If your child has tooth misalignment, braces can be a life-changing treatment. An expert in kid orthodontics in Kailua can help your child achieve a straighter smile, preventing tooth decay, TMJ diseases, and lack of self-confidence caused by disliking their smile.
However, achieving a healthier smile with braces is a long journey filled with challenges you will have to overcome together as a family. To help you make the experience smoother and more positive, we have developed these tips.
Tips for the Beginning
Misaligned teeth are much more than an aesthetic concern. Crooked, shifted, or overcrowded teeth are harder to clean because your toothbrush can’t reach all surfaces properly. This increases the chances of developing cavities and gum disease.
Moreover, dental misalignments can affect how your child bites, which strains the jaw muscles and joints over time. By correcting these issues, braces help avoid TMJ disorders while making it easier to maintain good oral hygiene.
However, achieving a straighter smile with braces is not free of challenges. Braces can cause discomfort in the mouth’s soft tissue, especially after adjustments. Moreover, children often dislike the look of metal brackets, which can affect their confidence in their smiles.
Still, these aren’t reasons enough to forego a braces treatment. Here are some tips to help your child overcome these challenges and maintain a positive attitude as their smile improves.
1. Get Them Ready
The most important thing before starting orthodontic treatment is to prepare your child—and yourself—for what’s to come.
Most children would avoid braces if given the chance, so be honest and discuss the importance of orthodontics with them. Mentioned what we said here: that braces will help prevent dental problems later on and that it’s better to go through the braces journey in their childhood than as an adult.
Reduce any fear or anxiety they may have by speaking age-appropriately and being upbeat about the results. Moreover, try to set realistic expectations. Talk openly about the course of treatment, how long it’ll take, any possible discomfort, and the significance of maintaining good oral hygiene.
2. Learn How to Manage Discomfort
Discomfort is common with braces, especially after adjustments. The pressure in your teeth can feel uncomfortable, while the metal brackets can hurt the soft tissues of your cheeks.
Luckily, there are some ways to deal with this pain. Relief may come from rinsing with warm salt water. Meanwhile, applying orthodontic wax to the brackets can avoid cheek and lip irritation. This can also come in handy during braces emergencies.
Over-the-counter painkillers may be beneficial if they’re experiencing severe discomfort. When your child’s teeth hurt after adjustments, encourage them to eat softer foods like smoothies, yogurt, or mashed potatoes until the pain subsides.
3. Teach Them How to Maintain Oral Hygiene
Maintaining good hygiene is fundamental during orthodontic treatment. Your teeth need to be clean and healthy for braces to do their job effectively. Complications like tooth decay or gum disease may force us to stop your children’s treatment, requiring us to remove the braces, treat the infections, and start from zero once again.
However, children aren’t well known for their commitment to oral hygiene, either. To help you reinforce this habit on them, here are some essential tips:
- Brush Thoroughly: Encourage your child to spend at least two seconds brushing after each meal—even at school. To ensure they commit to this habit, help them choose a toothbrush and travel bag of their liking. Just ensure it’s a soft-bristled toothbrush and the toothpaste contains fluoride.
- Floss Every Day: Although it may seem difficult when wearing braces, flossing is crucial for getting food out from between teeth. Your child may benefit from using orthodontic flossing tools or special floss threaders to reach these areas.
- Rinse with Mouthwash: Using an antibacterial mouthwash after brushing and flossing can help clean the missed areas and lessen inflammation or the growth of bacteria.
- Adhere to Routine Dental Exams: Maintain a schedule of routine examinations and cleanings to guarantee that any problems are identified early and treated before they worsen.
4. Develop a Healthy Diet Together
Another challenge of braces is that they come with dietary restrictions. Hard foods, like apples, or foods that require your child to bite with their teeth, like hamburgers, can damage and dislodge the brackets, requiring costly repairs.
Moreover, certain foods can make cleaning braces more difficult. These include chewy foods like caramel and gum, snacks like popcorn and nuts, and sticky substances like taffy. However, it can be hard to suddenly prohibit all of these foods if the child really enjoys them.
Try to come up with a dietary plan together, stating in detail what foods are accepted and what are not. For foods that aren’t recommended, try to find ways to make them safer. For example, cutting food into smaller pieces before eating.
5. Talk Openly
Orthodontic journeys can be long and tiring, lasting up to two years. In this environment, staying positive can be hard.
Over time, motivation may decline during orthodontic treatments. Remind kids of the benefits of wearing braces and how wonderful their smile will look after they take them off. Reward them with small treats when you reach milestones, such as the end of a month or a particular adjustment.
Additionally, let them express their emotions openly. Talking about their journey can help them deal with their emotions, whether excitement or frustration. If you take proactive measures to address these issues and help your child, wearing braces can be easier and even more enjoyable for them.
Learn How to Make Braces More Comfortable from Experts in Kid Orthodontics in Kailua
With the right knowledge and strategies, preparing your child for braces can be easier. Understanding the importance of dental hygiene, feeling ready for each orthodontic appointment, and learning to manage discomfort are essential aspects of making braces a beneficial part of growing up.
Moreover, make sure to support your child with encouragement and practical tips. Here at Kidshine Pediatric Dentistry, we’re committed to accompanying you through this journey. Contact us today to learn more or to get started!