July is built for fun — fireworks, cookouts, road trips, and plenty of ice cream. (It is National Ice Cream Month, after all.) Having braces or aligners does not mean sitting any of it out. With a few easy habits, your family can enjoy every bit of summer while keeping smiles on track. Here is your season-long playbook.
Cool Treats That Keep Brackets Happy
Soft and creamy is the name of the game. Soft-serve, milkshakes, smoothies, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and gelato are all braces-friendly and perfectly summery. The treats to swap or skip are the crunchy, sticky, and chewy ones — hard candy, caramel, toffee, nuts, and crunchy waffle cones (scoop it into a cup instead). A simple rule of thumb: if it is soft, smooth, and spoon-friendly, enjoy it freely.
Smart Choices at the Cookout
Backyard barbecues and Fourth of July spreads are easy to navigate. Reach for tender, well-cooked proteins, soft sides, watermelon cut into bite-size pieces, and seedless fruit. Step around corn on the cob, hard pretzels, ribs on the bone, and sticky candies. A little prep — like cutting tougher foods into smaller pieces — keeps the whole plate braces-friendly.
Stay Active and Protected
Summer sports, swim days, and camp adventures are all fair game. For contact sports, an orthodontic mouthguard protects both braces and teeth, so it is worth keeping one in the bag. Swimming is no problem at all — just keep up the usual brushing routine afterward. Staying active and staying protected go hand in hand.
Traveling With Braces or Aligners
Headed out of town? Pack a small smile kit: a toothbrush, travel toothpaste, floss or floss threaders, and orthodontic wax for any pokey moments. Aligner families should bring their case and current trays, keep the wear schedule on track, and never wrap aligners in a napkin — the fastest way to lose a set. A little packing goes a long way toward a worry-free trip.
Keep the Routine Easy
Summer days run long and loose, so a simple, consistent routine matters most. Brush after treats and meals when you can, rinse with water when a sink is out of reach, and keep a travel brush handy for pool days and road trips. Small habits add up to a healthy, bright smile come fall.
Have a question about summer care — or ready for a check-in? Reach out to your nearest Wafelbakker Anderson Orthodontics office in Walnut Creek, Hollister, Gilroy, or Morgan Hill. Here is to a season full of fun and bright, confident smiles.