How To Communicate With Your Child About Getting Braces: Our Top Tips
Braces are a popular orthodontic treatment. The treatment is designed to help straighten a person’s teeth. Having straighter teeth can benefit a person in many ways. Straighter teeth can help a person to take better care of their teeth and gums. It can also help a person to eat more comfortably as braces can help to improve their bite. Of course, braces are an excellent way to help improve a person’s smile who has crooked, gapped, or crowded teeth.
Braces have been around for years, with the history of braces dating back centuries. With each passing year, improvements to orthodontic treatment help to change what is possible. Each year, thousands of parents discuss whether or not their child should have braces. As noted, braces help with straightening a person’s teeth. This might be something that your child wants or needs.
If your child needs braces to help improve their teeth appearance, keep reading to find out how you can effectively communicate why they should get braces.
Check They Are The Right Age
Before you can begin discussions around them getting braces, start by checking if they are at the right age to get braces. Treatment for braces often begins after the adult teeth have started to come through. The average this happens is 12 years old. However, each child is different, so some children’s adult teeth will come sooner or later than others. Speak with your dental practitioner to see if your child is eligible for braces. If they are, you can look at what steps to take next to help your child get braces.
Decide On Type Of Braces
You might consider what types of braces are available. For instance, do they want the traditional metal braces, or would they prefer clear aligners to help them straighten their teeth? The appearance of wearing traditional metal braces can be off-putting to some children. Metal braces are very noticeable. Since they are noticeable, it can be distressing for some children as they could be conscious of how visible they are. An alternative treatment to consider is clear aligners. Clear aligners also help to straighten teeth, but they are more discreet than traditional metal braces. Consider utilizing the guides available from ALIGNERCO on deciding when the right time is to consider clear aligners for your child.
Explain The Reason For Braces
After checking their age and knowing what type of brace they will wear, spend time explaining to your child why they need braces. Whether they need braces to help straighten crooked teeth or to help close the gaps between each tooth, show them what their teeth will look like after the braces come off. Seeing the result could help them better understand why they must wear braces. It could also help them to decide on the type of braces that they want to get. Understandably, the thought of having to wear braces can be overwhelming for children. Be patient when explaining the reasoning for having to have braces. Answer any questions they might have as in-depth as possible. If they have a question you are unsure of, research the answer together or speak with your chosen orthodontist.
Discuss What It’s Like Wearing Braces
If you had to wear braces when you were their age, be open about your experience. Keep in mind that some of the technologies and treatments for braces will have developed over the years, so there might be some differences. Talk about what happens when braces are fitted. If they are getting clear aligners, find out the process for having clear aligners fitted and if the care differs from metal braces. Explain what happens during the check-ups for braces. Be honest about any discomfort they will likely experience when braces are fitted or tightened. During the time they are wearing braces, they will likely have to make some changes to their eating habits. There might be certain foods, such as caramel or apples, that they cannot eat due to the damage it could cause to their teeth. Change your eating habits to match the ones your child will have when wearing changes. Inform them of these changes so they have a clearer idea of what to expect when they get braces.
In Summary
Getting braces is a significant change in a child’s life. They are something they will likely be wearing for a year or more, and it is difficult to say for sure how long an individual wears braces. Each child and their reasoning for wearing braces is different. Some will find that their teeth move faster into the intended places than others. Regardless, being open and honest about braces will help you to communicate effectively with your child about braces. It could help them to feel more comfortable about getting braces. Before you know it, they will sit in the orthodontist’s chair and have their braces fitted.
This is a guest post.