Parenting Tips for Children with Braces

Parenting Tips for Children with Braces

By admin July 30th
Getting braces is an exciting time in a person’s life, especially for children. It’s normal for anyone, even adults, to feel nervous about their new braces, and the changes it may bring to their lifestyle. But make no mistake: getting braces for your child is one of the best decisions to make that will improve their dental health for the rest of their life.

Life with braces can take some getting used to, but here are some tips that can help you make the transition easier for your child:

5 Tips to Help Your Child Adjust to Braces
1. Support a Good Dental Cleaning Routine
  
  Brushing and flossing every day is important to keep your mouth healthy, but it’s even more important when you have braces. Because braces create so many more areas for food to get stuck in, taking extra care while cleaning is essential to keeping your teeth and braces clean and preventing cavities and gum disease. Experts recommend brushing and flossing after every meal if you have braces. An interproximal brush is great for getting food stuck between brackets and wires, while using floss threaders or floss picks will make flossing much easier. Rinsing thoroughly with mouthwash afterward will make sure that you kill any germs in those hard-to-reach spots.
2. Make Sure They Can Keep Their Braces Clean on the Go
  
  Whether they are at school, a friend’s house, or anywhere else outside the home, making sure that your child can clean and maintain their braces will go a long way to helping their treatment process. An on the go braces care kit is a great way to make sure they can take care of their braces no matter where they are. A quick search online can find complete kits to buy, but even if you wish to put a kit together yourself, make sure that it includes:
  - A travel-size toothbrush and toothpaste
  - An interproximal brush
  - Floss threaders and/or floss picks
  - Extra rubber bands
  - Orthodontic wax
  - A small dental mirror
3. Fill the Fridge with Healthy, Braces-Friendly Food
  
  Many people think that when they get braces they may have to give up a lot of different foods. Luckily, as long as you follow a few simple rules, you can continue eating most of your favorite foods. Hard or crunchy foods (like popcorn, nuts, or hard bread) can easily pop off or break a bracket, while sticky foods (gum, taffy, jelly beans, etc.) love to get stuck in wires and brackets (and can be a pain to remove!). Instead, try to provide braces-friendly foods, including:
  - Liquid foods like smoothies, soup, and yogurt
  - Soft fruit (or hard fruit cut into bite-sized pieces)
  - Cooked/steamed vegetables
  - Burgers and fries
  - Just about anything you eat with a fork
4. Help Remedy Pain or Discomfort
  
  It’s totally normal to feel uncomfortable at times when wearing braces, especially after first getting your braces put on or adjusted. There are several ways you can help your child alleviate soreness or pain, including:
  - Orthodontic wax will help with any wires or brackets that are poking or rubbing the inside of your mouth. Simply rub a small piece of wax between your fingers to soften it up and stick it onto whatever part of your braces is bothering you.
  - Ice packs and cold food/drinks can relieve soreness
  - Rinsing/gargling with salt water can help heal any sores or cuts in your mouth caused by your braces
  - Over-the-counter pain relief products can help (but try to use other methods first!)
5. Keep the Eye on the Prize
  
  A year or two with braces may seem like a long time to your child, but that time is nothing compared to a smile that can last forever. Not only will braces give your child a better smile, but braces also work to correct bite issues (overbite, underbite, etc.), jaw misalignment, or speech difficulties they may have. Your child will also have less risk of cavities and gum disease because straight teeth are easier to clean effectively. Focusing on the many benefits of braces, and how much better their smile will look when all is said and done, can help your child if they are feeling nervous or self-conscious about their braces.
Getting braces is an important milestone in anyone’s life. Taking charge of your dental health is something to be proud of, and our team at Elko Dental Specialists are here to ensure that your child’s orthodontic treatment goes as smoothly as possible. With the combined expertise of our pediatric dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons, we make it easy to get the best care available, and we pride ourselves on treating our patients (and their families) as part of our family. To see what sets us apart, call us today at (775) 753-6118 or schedule a free initial consultation.
Previous Next

Events

CONTACT US