As the school year gets under way in Boynton Beach, you’ve got a lot going on. New classes. New teachers. New activities. New books and supplies and . . . well, it’s a lot! Luckily, you have some familiar skills you can rely on to help you enjoy all these new experiences with a healthy, confident smile.
You may not have realized it, but the skill sets you’ve developed for school are useful beyond the classroom. Let’s put those skills to use with our dental study guide:
Do Your Homework
Dental care begins at home! Brush for two minutes twice each day and floss once a day to remove cavity-causing plaque.
If you’re in orthodontic treatment, you might need to brush and floss more often, whether several times a day or after each meal or snack. Follow your orthodontist’s recommendations and use orthodontic friendly tools like interproximal brushes and floss designed for braces.
If you have trouble with getting your teeth their cleanest, electric toothbrushes and water flossers can be a game changer when it comes to removing plaque and food particles from tricky spaces. Talk to Dr. Torrejon to see if these tools are right for you.
Essential Supplies
Put together a kit for your backpack or locker so you’ll always have the smile-approved supplies you need on hand. These tools will help you manage any expected—and unexpected—dental challenges while you’re away from home. Your bag might include:
- Travel toothbrush in a ventilated case (bacteria aren’t fans of fresh air!)
- Travel size toothpaste
- Small mirror to make sure your smile is food-free
- If you wear braces, add orthodontic floss and interproximal brushes, dental wax to prevent irritation from loose wires or brackets, and extra rubber bands as needed
- If you have a retainer or aligners, bring your appliance case to prevent damaging or losing them
- Your dentist’s and orthodontist’s phone numbers for emergencies
Add any other items you think will be helpful, and you’ll be prepared to handle any dental-related issues throughout the day.
Follow Directions
Your dental team at Torrejon Dental has the best recommendations for a healthy smile—but these recommendations only work if you follow them!
- See Dr. Torrejon for regular checkups. These appointments are the time to learn about better brushing techniques, a dental-healthy diet, and other ways to help prevent cavities. Bonus: Regular cleanings will keep your smile sparkling!
- If you’re an orthodontic patient, wear your aligners, appliances, or elastics for the recommended number of hours each day. If you don’t, your treatment could take longer.
- If you wear aligners, it’s important to change your trays on schedule. Changing to a new set of aligners too soon can cause stressful pressure on your teeth and jaws. Changing trays later than recommended can delay your progress.
Any Questions? Ask!
Asking questions is one of the best ways to learn. Your dental team at Torrejon Dental has years of education and experience to help you answer some of the questions you have about navigating your school day.
How can you keep your smile clean and fresh throughout a long day of school? Which cafeteria foods are orthodontic-friendly? Why are mouthguards so important when you play sports?
Your dental team has the answers—or knows how to help you find them. Work with your team to make sure that you’re able to enjoy all the possibilities of the school year, from classroom to lunchroom to extracurriculars, with a healthy confident smile!