Are you raising an outdoor enthusiast in Oregon’s high desert region of Bend? We have got you and your child covered! From fly fishing to paddleboarding, Bend boasts an array of outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy. However, if dental braces are in the picture, what do parents, caregivers, and active youth sports or playing kids need to know? Whether it’s tooth-friendly snacks, brushing post-outdoor adventure, or tips for avoiding braces problems, Dr. Mingus in Bend shares how to keep patients in braces active and safely engaged in all the natural beauty Bend has to offer.
What Are The Best Outdoor Activities for Kids with Braces?
Orthodontic care is critically important for a child’s dental development. In order to make sure your child can get the most out of their braces treatment without any dental mishaps, parents and active kids in braces need to know which activities are safe and which are not.
Dr. Mingus recommends sticking with low-injury risk activities such as walking, bike riding, running, and light hiking. He adds that, “a parent should supervise their child while they are playing with braces.” Dr. Mingus also gave a handful of activities to avoid with braces such as, “rollerblading, skateboarding, field hockey, flag football, and wrestling.”
Do Braces Make Outdoor Adventure More Difficult?
Engaging in frequent outdoor activities—such as climbing, kayaking, and skiing—can pose problems for active kids in braces. Most outdoor sports and activities like these are more than likely to cause direct contact to the face, “making it easier for your child to damage their braces,” remarks Dr. Mingus.
Another thing to consider for a parent is whether their child has braces that are bonded to the front teeth. These types of braces can be damaged if a direct hit is taken to the face. Elastics can also be difficult to use in outdoor activities, as Dr. Mingus points out. Activities and air temperature changes can loosen them up more easily than normal, which can be quite a headache for a parent and their child.
Prepping Braces for Outdoor Activity
For braces wearers, it is especially important to stay on top of oral hygiene when engaging in outdoor activities. In order to avoid any damage to their braces and cavities, Dr. Mingus recommends that kids and their parents pack a few essentials for their trips: good tooth brushing and flossing tools, mouth wash, lip balm, and sugar-free snack options.
Making sure children stay hydrated is also important, but they do need to be careful of what beverages they are consuming. “It is important to avoid soft drinks and juices when in the backcountry, as the high sugar content and acidic content can lead to debraces bonding. It is best to stock-up on water and unsweetened herbal teas,” says Dr. Mingus.
What Tooth-Friendly Snacks Should Kids with Braces Pack?
Opting for a snack that is low on sugars and close to powdered-sugar consistency is the best option for braces-wearers. “Lock nuts, unsweetened dried fruit, and trail mix are some great options for parents to pack for their kids,” says Dr. Mingus. Parents should also be aware that, “avoiding popcorn, licorice, taffy, caramel, hard candies, gum, and hard nuts can help prevent breakage of braces or arch wires.”
In addition to these snack options, parents can rest easy knowing their braces-wearing child snacks on food that won’t get stuck to their brackets, which is known to be a common issue for braces-wearers.
Tips for Avoiding Braces Related Problems
In order to avoid as many treatment-related problems as possible, Dr. Mingus recommends that parents enforce good tooth brushing and flossing habits for their kids. Post-outdoor adventure tooth brushing is even more important as exposure to outdoor environment can lead to quick bacteria growth-which can lead to bigger problems.
If a parent and child are concerned about additional braces-related problems from playing outdoors, Dr. Mingus strongly advises they consult with a professional orthodontist. Iconic Orthodontics provides a vast array of tips for preventing braces-related problems—including using a bite guard and becoming familiar with any symptoms— to outdoor enthusiasts in Bend.
Embracing Bend’s Outdoor Beauty with Braces
Dr. Mingus and his knowledgeable staff at Iconic Orthodontics in Bend, Oregon want patients to enjoy the outdoor adventures on offer in the area. With the orthodontic treatment and outdoor adventure tips he provides in mind, families can take advantage of all the natural beauty the area has to offer while staying safe and caring for their dental braces treatment.