At Upbeat Pediatric Dentistry, we understand that getting braces is an exciting milestone for your child’s dental health. Braces help straighten teeth, correct bite issues, and provide a beautiful, healthy smile for life.
However, taking care of braces requires special attention to ensure that treatment progresses smoothly and your child’s teeth and gums remain healthy. Whether your child just got braces or they’ve had them for a while, following a few essential tips can make a big difference in keeping their braces in top shape.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide tips and advice on how to care for braces, manage discomfort, maintain good oral hygiene, and protect your child’s smile throughout their orthodontic treatment.
Why is Braces Care So Important?
Braces are a long-term investment in your child’s dental health, and taking care of them properly is crucial to getting the best results. Poor maintenance can lead to problems like tooth decay, gum disease, prolonged treatment time, and even damage to the braces themselves.
By teaching your child how to care for their braces, you can help them avoid these issues and ensure they achieve the best possible outcome from their orthodontic treatment.
Brush, Brush, Brush: The Key to Good Oral Hygiene with Braces
Braces create small spaces around the brackets and wires where food particles can get trapped, making it easier for plaque to build up. This means that regular brushing is more important than ever.
Here are some tips to keep your child’s teeth clean and healthy while wearing braces:
Brush after every meal: Encourage your child to brush their teeth after every meal and snack. This helps remove food particles that can get stuck in their braces and lead to plaque buildup.
Use a soft-bristle toothbrush: A soft-bristle toothbrush is gentle on the gums and helps clean around the braces without damaging them. You can also invest in an orthodontic toothbrush, which is specially designed for cleaning around braces.
Brush at a 45-degree angle: Have your child hold their toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to their gums and brush the top and bottom of the brackets, as well as the spaces between the wires and teeth.
Don’t forget the gum line: It’s important to brush along the gum line to prevent gum disease. Make sure your child gently brushes their gums as well as their teeth.
Use fluoride toothpaste: Fluoride helps protect teeth from cavities, so it’s important to use fluoride toothpaste when brushing.
Flossing with Braces: Why It’s Essential and How to Do It
Flossing is often one of the trickiest parts of maintaining good oral hygiene with braces, but it’s crucial for keeping the spaces between the teeth clean and preventing gum disease. While it might take a bit more time, it’s important to encourage your child to floss at least once a day.
Use floss threaders or orthodontic floss: A regular piece of floss may not easily fit under the wires of braces, so using a floss threader can help. Orthodontic floss has a stiff end that allows it to slide between the wire and teeth, making it easier to floss around braces.
Floss gently: Make sure your child is gentle when flossing around their braces to avoid damaging the wires or brackets. They should carefully thread the floss between each tooth and below the gumline, making sure to clean both sides of each tooth.
Consider a water flosser: If traditional flossing is too challenging, a water flosser can be an effective alternative. A water flosser uses a stream of water to clean between the teeth and around the braces, helping to remove plaque and food particles.
Dietary Changes: What to Eat and Avoid with Braces
When your child has braces, their diet may need to be adjusted to avoid foods that can damage their brackets and wires. While it might take a little time to get used to, sticking to braces-friendly foods will help ensure that treatment stays on track.
Foods to Avoid
Sticky foods: Sticky foods like gum, caramel, taffy, and gummy candies can get stuck in the braces and are difficult to clean out. They can also pull on the wires or loosen the brackets.
Hard foods: Hard foods like nuts, popcorn, hard candies, ice, and pretzels can break or damage the braces. If your child enjoys crunchy snacks, try cutting harder fruits and vegetables (like apples and carrots) into smaller, bite-sized pieces.
Sugary foods and drinks: While sugar won’t directly damage the braces, it can lead to tooth decay around the brackets. Encourage your child to limit sugary snacks and drinks, and brush after consuming them.
Braces-Friendly Foods
Soft fruits: Bananas, peaches, and berries are great options that won’t damage braces.
Dairy products: Cheese, yogurt, and milk are excellent sources of calcium and are easy on braces.
Soft-cooked vegetables: Cooked carrots, green beans, and spinach are braces-friendly and nutritious.
Pasta and soft grains: Soft grains like rice, pasta, and oatmeal are easy to chew and won’t harm braces.
Protein-rich foods: Soft-cooked meats, fish, tofu, and scrambled eggs are great choices for meals.
Managing Discomfort with Braces
It’s normal for your child to experience some discomfort when they first get braces or after adjustments. Here are a few ways to help ease any discomfort:
Use orthodontic wax: If the brackets or wires are irritating your child’s cheeks, lips, or gums, applying orthodontic wax to the rough edges can help. Simply roll a small piece of wax between your fingers and place it over the bracket or wire causing irritation.
Take over-the-counter pain relievers: If your child experiences soreness after getting braces or having an adjustment, over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help ease discomfort.
Stick to soft foods: If your child’s mouth feels sore after an adjustment, encourage them to eat soft foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt, and smoothies until the discomfort subsides.
Attend Regular Orthodontic Appointments
Regular orthodontic appointments are essential to ensure that your child’s braces are working as intended and that their treatment is progressing on schedule. During these appointments, the orthodontist will make adjustments to the braces and check for any issues, such as loose brackets or wires.
Don’t miss appointments: Skipping or delaying orthodontic appointments can prolong your child’s treatment and lead to potential problems with their braces. Make sure to keep up with regular appointments to ensure their teeth are moving in the right direction.
Notify your orthodontist of any issues: If your child experiences any issues with their braces, such as a broken bracket or a loose wire, it’s important to contact your orthodontist right away. Addressing these problems quickly can prevent them from getting worse and affecting treatment progress.
Wearing Elastics and Retainers
If your child’s orthodontist has given them elastics to wear as part of their braces treatment, it’s important for them to wear them consistently to ensure that their teeth are shifting as planned. Wearing elastics as directed can help reduce the overall treatment time and improve the effectiveness of the braces.
Once the braces are removed, your child may need to wear a retainer to keep their teeth in their new positions. Be sure to follow your orthodontist’s instructions on when and how long to wear the retainer to prevent teeth from shifting back.
A Beautiful Smile Takes Effort
Braces are an investment in your child’s future smile, and taking proper care of them is key to achieving the best results. By following these tips and maintaining a strong oral hygiene routine, you can help your child have a positive orthodontic experience and achieve a healthy, beautiful smile.
At Upbeat Pediatric Dentistry, we’re here to support you and your child throughout their orthodontic journey. If you have any questions about braces care or would like to schedule a consultation, feel free to reach out to us.
Together, we can ensure your child’s orthodontic treatment is smooth, successful, and results in a lifetime of confident smiles!
