It’s no secret that kids think and behave differently than adults do. When it comes to an orthodontic treatment like braces, this means taking special consideration and making sure they have an excellent experience. Our team at Hemphill Orthodontics knows how challenging it can be to foster good dental habits in your kids with braces, so we’re going to share some of our expert tips.
Tools of the Trade
To begin, let’s talk about some of the most important tools kids with braces will need. Some of these may be familiar to you, some might not be—but they all make a significant difference!
- Orthodontic Kits: You can think of this as a first aid kit but for braces. It contains all the supplies your child needs to maintain and clean their braces on-the-go. Dr. Hemphill’s teenage and adult patients can also carry these kits with them.
- Orthodontic Wax: Orthodontic wax is one of the most useful contents of this type of kit. If braces are damaged or if discomfort arises, it can be a short-term solution to help kids get through the day.
- Fluoride Rinse: Using a fluoride rinse is a convenient, easy way for kids to have an additional layer of protection for their teeth.
Dental Health: Problems & Solutions
As with anything, preparation is fundamental! At Hemphill Orthodontics, we want to do our best to prepare parents for issues they might run into with their kids during orthodontic treatment. Let’s review some of the most prevalent problems we see arise and how to handle them:
- Cavities:
- Problem: Cavities are actually a bigger issue for kids with braces than you might realize. They can be much harder to spot initially and can occur in and around the various components of orthodontic appliances.
- Solution: For combatting the development of cavities, children need to be especially careful with how they clean their braces. This might mean spending some extra time on this step.
- Increased Risk of Plaque Buildup:
- Problem: Braces consist of lots of hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, where plaque can easily get trapped. Imagine a rooftop catching snow.
- Solution: In addition to thorough brushing, using a good fluoride-containing mouthwash can also help remove plaque they miss.
- Challenges with Flossing:
- Problem: We hear complaints of flossing becoming more difficult pretty often! Braces can feel like a barrier to effective flossing—but there are alternative ways to floss.
- Solution: A water flosser is a good example of a tool that can flush out the mouth, broadly and in hard-to-reach areas.
- Sugary Foods:
- Problem: The typical diet of a child includes a good bit of sugar. We know this can be hard to avoid, especially if your kiddo takes a liking to sweet snacks. But it can badly damage their teeth, with and without braces.
- Solution: Moderation, if not elimination, of sugar is a smart approach during orthodontic treatment. The less exposure the teeth have to sugar, the less likely additional bacteria are to develop. Remember that bacteria is a precursor to tooth decay.
- White Spots and Staining:
- Problem: You may have seen people with white spots on their teeth after their braces come off. This demineralization can go unnoticed until the end of treatment.
- Solution: Remind your kids that even if their teeth are nice and straight, they want to avoid these spots if they can! This is part of why cleaning is so vital.
- Missing Dental Visits:
- Problem: Some parents might forget that maintaining visits to both Dr. Hemphill and a general dentist’s offices are instrumental to braces treatment.
- Solution: Our team recommends seeing your general dentist every 3-4 months while wearing braces, so that they can perform more frequent dental cleanings and help address your child’s overall oral health.
- Sports and Physical Activities:
- Problem: Many children are super active, either through participating in sports, or simply playing around with friends. For this reason, they can be more prone to accidents that can damage braces or allow the braces to injure oral tissues.
- Solution: Remind your kids to be very careful when they’re playing. An important part of this process is ensuring they have the right type of mouthguard for the sports they’re playing, which will protect their braces well. Mouthguards aren’t one-size-fits-all!
A Child-Friendly Approach
Dr. Hemphill is amazing with patients of all ages and is proud to be able to welcome everyone to our practice! While a child’s orthodontic treatment can present certain challenges, they can also bear the most incredible results.
Before visiting our office, we encourage you to take a look at some of the wonderful reviews and testimonials left by our patients, as well as our curated gallery of before-and-after images that show off the quality of our work! We can’t wait to see you in our Celina office!
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Dr. Hemphill