Summer is the perfect time to relax, enjoy outdoor activities, and create lasting memories. If you or your child has braces, maintaining a healthy and happy smile during the summer months is essential. At Orthodontic Specialists in St. George, UT, we’ve got you covered with tips on how to have summer fun with braces.
Stay Hydrated and Healthy
With the scorching summer temperatures in St. George, staying hydrated is crucial. Drinking plenty of water helps you stay cool, rinses away food particles, and reduces the risk of cavities. Try to limit sugary drinks like soda and sports drinks, which can lead to tooth decay.
Keep a Braces Care Kit Handy
Whether heading to the beach, camping, or enjoying a picnic in the park, it’s wise to have a braces care kit on hand. Include essentials like a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss threaders, orthodontic wax, and a small mirror to ensure you can maintain your braces wherever you go.
Safeguard Your Braces During Activities
If you’re involved in summer sports, wearing a mouthguard is essential to protect your teeth and braces. At Orthodontic Specialists, we can provide a custom-fitted mouthguard that offers superior protection and comfort compared to generic options.
Summer Fun with Braces-Friendly Foods and Treats
Picnics and BBQs are a classic part of summer, but traditional outdoor foods like corn on the cob, grilled meat with bone, or hard, raw veggies can be harsh on braces. Here are some braces-friendly suggestions that everyone will love:
Fire Up the Grill: Many grilled foods that are braces friendly. Some suggestions are hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, shrimp kabobs, and boneless chicken kabobs.
Roast Your Veggies: Toss your favorite vegetables on the grill. Maybe you like roasted zucchini, mushrooms, or bell pepper. For a vegetable with a kick, grill some bacon-wrapped jalapenos.
Picnic Sandwiches: If you want simple picnic sandwiches, just about anything goes as long as you choose soft foods like peanut butter and jelly, cheeses, soft lunch meats, etc., and use soft bread.
Pasta or Potato Salad: Soft pasta salads like macaroni salad, Italian pasta salad, or bacon ranch pasta salad are braces friendly. Soft vegetables like avocado, cucumber, and cooked bell peppers add flavor without adding crunchy veggies that can damage braces.
Fruit Salads: Summertime is abundant with soft fruits such as bananas, melons, oranges, pineapples, mangoes, and berries. You can create your own fruit salad with your favorites.
Utah Dessert Favorites: You will surely want dessert after your BBQ or picnic. So, we’ve included some braces-friendly desserts you may like. Your braces are safe with some of Utah’s popular ones, including Jello, peach cobbler, pull-apart pastry, and cherry pie. If you haven’t tried Aggie Blue Mint ice cream created at Utah State University, it’s worth a try! You can read the story of its creation here:Origin Story: Aggie Blue Mint. If none of these tempt your taste buds, cakes, puddings, other ice cream flavors, or frozen yogurt might do the trick.
Stick to Your Oral Hygiene Routine
It’s easy to forget your oral hygiene routine amidst the summer fun. Remember to brush after every meal and floss daily to clean your teeth and braces. An interdental brush can help you reach those hard-to-clean areas around your braces.
Plan a Summer Check-Up
Summer is an ideal time to schedule a check-up with Orthodontic Specialists. Regular visits help ensure your treatment is on track and allow us to address any issues that may arise. Plus, it’s an excellent opportunity to ask any questions you might have about caring for your braces.
At Orthodontic Specialists in St. George, UT, we want you to enjoy a fun and worry-free summer while progressing toward your dream smile. Follow these tips to keep your braces in great shape and make the most of the season. If you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment, please contact us. Enjoy your summer!
Warm Regards,
Dr. Jeff Erikson & Team
Orthodontic Specialists
