The time your children spend wearing braces – and the time you spend paying for them – has everything to do with follow-through.
When it comes to dental care, there is one area where you won’t be able to defeat your kid: the time it takes for orthodontic treatment.
The earlier your child is assessed and treated for an overbite, underbite or another condition of the teeth and jaw, the sooner that he or she will have the smile you both always dreamed of. In fact, your child and wallet may be fortunate enough to avoid braces and orthodontic devices all together if you take the preventive approach. Otherwise, whereas adults may need about two years of braces to achieve desired results, your child may only need as few as six months.
Of course, this all comes with a big “if.” With orthodontic treatment comes great responsibility. And a willingness to embrace the extra duties and upkeep that comes with treatment is critical to reducing the time your child spends in braces.
Better dental care begins with brushing
It’s such common sense that we almost hesitate to write this: brushing is important. But with braces comes a whole new slew of excuses for your kids not to brush their teeth: it hurts, it’s hard, and taking the elastics (and other removable parts) off and on takes too long, for starters.
But braces and other orthodontic devices increase the amount of food that may accumulate on and near your teeth, which turns into plaque and ultimately causes cavities. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends a fluoride toothpaste and a soft, rounded-bristle toothbrush.
Not only do you need to make sure your child carefully brushes after each meal and snack – doing so at a 45-degree angle works best – but you also need to ensure they’re flossing daily. While a floss threader or super floss helps navigate around the wiring of braces, toothpicks and stimudents are helpful for removing plaque around the brackets.
Avoid the ‘no-show’
On the eve of an orthodontic appointment, your child may find a bevy of excuses why he or she shouldn’t have to go see the doctor: it’s raining, it’s Arbor Day or even that everything looks and feels so perfect, there is no reason to go to the orthodontist.
And there is some validity for their waffling and wavering about dental care. Those appointments, which occur about every six to eight weeks, often involve tightening braces. This may cause some temporary soreness and tenderness. Let your kid gripe, complain and lament, but when it’s all over, make sure they make all their appointments. They’ll thank you in the end.
The not-so-sweet-spot
Eating an abundance of sticky treats, gooey candy, brittle snacks and sugary sodas is never good for your kid’s oral hygiene – or energy level. But braces compound the potential dental care issues because they offer countless nooks and crannies for sugar and plaque to hide and attack your tooth enamel.
Make sure your kid in braces is eating more eggs, smoothies and hummus than peanut brittle, gummy bears and 64-oz. Mountain Dew fountain drinks. Additionally, pencils, fingernails and ice should be banned from your children’s diets when they’re wearing braces.
Believe it or not, getting your child’s braces on is the easy part. The consequent dental care and discipline is the toughest part of limiting the amount of time your kid wears braces – and the time you’re paying for them.
So, what part of maintenance and upkeep with braces do you think your child will find the most challenging?
