This summer, school might be out, but you’ll want your braces to stay on. While the hotter months are great for activities like contact sports, cookouts, and vacations, these can all pose a threat to your orthodontic care without the proper precautions. Read on to learn more about having summertime fun while avoiding orthodontic emergencies like broken wires or loose brackets.

Getting braces brings some big changes into your life. These orthodontic appliances take some getting used to as they shift the positions of your teeth into better alignment, and they require a dedicated effort on your part to do the job. This includes eating restrictions and specialized oral hygiene. The adjustment can be challenging, and you will probably be a little sore for the first week. Here are some tips on managing the transition and starting off right on your way to a straight and beautiful smile.

Invisalign is a great way to straighten your teeth without visible braces or dietary restrictions. As with any oral appliances, its clear aligners can sometimes affect the user’s speech. While most Invisalign patients report no change in the speech during treatment, there are still a few who experience difficulty. Among those who did experience a change, almost half reported having no persisting trouble. These changes were usually slight and quickly resolved. Here are some ways Invisalign can possibly alter your speech.