guide of our top back-to-school tips for kids and teens in orthodontic treatment to make the transition a little easier for the whole family.
Restock Your Braces Kit
Regardless of whether your child is a Windsor braces or an aligner patient, they need a mini survival pack in their bag. Believe it or not, a well-stocked braces care kit can be the difference between a great, good, and bad day.
Here’s what to include:
- Orthodontic Wax (for poking wires or sore spots)
- Aligner Case (to keep aligners safe at lunch)
- Toothbrush & Toothpaste (a post-lunch must-have)
- Alcohol-Free Mouthwash (quick refresh between classes)
- Interproximal Brushes & Floss (to clear out stubborn lunch leftovers)
- Compact Mirror (for checking tight spots in a pinch)
- Mouthguard (to protect your young athlete’s braces)
Toss it all into a standalone zippered pouch or an easily accessible pocket in their backpack, and they’ll be so grateful. Even your moody teenager who swears they “won’t need it” will have more than one moment where they’re glad to have these tools. It’ll save them from food stuck in their teeth before a presentation in front of a full classroom, distracting discomfort during a big test, and smelly breath before they talk to their crush or try out for the debate team.
How To Stop Braces Pain At School
If your child experiences discomfort during the school day, orthodontic wax can be a lifesaver. Applying a small piece over brackets or wires helps ease rubbing against cheeks or gums. You can also talk to their school about the rules of over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen. If allowed by school policy, put some in their portable care kit. Soreness usually fades within a day or two, but you can always contact Dr. Goings at either one of our Windsor or Fort Collins orthodontic offices if something doesn’t feel right.
Perfect The On-The-Go Care Routine Before The First Day
School isn’t always the easiest place to keep up with oral care, but nailing down a simple on-the-go routine helps keep treatment on track. Helping your child and teen get it right before the first day of classes has more than one advantage:
- You’ll know they’re taking good care of their braces, aligners, & mouth
- They can get it done quickly & get back to class faster
- They’ll feel less self-conscious about doing oral hygiene in public if they’re efficient & practiced
How To Care For Braces At School
If your youngster has Fort Collins braces, they should brush after every meal, even at school. This habit is essential for combating plaque, bacteria, white spots on teeth, bad breath, and food stuck in their braces. The travel-sized toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, interdental brushes, and mirror in their care kit are perfect for this. In a pinch, they could rinse their mouth out by swishing water in place of a thorough brushing and flossing, but it shouldn’t be an everyday thing.
For teens with clear braces, skipping after-meal brushing can increase their risk of discoloration in between appointments. Though it won’t affect their treatment, it can make their braces a little more noticeable to others and make them self-conscious. A quick and easy oral hygiene routine can prevent this from being an issue!
How To Care For Aligners At School
Since clear aligners must be removed for eating and drinking anything other than water, on-the-go care is a little easier. The biggest, most important thing for these patients to remember is to put their aligners in their protective case as soon as they take them out. Not only does this keep aligners safe from germs and sticky or dirty surfaces, it also makes them less likely to be thrown away, crushed in a bookbag, or left behind on the table. Here’s a rhyme to help them remember: face or case!
If you’re worried your child might lose their case, get them a custom case! A unique design prevents mixups if more than one person at the table is an aligner patient, and, if they go missing, helps your child identify their aligners or describe them to a grown-up when searching for them.
Provide Braces-Friendly Snacks For School
Cafeteria food and vending machine snacks aren’t always braces-friendly. Things like chicken wings, chips, hard pretzels, popcorn, nuts, whole apples, crunchy sandwiches, sticky candy or desserts, and chewy foods can pop brackets off the teeth, bend wires, and make clear and metal braces hard to clean. Ensure your child or teen has plenty of delicious braces-friendly snacks and lunches daily to avoid temptation!
Good options include:
- Yogurt or applesauce cups
- Cheese cubes or string cheese
- Soft fruits like bananas or berries
- Smoothies in thermoses
- Nut-free muffins or soft granola bars
- Soft tacos
- Boneless, soft meat
- Casseroles
- Spaghetti & meatballs
- Burrito bowls
- Steamed vegetables
- Soups without crackers
- Soft sandwiches
- Noodles
Orthodontic Treatment Pro Tip: Make sure all big bites, like sandwiches or burgers, are cut into bite-sized pieces so they don’t put too much strain on their braces when biting into food or chewing.
Water Bottles Are Essential For Orthodontic Treatment
A reusable water bottle should be on every back-to-school checklist, but it definitely needs to be on the list of orthodontic patients!
Frequent sipping keeps the mouth hydrated, which helps reduce dry mouth, a common cause of irritation and mouth sores during orthodontic treatment. Staying hydrated also keeps the breath fresher throughout the day by washing away food particles and bacteria that can build up between oral hygiene routines.
Easily accessible water is also a smart, healthy way to reduce cravings for sugary drinks that can stain aligners or cause plaque buildup around brackets. With so many drink temptations in the lunchroom and vending machines, a cold water bottle is a small but powerful choice that protects your child’s smile all day long. (Plus, if your child is prone to making trades at lunch time, a reusable water bottle will decrease the chances they’ll end up with a soda or fruit punch. They’re more likely to swap a cheap, throw-away bottle than a nicer one).
Let’s Ace This School Year Together.
We’re here for you and your kids all school year long. From helping you prep their braces kit to handling those mid-semester check-ins, Goings Orthodontics is proud to support Windsor and Fort Collins families at every stage of orthodontic care. Need to book a quick repair visit, start treatment with a free consultation, get extra wax, or ask about school-specific concerns? Get in touch. We’ve got your back(pack).
