Braces: A Kid’s Conviction

Of course, there are the real reasons for getting braces. They correct the bite and in some cases fix the jaw. Correcting these types of things helps your mouth to work as it is intended. Kids may not understand the importance of chewing to overall health, so sometimes it helps to create a scenario that they do comprehend. He or she would want to fix a broken arm. Setting the bone correctly in the arm enables the arm to work correctly, and even though the bone will eventually heal on its own, it will not heal correctly without medical intervention, and the arm will not function correctly—ever—if it is not fixed properly. The teeth, which are held in the mouth by bones above the gum line, sometimes need to be “set” in order to work correctly. Addressing these issues now will prevent compounding dental issues in the future.

Of course, invincible children may not be convinced, and it may be necessary to focus on the cosmetic benefits of the procedure. Some orthodontists provide computer enhanced before and after images that do wonders in helping patients accept the idea. Straighter teeth have been shown to boost self confidence in teens. The smile is essential to existence. When was the last time your kid had a friend whose intent on not smiling won him over crowds of friends and got him voted most likely to succeed. Self-confidence is the key to success, and it starts with the smile.

If neither the educational lecture nor the pep talk seems to be swaying your dental patient, you can remind your kids that there are other, less visible options for braces as well. Instead of the unsightly (and uncomfortable!) metal brackets and wires, you can see if your dentist offers clear or plastic braces. Some of these don’t even have to be cemented to the teeth—they’re like clear plastic retainers that you put in on your own, can take out for meals and brushing your teeth, and nobody will ever know the difference. This allows kids to have the proper and vital care of traditional braces without having to go through the embarrassment of a mouth full of metal.

If none of these ideas seems to convince your child of the need of getting their teeth straightened, you could also remind them that if they don’t do this now, they could end up with a mouth full of crooked teeth in the future, and then they’d have to get braces anyway! Not everybody needs them, but if you do, it’s better to take care of it while your teeth are growing and still malleable, rather than being an adult and having to walk around with a mouth full of metal. Nobody wants to do that! It’s best to take care of the problem now rather than deal with it later.