The summer holidays are almost over and as you help your kids prepare for the school year ahead there are a million things racing through your mind. But as you rush to get their school uniforms ready and their back to school shopping complete, it’s important not to forget about their orthodontic treatment.
Whether this is the first time they’ll head to school with braces or have been undergoing orthodontic treatment for a while, it always helps to start the school year with all the essentials covered.
Here’s the ultimate back to school orthodontic checklist to help your child keep their treatment on track during the school year:
Pre-book your appointments
Take the stress out of finding convenient appointment times for Term 1 by pre-booking your child’s next few orthodontic appointments. Once they’re all in your diary or calendar, this will reduce the stress of having to make last minute appointments. It also helps you to conveniently arrange the always “in-demand” before or after school appointments.
Build a back to school orthodontic care kit
The school day will see your child eat lunch and at least one snack, so it’s important that they’re prepared to properly clean and look after their appliances during the school day. Good oral hygiene will keep their breath fresh, their teeth white and their gums healthy for years to come.
A small pencil case or toiletry bag can easily contain all of these essential items to ensure that your child is always prepared:
- A toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss/ Pikster toothbrush
- A compact mirror
- Extra rubber bands (if elastics are being used in their treatment)
- Orthodontic comfort wax
It may be beneficial to advise your child’s teacher if an appliance or braces has just been put on, in case your child is in any discomfort and may require an appropriate over the counter pain relief medication (E.g. Panadol or Nurofen) to help them get through a busy school day.
If their treatment includes a removable device such as clear aligners or a plate, a spare plastic container in their schoolbag or lunchbox will give them somewhere safe to store it while they eat lunch (as lost devices can delay treatment progress and be costly to replace).
Click on the image below to download your checklist.
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