6 Ways You Can Make Braces Treatment Easier for Your Child as a Mother

Kids often need braces treatment or some orthodontic treatment during their teens, and as a mother, it is crucial that you know how to help them through this phase.

Here’s what you can do to make this phase a little more pleasant and bearable for your child:

6 Ways to Make Braces Treatment Easier for Your Kid

•    Make the First Day Easy 

One of your kid’s biggest concerns would be the pain and discomfort associated with getting the braces treatment. Explain to them that mild soreness and pain on the first day are normal and that they would subside eventually. They can take over-the-counter pain medication for relief.

Get them familiar with your orthodontist so they wouldn’t feel nervous about their first visit. Set up a few goals to make them ready for the treatment. All this will make the first day a lot smoother and less scary.

•    Eat Braces-Friendly Food Together

Food restrictions are the biggest challenge to overcome with braces treatment. One way to make this interesting is by preparing a time table for all the food items that they can eat and take to school.

Let them participate in meal preparations, and it will get them excited about eating something they made on their own. Make sure you and your family also follow the same diet so that your kid doesn’t feel left out.

•    Emphasize on Healthy Dental Hygiene Routine 

Brushing and flossing are dental hygiene habits that everyone must follow, but it becomes even more important with braces. Tell your kid to maintain healthy oral hygiene habits like brushing and flossing twice a day. Tell them to rinse their mouth after every meal.

If they know that food debris stuck in the mouth can lead to decay, they will follow the necessary oral hygiene routine.

•    Talk about Benefits of the Treatment

It is natural that your kid will feel a little conscious about having braces in their mouth. But, tell them to focus on how their smile would look after the treatment.

•    Boost Self Confidence 

A lot of famous people have worn braces to correct their teeth and smile. Showing their examples will make them more confident about the treatment. You could also show before-after pictures of people who used braces.

Moreover, tell them not to focus on how they look but instead focus on the long-term results. Explain their look with the braces would be temporary, but the smile they will get at the end will be permanent.

•    Accompany Them to Orthodontic Appointments

Go along with your kid to every single orthodontic appointment. This won’t just calm their nerves, but even you would be aware of the treatment’s progress. You can raise your concerns and questions to the orthodontist as well. Just by going to each orthodontic appointment, you can show you support on their journey of getting a perfect smile.

Be present at every stage of the kid’s orthodontic treatment. Support them in every way possible to make their treatment a success. Keep reminding them while the treatment may feel uncomfortable now; they would have an attractive time by the end of it.

Guest Post From Dr. Satish Pai:

 

Dr. Satish Pai is an orthodontist and an Ivy League trained dentist who has and has served as a faculty at Columbia University. He believes that a perfect smile not only makes a person look great but feel great.  As the founder of Putnam Orthodontics and Rome Orthodontics, he is dedicated to providing the best orthodontic treatments to his patients. He also writes to educate people about everything orthodontics and the importance of correctly aligned teeth along with good oral health. In his free time, you can find him golfing, doing yoga or surfing, and spending time with this family.