You’re standing in the school supply aisle, scanning for a green science folder and those overpriced pens your teen swears are non-negotiable. You feel a tug at your leg. “Moooom,” your child says, pointing at a backpack they absolutely don’t need with pleading eyes. That’s when you catch a flash of their braces and remember the one list you haven’t checked off yet: their orthodontic back-to-school checklist. Don’t stress. Saddle Creek Orthodontics knows how busy this time of year is, so we decided to make it easier by writing this ready-to-use to-do list for you.
✅ Free Consultation At Saddle Creek Orthodontics
The beginning of the school year is a sweet spot for consultations with Dr. Kyle Fagala and Dr. John Boling: sports haven’t fully kicked off, homework isn’t stacked yet, and your calendar hasn’t completely filled up. If your child needs braces or you’re considering Invisalign for Teens, booking now lets you lock in appointments that work with your family’s schedule before the year gets hectic. Plus, it’s an opportune time for your child to get used to their orthodontic appliances and new routine before they have a lot on their minds and plates.
✅ Braces Care Kit
Every student with orthodontic gear needs a mini survival pack in their bag. 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)
- Invisalign 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)
Toss it all into a standalone zippered pouch or an easily accessible pocket in their backpack, and they’ll be so grateful (even if they don’t say it). 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.
✅ 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 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
- Soups without crackers
- Soft sandwiches
- Noodles
If your teen is an Invisalign Memphis patient, remind them that they can’t use snacking all day or chewing gum as an excuse not to wear their trays. They must eat responsibly so they can wear their aligners for 22 hours a day. We’ve found that reminding them they’ll be in treatment longer, or might have to switch to the not-so-subtle metal braces, is great encouragement for most young Saddle Creek Orthodontics patients.
✅ On-The-Go Orthodontic Care Routine
School isn’t always the easiest place to keep up with oral care, but a simple on-the-go routine helps keep treatment on track. New patients, regardless of age, might need some supervision while they get the hang of it, and younger patients could benefit from written instructions included in their braces care kit.
Braces
If your child has 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.
Teachers can also help enforce this part of their routine. They can discreetly remind your child to clean their braces after lunch or give them permission to head straight to the bathroom without asking after lunch for privacy.
Tip: Does your child or teen feel self-conscious about cleaning their braces in public? Let them know that their health and well-being are far more important than what anyone else thinks!
Aligners
Since 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 clear aligners in their protective caseas 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.
We even encourage our patients to customize their case (make sure any case DIYs don’t interfere with the case’s function). A unique design prevents mixups if more than one person at the table is an aligner patient, and, again, reduces the risk of aligners being left behind. Your teen might be more likely to use their case or wear their aligners if they deck it out, too!
How To Stop Braces Pain At School
Occasional soreness from wire adjustments or new trays is common. 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 braces care kit! Soreness usually fades within a day or two, but you can always text or call one of our Germantown or Collierville orthodontist offices if something doesn’t feel right.
✅ Water Bottle
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.
✅ Saddle Creek Orthodontics Appointments
Whether you’re starting fresh this semester or continuing treatment, staying on schedule is everything. At Saddle Creek Orthodontics, we make appointments easy to plan and even easier to enjoy. With locations in Germantown and Collierville, it’s simple to find times that work with your school calendar.
Let’s get your child well on their way to a confident senior portrait. Schedule their free consultation today and let’s make this their most smile-worthy year yet.