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Motherhood + Parenting Tips

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly about Braces

Being a working mother is as good as having the same superpowers as an Avenger. You need your superpowers to handle your work life, personal life, and the most difficult of all, taking care of your child.If you are thinking of orthodontic treatment for your child, here are a few things to know before getting braces that’ll give you the good, the bad and the ugly:

 

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Keep A Check On Your Child’s Diet – The Good

If you are thinking of getting braces treatment for your child, one of the main things you should keep in mind is that your child’s diet will change completely.

Any chewy, crunchy, sticky or hard foods should be ultimately off your list. Your child will switch to foods that are soft and don’t require much chewing — like soft cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, soft tortillas, pancakes, tender meats, mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, fruit juices, and smoothies.

Another helpful tip is to cut the food into little pieces so that the food so that it doesn’t get stuck in your child’s braces.

 

 

Keeping a Check on Your Child’s Water Intake – The Good

Staying hydrated is not only great for your health, but it is essential for your child when they have braces. Drinking water dislodges any food particles that are stuck in your child’s teeth. This is important because getting braces means food particles get easily stuck in teeth and increase the risk of dental plaque or cavities.

Make sure your child sticks to drinking plain water and not soda or fruit juices. These drinks are high in sugars and acids. Thus they can promote demineralization and tooth decay.

 

Make Feasible Appointments With the Orthodontist – The Good

We all know you’re juggling a lot and juggling a hectic schedule — that’s why it’s important to pencil appointments with your orthodontist in. Your child will need regular orthodontic appointments now that they have braces. The orthodontist will need to make regular adjustments to the braces every few weeks and check whether the braces treatment is going on track.


 

Help Your Child Establish a Dental Hygiene Routine – The Bad

Getting braces means that your child will have to pay extra attention to their dental hygiene. This is SUPER hard! With braces, it’s easier to get food particles stuck in wires, which can lead to the formation of plaque and eventually gum diseases.

Since it’s good for the person getting braces to brush after every meal, you can help your child by preparing a braces kit. The essentials for this kit are: a toothbrush, a toothpaste which has fluoride, floss, mouthwash, toothpick, and dental wax if needed.

Dental wax can be useful since braces can cause mild irritation to your gums and mouth for some time. Dental wax can help ease the irritation easily. A toothpick is another essential which will dislodge any food particles that are stuck in the braces.

 

Remind Your Child Not to Chew on Pencils Or Bite Their Nails – The Bad

If your child has a nervous tick like biting their nails or chewing on pencils, then help them stop before getting braces. It might be painful and dangerous for your child if they get a bit of their nail or a bit of pencil stuck in their braces.

 

Get Your Child a Bite Guard If They Play Sports  – The Ugly

You need to make sure your child knows the world doesn’t stop after getting braces. If your child places contact sports, remember to consult your orthodontist and get them a mouthguard. This is extremely important. It can get ugly if a soccer ball hits your child in their mouth when wearing braces. Get them a bite guard!

 

Final thoughts

The most important part of your child’s orthodontic treatment is that you take time out and understand their apprehensions and fears before getting braces.

Getting braces can change your child’s life, but they might feel wearing braces might lead to their classmates making fun of them at school. You can make them talk to someone who has braces and also ask your orthodontist to help your child understand what their orthodontic treatment will involve.

 

This post contains affiliate links and I may receive a commission, at no additional cost to you, should you purchase through one of my links. Please see my disclosure for more information.

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Dr Satish Pai

Creating perfect smiles is what Dr. Satish Pai is committed to. An orthodontist by profession, he believes that a perfect smile is a powerful part of a person’s personality. When he is not working hard on perfecting his patients’ smiles at Putnam Orthodontics, he is busy writing engaging articles about everything related to healthy and perfect smiles. His other passions include golf, yoga and surfing. Spending time with his family always brings a smile on his face.

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