Must-Know Tips For First-Timers With Braces

Everyone needs different dental assistance throughout their life. There's no reason to worry if you just got the news that your kid needs braces — many get braces during childhood or adulthood to fix crooked teeth and prevent dental issues. Ensure your child has a great experience by checking out these must-know tips for first-timers with braces.

1. Stock Up on Wax

After your kid’s orthodontist finishes applying their new braces, the inside of their mouth will rub against the metal brackets. Although there are no sharp pieces, the continual friction will cause soreness and potential bleeding until the skin grows back tougher.

Wax makes the transitional period much easier for first-timers with braces. When a bracket rubs against a raw part of your child’s mouth and causes pain, squish the wax over the entire bracket. It will stay on until your kid needs to eat a meal or brush their teeth and easily comes off in one piece.

It also helps when children carry wax in small containers within their backpacks. They can apply it during a bathroom break if they have any pain at school.

2. Prepare Your Medicine Cabinet

Braces use springs, wires and brackets to move teeth gently according to your orthodontist’s plan. The first few days after getting braces installed or tightened will cause teeth and jaw aches. Stock up on over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen and track when your kid can take their next dose if they’re uncomfortable.

3. Eat Only Soft Foods

Children have sore teeth and gums while adjusting to their new braces, so feed them only soft foods until your orthodontist recommends switching back to solids. Although you can start with treats like mashed potatoes and ice cream, you can also provide healthy options like:

• Applesauce

• Fruit smoothies (well-blended)

• Scrambled eggs

Talk with your kid before their appointment to plan meals and snacks they’ll look forward to when the aches start settling in.

4. Practice a New Brushing Routine

Children need a new routine to remove food from their braces and eliminate plaque effectively. Along with brushing in circular motions, it’s helpful to brush upward against the bottom braces to dislodge food particles and get under the wire. Help them brush for the first day or two after getting home to teach them how to do it on their own later.

5. Find a Flosser

It may seem impossible to floss with wires crossing over each tooth, but it’s not. Your orthodontist may send your child home with a small brush that pushes between their brackets and teeth. Kids can also use a water flosser to pressure wash food and plaque away. If they want to try the helpful flossing tool, prepare for some spray on the bathroom counters and mirror.

6. Anticipate Looser Teeth

Sometimes children panic when they feel their teeth wiggling in their gums. They won’t get loose enough to fall out, but they can’t be too tight, either. Braces help teeth shift into better positions, so anticipate some minor wiggling in the first week or two after getting them. You can always contact your kid’s orthodontist with any questions.

7. Plan Your Band Colors

Many orthodontists provide colorful bands that wrap around each bracket in a set of braces. Ask your child to consider the colors they want during their first appointment. They’ll have the opportunity to change the colors at each following adjustment, which can be fun. Your kid might match their band colors to their school, favorite sports team or the time of year.

8. Expect Occasional Repair Visits

Braces attach to teeth with a strong adhesive, but they aren’t invincible. Sometimes a bracket will pop off and remain suspended between the two on either side. The wiring can also pop out over the back teeth. Call the orthodontist to schedule a quick fix and have your child wear wax over the pointy bracket or wire to stay comfortable until their appointment.

9. Consider Future Whitening Techniques

Your kid likely doesn’t care about whitening their teeth right now, so keep the idea in mind as they age. The glue beneath each bracket in their braces prevents that surface area from getting stained with dark drinks and dyed foods. When it comes time to remove their braces and start wearing a retainer, your child may have white spots in the middle of their teeth where the brackets used to be.

If your kid is closer to their teenage years or in high school, you can always bring up whitening solutions after their adventure with braces ends. It may help them feel more confident and be the perfect way to celebrate their new smile.

10. Avoid Hard or Sticky Foods

Whether your child has had braces for a day, a month or a year, hard and sticky foods will always pose a potential problem. Chewing on gum or biting into an apple could dislodge brackets or wiring. It’s best to avoid these foods or chop them into small pieces to avoid another trip to your orthodontist’s office.

Prepare for Your Kid’s Braces

These must-know tips are great for first-timers with braces because they help families prepare for what’s ahead. You and your kid will have a great experience because you’ve prepared for things like pain management, their temporary diet of soft foods and how they’ll take care of their teeth while still wearing braces.