Is your teen preparing for braces? How exciting! Braces treatment improves oral health, prevents dental injuries, and provides a lifetime of straighter, more confident smiles.
While you and your teen are looking forward to the day they get their braces, there are some important steps to take to prepare. Here are five things to do before your teen gets braces.
1. Schedule a Dental Cleaning Appointment
It’s important to keep teeth extra clean before and during braces treatment. This includes brushing twice daily and flossing at least one time every day. It’s also necessary to schedule a professional dental cleaning shortly before having braces put on.
Dental cleaning before braces ensures that teeth are free of cavities and plaque, so the orthodontist has a clean set of teeth to work with. Once braces are on, at-home cleaning and dental procedures both become slightly more difficult. So, it’s helpful to begin braces treatment with teeth that are as clean and healthy as possible.
2. Learn All About Braces and What to Expect
Knowledge is power. Now is the time to learn all about how braces work, best practices for care, and what challenges to expect. At your teen’s next orthodontic appointment, bring a list of questions regarding anything you’re unsure about.
Encourage your teen to be proactive in learning about their treatment. However, remember that a teen’s mind is often in a million different places at once. So, as a parent, it’s important to be informed and monitor your child’s oral health throughout the course of their braces treatment.
3. Stock Up on Appropriate Foods
After braces are put on, your teen will want to avoid certain foods. So, it’s best to use those foods up now if there are any in the house.
- Foods to avoid eating with braces include:
- Foods that require hard biting, like corn on the cob or whole apples
- Sugary candies
- Extra chewy substances like caramels or gum
- Sticky candies like Jolly Ranchers
These foods can damage the braces or lead to a buildup of harmful bacteria in the mouth.
Fortunately, most foods are okay to eat, especially with a bit of extra preparation. During the adjustment period right after braces are put on, it’s helpful to be stocked up with foods that are easy to eat. Braces-friendly foods include:
- Yogurt
- Soup
- Scrambled eggs
- Oatmeal
- Pasta or mac and cheese
- Cooked veggies and soft fruits
In time, your teen will get used to eating with braces and choosing appropriate foods. However, during the first few weeks, they’ll appreciate your support in prepping easy-to-eat meals.
4. Prepare for an Emotional and Social Adjustment
Most teens are excited about the benefits of braces and eager to start straightening out their smiles. However, it’s common to feel some worries about how the braces will feel, whether or not they’ll still be able to enjoy eating their favorite foods, and how others will react to their new temporary look. Social anxiety and fears about teasing may be present, too.
Whether or not you think your teen is anxious about braces, talk to them. You’ll never know if you don’t ask. If any social anxiety is present, help them work through these feelings and provide all the support they need.
5. Purchase Items for a Braces Care Kit
Getting braces means getting used to having a few key items available at all times. To make sure your teen always has what they need, prepare a small care kit that contains these essentials:
- Travel toothbrush and toothpaste
- Waxed floss
- Pocket mirror for assisting with flossing and brushing
- Mouth guard for sports
Preparation Helps Smooth the Transition to Wearing Braces
If your teen is about to get braces, this is an exciting time. Be sure to support them in every way you can to ensure the best results from treatment and to tackle any challenges that come up together.
Still on the fence about braces for your teen? Schedule an orthodontic appointment today to discuss your options.