If your child recently got braces, congratulations! This is an exciting step in their journey to a long life of a healthy, beautiful smile. As thrilled as you both may be to see their improved end results, getting to that point may be a bit overwhelming for you both. To help them confidently navigate life with their new hardware, check out these 4 easy tips.
1. Make Appointments Exciting
Keep conversations about your child’s orthodontist appointments positive and upbeat. Whether it be the fact they can choose fun new colors for their bands, get out of school early, or have something fun planned after, such as a trip to get ice cream, focusing on the exciting aspects of their appointments will help curb any anxiety they may be experiencing about visiting their orthodontist.
2. Discuss New Eating Habits
Remind your child that it’s important that they be mindful of what they put in their mouth with their new appliances. To help keep meal-times stress-free for them, pack snacks and lunches that are soft, easy to chew, and can be placed in the back of their mouth. Avoid buying food that is tempting but could harm their braces, such as popcorn, nuts, and caramel.
3. Teach Proper Cleaning Techniques
To ensure that tooth decay isn’t lurking in your child’s mouth from inadequate brushing while they wear braces, go over how they should now brush differently. Along with everyday brushing and flossing, a water pick may be helpful to clean hard to reach areas that food is prone to getting stuck in.
4. Prepare for the Discomfort
Be sure to keep orthodontic wax and over-the-counter pain medication on hand for when those pesky adjustments make your child’s mouth sore. While their cheeks and gums will surely get used to the process over time, there will likely be days when a little extra comfort is necessary.
The encouragement and guidance of a parent is the best support a child can experience while sporting braces. The friendly orthodontic team at myORTHODONTIST is here to help your child every step of the way to a straighter smile.