Many children often have anxiety or fear about the idea of getting braces because they do not know what to expect. However, if you can give your child a clear idea about what will happen during the process of getting braces, you can
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help them to feel more comfortable and calm. Though the braces process is lengthy, knowing what to expect from the whole experience can keep it from being unpleasant for your child. Here are answers to all of the questions your child might have about getting braces installed and removed.
Will Getting Braces Hurt?
This is normally the biggest question that patients have when they are trying to learn what they should expect while getting braces. The process of getting bits of metal installed in your mouth might seem intimidating, but it is actually perfectly comfortable. Braces installation merely consists of gluing the brackets to the teeth and having an arch wire attached to the brackets with elastic bands. At most, your child may feel a very slight bit of pressure while the braces are installed. In the next few days, there may be some discomfort because the teeth are slowly being shifted to a new position and the rough metal surfaces may slightly irritate the inside of the mouth. However, this can be managed with over the counter pain medication, and orthodontic wax can be used to smooth any rough spots that are causing mouth sores.
What Foods Can Your Child Eat After Getting Braces?
During the first few days after getting braces, it is best to stick to soft food that will not put more pressure on your child’s sensitive teeth. Once your child’s teeth adjust, they can eat anything that will not get stuck in the braces or potentially break the braces. This means that anything that is brittle, crunchy, gooey, or sticky should be avoided. Some tougher foods can be eaten, but they need to be cut into small bites instead of being bitten into chunks. Your child can eat many other foods though, including:
- Most dairy products
- Vegetables that are cooked enough to be slightly soft
- Any meat that is not tough
- Most seafoods
- Grain products like rice, bread, pancakes, or noodles
- Any fruit that is not crunchy – preferably cut into smaller pieces
- Drinks like smoothies, juices, milkshakes, or tea
- All types of soups and stews
Can You Maintain Oral Hygiene While Wearing Braces?
Your child may be worried about how they can keep their teeth clean while wearing braces, but this is actually quite simple. In addition to maintaining typical brushing practices, your child can continue to floss their teeth by buying useful flossing tools made specifically for people with braces. It may take a bit more time, but you can keep teeth just as clean even when they are partially covered by braces.
Besides Straight Teeth, What are the Benefits of Braces?
What Will Your Braces Look Like?
Depending on the type of braces that your child has, they can make a big difference to your child’s appearance. Invisalign braces are not very noticeable, since they are clear plastic trays, so some people may not even know your child has braces if they have Invisalign. Traditional metal braces are more obvious, but many children like them because the colorful plastic bands make for an easily customizable look. Your child can pick colors that match their favorite sports teams, fit a holiday theme, or even complement the colors of a special outfit.
How Often Will You Have to Go to the Orthodontist?
Your child may only be thinking about their orthodontist visits to have braces installed and removed, but getting braces will require regular checkup visits. Every month or so, your child will visit the orthodontist to have the braces adjusted. Sometimes, the wires might be tightened to further shift teeth. During the time that your child has braces, they should expect to get used to regular trips to the orthodontist.
How Does It Feel to Have Your Braces Removed?
Children who experienced some pain while their teeth got used to the braces may be cautious about having them removed. However, there is no discomfort associated with the removal process. It takes a bit of time because the glue that was holding the brackets onto the teeth needs to be removed, but the process is not painful. After getting their braces removed, most children are shocked by how slippery and smooth their teeth might feel. It can take a bit of time to get used to not having braces in your child’s mouth anymore.
What Is It Like to Wear a Retainer?
After getting braces removed, your orthodontist will fit your child with a retainer, which prevents teeth from shifting back later on. At first, your child will have to wear it whenever they are not eating, but later on, your orthodontist may recommend that they just wear it at night. It can seem a little tricky to speak or move the mouth while wearing a retainer at first, but it just feels a little bulky and awkward. Retainers are not painful, and over time, the awkwardness of wearing one will subside.
How do Your Teeth Look after Braces?
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After having braces, your child can expect their teeth to look straight and even, and any under bites or overbites will be corrected. If they did not maintain oral hygiene, there might be some slight discoloration around the former position of the brackets, but this can easily be fixed. The best part of having braces is getting to enjoy a perfect smile after they have been removed.
If your family is looking for an orthodontist, search no further than Team Demas. Whether your child needs Invisalign in Southington or braces from Southington, we can fulfill your family’s needs. Contact our office today to get started on the journey to a straighter smile!
Team Demas Orthodontics
27 Meriden Ave #2a, Southington, CT 06489, USA
Phone: 860-276-0333
What Your Child Should Expect Before and After Braces
