Special dental care for the child realigns the teeth and jaw and enhances oral hygiene and self-esteem through orthodontic procedures. However, as a result of the usage of braces, you have more responsibilities for kids and parents to take care of. In this blog, we will learn helpful tips that will be useful while you are going for braces treatment for your kid.
Why Proper Braces Care Is Important:
Braces are designed to gradually straighten teeth over time, but neglecting proper care can lead to issues such as:
- Tooth decay and gum disease
- Increasing the time that is required to receive the treatment
- Pain from having a broken or damaged bracket on the teeth.
If children and parents spare their time to ensure the right care of braces is taken, then they will avoid all these setbacks and ensure the whole process runs smoothly.
-
How to Brush and Floss with Braces?
One of the major issues that comes in while taking care of the teeth with braces is brushing. However, wearing braces is changing the way brushing and flossing take place.
- Brushing Tips:
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush: This one has soft bristles that do not harm the braces yet are helpful in the removal of food and plaque.
- Brush after every meal: cleaning your teeth after every meal is necessary. It will keep the bacteria away and clean the remaining food stuck in the braces. So, be sure to brush after each meal to keep your mouth healthy.
-
Flossing Tips:
- Use a floss threader or orthodontic floss.
Even brushing twice a day isn’t easy. To floss properly, you need to wrap the floss around the brackets or wires. Interdental floss, water flossing, or orthodontic floss is easier to use because it has a threader that helps between the tight contact areas and around the brackets and wires.
-
Eating the Right Foods:
The kind of food that your child takes can have a big impact on the situation of the braces they are wearing. Some foods are very harmful to the brackets and wires, which are best seen on the buccal surface, hence prolonging the treatment.
Foods to Avoid:
- Sticky foods: Do not take gummy candies because they tend to stick on braces and are difficult to remove from the braces.
- Hard foods: cereals that have crunch, like popcorn, nuts, or hard candies, are likely to cause the braces to break or come off.
- Chewy foods: starchy foods like bagels and hard foods such as meats put pressure on the braces and can cause harm.
Braces-Friendly Foods:
- Soft fruits and vegetables: Cherries are also fruits and can be taken when sliced into small portions that toddlers can eat.
- Dairy products: Soft milk products such as yoghurt, cheese, and other soft types of cheese and other milk products are more advisable to take when on braces because they pose no harm to the braces; moreover, they are foods that are rich in nutrients.
- Cooked grains and proteins: Again, rice, pasta, soft foods, and tender meats are advisable and would not cause any problems to the brace.
-
Dealing with discomfort
You see, girls and boys may feel some discomfort during the first days after they get braces or after the orthodontist adjusts the braces. The pain is normally felt for several days and may be treated easily.
Braces Care Tips to Manage Discomfort:
- Use orthodontic wax: Orthodontic wax can be used safely on any part of the bracket or the wires that are likely to chafe the inside of the mouth.
- Rinse with saltwater: A saline solution may be used to irrigate the mouth for about 10 minutes to help ease some pain that is often associated with sore gums.
See the dentist for checkups or whenever problems arise. Track the course of the treatment. Any problem, like a chipped bracket or wire, should also be fixed.
Final Thoughts:
Orthodontic treatment for children is a complex procedure, but if done well, it will result in a good and healthy smile throughout their lifetime. Of course, it’s helpful to make sure your child maintains their brushing and flossing habits, consumes the proper diet, and takes adequate care of their braces.
Author: Orthodontist Dubai
An experienced orthodontist in Jumeirah, UAE, specializes in digital and invisible orthodontics. Renowned for his expertise with Insignia Braces and Damon Orthodontics, he's a key opinion leader for ORMCO. With a focus on TMJ treatment and occlusion management, he's recognized as a top orthodontist in the Middle East. Book now for advanced orthodontic care.
