A child’s baby teeth are usually straight, giving no indication of how the adult teeth will look. But as your child grows, you may notice that their permanent teeth are misaligned. Parents are often surprised to see protruding teeth or overly-prominent teeth in their child’s smile. And they worry how it might affect their looks and oral hygiene as they age.
Braces can straighten a smile — but they have a reputation for being painful and sore, making parents reluctant to try them. Plus, if braces — and the teeth around them — don’t receive proper care, they can cause tooth decay.
Let’s look at the compelling reasons parents choose braces for their children and how they can be a safe, positive way to give a child the gift of a gorgeous smile.
Why kids need orthodontic treatment
Children may need orthodontic treatment for a number of reasons, including overlapping or crowded teeth, or malocclusion (a “bad” bite). Children may need braces on both top and bottom teeth, or on just one row.
Most people prefer to treat crooked teeth in childhood, before the child’s old enough to be concerned about the appearance of fixed metal braces. Plus, choosing orthodontic treatment in childhood teaches children to care for their adult teeth from the start, putting them on the path to a lifetime of healthy teeth.
When are braces the right orthodontic treatment?
In most cases, braces are the right choice for a child’s orthodontic treatment. They’re proven and safe, with a long history of straightening teeth as gently as possible for many children and teenagers. We recommend braces in almost every circumstance that calls for orthodontic treatment.
What about invisible aligners as an orthodontic treatment?
If you have a teenager who’s self-conscious about their appearance, fixed braces might not be the right choice. In those cases, we recommend removable braces like Invisalign Clear Aligners, which straighten teeth beautifully — without the distracting brackets and wires of traditional braces.
How to make metal braces safe and comfortable
While we routinely recommend braces for children and teenagers, they require preparation and care to make them safe and effective. Follow this checklist to make braces a success for your child:
Choose the right kind of braces
Braces have changed dramatically over the years, and no one need be called “metal mouth” anymore! There are several modern options — like clear ceramic braces — that offer a less invasive teeth-straightening experience for kids.
A specialist orthodontist can talk you through the different braces options and explain the varying levels of maintenance and comfort you can expect with each one. Making an informed decision from the outset will help your child manage the care braces require and mitigate the pain they might entail.
Apply orthodontic wax
There’s no way to sugar-coat it — braces do poke and scratch a bit. But orthodontic wax works wonders to reduce the discomfort of braces. Your Love-Teeth dentist will show you and your child to place wax on their brackets and wires to ease friction. It’s a simple, effective fix that your child can apply on their own, encouraging them to take charge of their oral health from a young age.
Use pain relievers at the beginning
In the first few days after your child gets braces, they will be sore. Simple solutions like over-the-counter pain relievers (ibuprofen or acetaminophen) will reduce the pain, and they’re completely safe when taken as recommended.
It’s hard to see your child in pain, but their discomfort is short-lived and easily remedied. After a few days, the pain will recede and your child’s mouth will be back to normal.
Offer soft foods
Encourage your child to eat softer foods for a few days after their braces have been fitted or adjusted. Soft foods will stop their mouth becoming more sore, and reduce the chance of damage to their braces. Avoid crunchy or sticky foods and offer mashed potatoes, yoghurt, smoothies, or soups, which can soothe a sore mouth.
Promote good oral hygiene
Braces can trap food and bacteria against your child’s adult teeth, so they’ll need to clean their braces carefully. Provide a soft toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash and keep a close eye on whether they’re brushing twice a day as recommended.
Address emergencies and keep up with visits
Your dentist will schedule regular appointments to check and adjust your child’s braces, and it’s important not to skip those visits. Your child’s teeth won’t progress as quickly as you’d planned, and you might miss a problem with their oral health that could lead to further complications.
But don’t wait for the next appointment to address emergencies! If a wire or bracket becomes loose, you’ll need a dentist to fix it immediately. Make an appointment, then cover the affected bracket or wire with wax to be sure that it doesn’t poke or scratch your child’s mouth or gums.
Give your child a brighter smile
A misaligned smile can lead to oral problems and aesthetic woes, but braces are a great way to correct crooked teeth before issues arise. Call our offices to book an appointment!
