Back to School Tips and Tricks for a Successful School Year

A new school year means fresh notebooks, new routines, fall sports—and plenty of reasons to smile! Whether your child is beginning orthodontic treatment, returning to school with braces, or wearing clear aligners, a little preparation can help make the transition easier.

Here are a few back-to-school tips from the team at Twohig Orthodontics.

Pack a Braces-Friendly Lunch

Most school favorites are perfectly fine with braces, but foods that are very hard, sticky, or chewy can damage brackets and wires.

Good lunchbox choices include:

  • Sandwiches made with soft bread

  • Yogurt, applesauce, or cottage cheese

  • Pasta, rice bowls, and soft wraps

  • Cheese, eggs, or tender chicken

  • Soft fruits such as bananas, berries, and melon

  • Apples or raw vegetables cut into small, bite-sized pieces

Try to avoid hard candy, sticky caramel, gum, popcorn, ice, and biting directly into whole apples or hard vegetables.

Create a Small Orthodontic Care Kit

Keeping a few supplies in a backpack or locker can make orthodontic care at school much easier. Consider including:

  • A travel toothbrush and toothpaste

  • Floss threaders or orthodontic flossers

  • Orthodontic wax

  • A small mirror

  • Lip balm

  • Extra elastics, if prescribed

  • An aligner or retainer case

A reusable water bottle is also helpful. Water rinses away food particles and is a much better everyday choice than sugary or acidic drinks.

Protect That Smile During Sports

Fall sports are a wonderful way for students to stay active, but teeth and orthodontic appliances need protection. If your child plays a contact sport, ask us about an orthodontic mouthguard designed to fit comfortably over braces.

A properly fitted mouthguard can help protect the teeth, lips, cheeks, and orthodontic appliances during practices and games.

Keep Aligners and Retainers Safe

Always put clear aligners and retainers in their case when you remove them. Wrapping them in a napkin during lunch is one of the easiest ways to accidentally throw them away.

It can help to make one simple rule: if the appliance is not in your mouth, it belongs in its case.

Students wearing clear aligners should also remember to follow their prescribed wear schedule and brush their teeth before putting the aligners back in whenever possible.

Make Oral Care Part of the School Routine

Busy mornings and packed evenings can make brushing and flossing feel rushed. Establishing a consistent routine early in the school year helps prevent plaque buildup, cavities, and permanent white marks around brackets.

Students with braces should carefully brush around every bracket and along the gumline. A quick brush after lunch helps, but thorough brushing and flossing at home remain essential.

What If Something Breaks at School?

A loose bracket or poking wire can be uncomfortable, but most orthodontic problems are not emergencies. Orthodontic wax may provide temporary relief until you can contact our office.

Please call Twohig Orthodontics if your child experiences significant discomfort, a broken appliance, or another concern. Our team will help determine the best next step.

Keep Appointments on the Family Calendar

School, activities, and sports can fill the calendar quickly. Keeping scheduled orthodontic visits is important because each appointment helps treatment continue moving forward.

When possible, schedule the next visit before leaving our office and add it to every family calendar used at home.

Start the School Year With Confidence

Orthodontic treatment is about more than straightening teeth. It is about helping each patient feel comfortable, confident, and proud of their smile.

The entire Twohig Orthodontics team wishes our patients, families, teachers, and local schools a safe, successful, and smile-filled 2026–2027 school year!

The Dr. Jeff Smile Connection—getting you connected to a smile you’ll love.