How To Prepare Your Child For Braces Treatment

When your child learns that they will be getting braces, they may have many questions. Today Dr. Updike, an Irvine orthodontist, discusses how to prepare your child for braces.

 

1.Learn About Braces or Invisalign

One of the best tips to parents is to learn about the treatment plan with your child. Whether your child is going to have braces or Invisalign, it is important to be educated about the treatment plan. It also provides a bonding experience as well when the child feels comfortable discussing the various emotions and opinions about braces. We recommend learning about the types of food you should and should not eat during treatment and how to upkeep oral hygiene.

 

2. Soft Foods

Many times, when a child gets their braces on, the first couple of weeks could be very uncomfortable. To make the transition a little easier, we recommend stocking up the fridge and pantry with soft foods. The child may feel pressure and discomfort as their mouth adjusts to the metal brackets and wires, so having soft foods and snacks at home will allow them to upkeep their diet. A rule of thumb is to avoid overly chewy foods, hard foods such as raw vegetables or pita chips, and of course no gum. Discussing the change of diet with your child prior to treatment will make the transition easier as well.

 

3. Acknowledge Your Child’s Feelings

Although many kids will be excited to have braces, some may feel scared or insecure. It is important to reassure your child that this treatment will be worth it in the future, and the discomfort will only be temporary. If they are insecure about their appearance, it is important to discuss those feelings and help them feel more comfortable.

 

4. Prepare for Discomfort

As we briefly mentioned above, preparing the pantry with soft foods is one of the ways to prepare for braces. The discomfort could vary depending on the child, so having some pain killers available may help as well. We always send the patient home with a braces goody bag with wax, a toothbrush, and other products to help adapt to braces. Wax is also a great product to help with discomfort if the brackets rub against the inside of the cheek as well.

We hope these tips will help you and your child prepare for the braces journey. If you have any additional questions or would like to schedule your free consultation, please give us a call at (949) 870-9713. We are currently offering virtual consultations as well during these times.