Making Life With Braces A Breeze For Your Child

Four out of every five orthodontic patients in the Philippines are adults – which is great news, considering the fact that many big problems (including tooth loss, bite problems, and gum issues) can be prevented through the correct alignment of teeth. However, orthodontics can also help children with specific issues such as a narrow palette, which can stop teeth from growing straight downwards. If your child has just had their first pre-orthodontic apparatus or a set of brackets placed, how can you ensure that the experience is as easy as possible?

Keeping Braces In Place

Some children dread a visit to the dentist or the orthodontist, so ensure that they only need to visit their orthodontist for scheduled appointments by keeping their braces in good shape. Often, eating hard foods like toffee, hard baguettes, or hard fruit can damage braces and cause brackets to snap. From the start, children with orthodontics should consume foods which are healthy yet relatively soft. The list of ‘safe’ foods include soft bread and tortillas, dairy, grains, soft meats and chicken, cooked vegetables, seafoods (without their shells), soft fruits, and smoothies. You can also help your child maintain the integrity of their braces by teaching them to chew with their back teeth instead of their front teeth, where brackets may be located. When it comes to foods to avoid, these include sugary foods (which can cause decay), turmeric (which can stain braces and retainers), and hard items such as ice, corn on the cob, popcorn, caramel and licorice.

Consider Invisalign Retainers

Invisalign retainers, which comprise a set of transparent retainers that are worn for a specific set of time before being replaced by a new one, are an excellent way for mature kids to achieve their tooth straightening goals while enjoying the comfort of completely removing the retainers to brush and floss teeth well. Many children prefer these retainers to braces as they are invisible, and therefore have the added bonus of discretion. Younger children who wear brackets feel more excited about their apparatus if they are allowed to choose the color of their rubber bands, or wear brackets in colored metals.

Make Cleaning Time Fun

Children with brackets will probably be told by their orthodontist to clean their teeth and apparatus with special brushes that may take more time than usual. Make brush time fun by brushing your teeth alongside your child. This way, you can keep an eye on them and ensure they are paying due attention to each tooth, and you can also show them the way adults take care of teeth – by brushing, flossing, and perhaps even by using water picks to reach difficult areas beneath the gum line and between the teeth.

Most children need a little time to adapt to braces and other apparatuses. Make it a little lighter on them by guiding them in everything from their cleaning technique to the foods they should consume. Allow them to have some say if possible in the type of apparatus they use. If possible, consider Invisalign, which is an effective system that allows children to clean their teeth as if they weren’t wearing braces at all.