It’s time for braces: 5 tips to help navigate the journey.

If your child’s dentist has recommended that they get braces, your child may have a lot of questions. They may not completely understand the process of getting braces, how to care for them, or the long-term benefits of having orthodontic treatment. It can be a scary time, especially during the pre- and teen years, when kids are going through a lot of other changes.

At Must Love Kids Pediatric Dentistry, the team is prepared to help parents talk with their kids about the importance of getting braces and how to deal with the emotions your child may feel.

1. Openly Communicate

The first thing parents can do to support their child in their orthodontic journey is to be open to communication. Explain to your child why braces are beneficial and how this treatment will help straighten their smiles. There are long-term benefits to getting orthodontic treatment as a child. The teeth are easier to shift in children and teens because as a person gets older, their jaws become stronger, meaning it is harder to manipulate teeth to move into the correct position later in life.

Parents can also serve as a sounding board for their children. Let them openly communicate how they feel about getting orthodontic treatment. Are they nervous about how long they have to wear the braces? Are they scared of other kids teasing them about wearing braces? Perhaps they are worried about how much extra care needs to go into brushing and flossing with braces? Let your child express their thoughts and feelings, answer their questions to the best of your ability. If you need help, Dr. Mo and the Must Love Kids team will be ready to answer any questions you or your child may have.

2. Provide Empathy and Validation

Children not only want to be heard, they want to know what they are feeling and thinking is valid and reasonable. Therefore, don’t brush off any fears your child may have about getting braces. After your child has expressed their emotions, discuss their emotions with them. Reassure your child that the feelings they have are valid, and it is perfectly okay to be scared, anxious, or even worried about getting orthodontic treatment.

To help your child cope with their emotions, reassure them that what they are feeling is normal. Offer your child tips on how to cope with their emotions, and always let your child know you are there for them to talk about anything.

3. Explain How Braces Work

Braces aren’t just used to straighten teeth, although that is what they are known for. Orthodontic treatment is also used to fix overbites and underbites on patients who have them. A bite that isn’t lined up correctly can cause difficulty eating and speaking, which is known as a malocclusion. If your child has malocclusion, it can contribute to sleep apnea, which can really affect your child later in life. A properly lined-up bite is also important to prevent the permanent teeth from chips and cracks due to excessive uneven pressure.

But how do braces work? Traditional braces are those that have metal brackets that are attached to the front of the teeth and have wires running through them. These are the most common type of braces, the type you probably wore as a child if you needed them.

Through regular adjustments of the wires, braces slowly pull and push the teeth over time until they are lined up properly. The brackets used to only be metal, but orthodontic advancements added clear brackets into the mix in the late ’80s. The wires are held into place on the brackets by small rubber bands, which can be customizable and come in a variety of colors.

4. Discuss the benefits of braces.

If your child is ready to talk about braces, make sure you approach the subject positively with them. Don’t make having orthodontic treatment done seem like a huge inconvenience. Instead, explain to your child that having to wear braces might be a little awkward at first, but in the long run, wearing braces will improve their overall dental health. Make sure your child understands why Must Love Kids Pediatric Dentistry and Dr. Mo are recommending orthodontic treatment and the benefits of having them now versus later in life.

Make sure to explain the long-term benefits of orthodontic treatment, like a beautiful smile they can be proud of and overall improved dental health. Also, braces are easier for a preteen or teen to wear because teeth shift easier thanks to a still-growing jawbone. If your child waits until they are older to get orthodontic treatment, they may have to wear them longer because as an adult, the jaw is denser, so it takes longer for braces to move the teeth.

5. Get the whole family involved

If your child is still unsure about getting orthodontic treatment, have them talk to a sibling, another family member, or friend who has worn braces. Hearing another outside experience can put orthodontic treatment into proper perspective and make it less scary. That person your child speaks with can help explain what it is like to have braces, how to take care of them, and how to alter brushing and flossing habits, as well as answer any other questions your child might have. 

Visit Must Love Kids Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric orthodontic treatment is more common than ever, and your child probably has friends who are already wearing braces. This normalization of orthodontics is encouraging more and more children, and even adults, to embrace orthodontics to achieve the straight, healthy smiles they have been dreaming of. At Must Love Kids, we help our patients in their straight-smile journeys every day.

To see if your child would benefit from orthodontics to fix their smile or bite, book an appointment at our Vancouver, Washington, office today for an evaluation with Dr. Mo!