Some Braces For Your Kids

Maybe your kids can’t wait until they get braces like all their friends. Your kids may also be nervous, worries about how they will look and feel and if they will hurt. The best thing to do is to prepare your kids for the experience.

Most kids are not born with perfect teeth. Neither you nor your children should worry if they require orthodontic work. Many of their classmates will probably be going through the same thing. Today, it’s practically a rite of passage for pre-teens and teenages alike. There are a couple of reasons why your kids might need braces. There permanent teeth might not have grown in straight enough. They may have an underbite or over bite because of a differences in their upper and lower jaw sizes.

The dentist who specializes in teeth straightening is an Orthodontist. They both determine whether or not your kids need the work done and what the best orthodontic plan is for their particular smile.

If your kids and you are concerned with the look and feel of braces, you will both be glad to know that the braces of today are not like the ones you might have had as a child. Although they still use metal, they use a lot less than they used to. The wires that are currently used to shift your teeth are smaller and less noticeable. There are even clear options and natural looking tints for an even more subtle treatment. The rubber bands of today are colorful. You can encourage your kids to express themselves by choosing fun colors and combinations each time they go in for an adjustment.

The way the treatment works work is that they put a small amount of pressure on your teeth to guide them to straightness. Each time your child goes to the orthodontist, he or she moves the guides. Several hours or the day after your child’s teeth will hurt a little but, as time progresses, the move will become permanent. After a time, the straightening will be complete.

When you have braces, a lot of food can get stuck in the metal and wires. You need to make sure your kids are taking extra care to keep their teeth clean. They will also have to avoid hard candies or particularly sticky foods that can attach themselves to the metal making it hard to get off.

After your child has gone through twelve to eighteen months of treatment, your orthodontist will fashion a retainer to help “retain” the work that has been done over the last year. You must make sure your kids wear the retainer or teeth may shift back or to a new position. Once they get a retainer, they will go back to going to regular dental appointments. They will need to wear the retainer for one to two years to maintain the dental work.

When your kids have new, straight smiles, they will be more confident in themselves. The work will set them on a path of good dental hygiene throughout their lives and prevent against many dental health problems. If you support them throughout this process and help then through the tough times, everything will go smoothly!