Preparing Your Child for Braces
When your child needs braces, more goes into the process than getting corrective metal brackets placed on your young one's teeth. You'll have to prepare for the dental procedure in many ways. Here are ways you can prepare your child for braces so the procedure is a success from the start.
Schedule the appointment accordingly
If you can, try to schedule your child's braces appointment at a time where they will miss the least amount of school possible. Scheduling braces during a school break or just before the weekend is ideal so your child can recover at home. If you have to schedule their dental appointment early in a school week, arrange with teachers to have homework given to your child in advance so they don't miss out on assignments while they heal. Your child will likely want to take a few days off from school to get used to their new braces and recover from any teeth pulling that has to be done as part of the procedure.
Have food in the home your child can eat
Your child's mouth will be sore after they get braces, which is common and expected. Have soft foods at home that your child can eat without chewing or getting things stuck in their braces, such as pudding, liquid soups, yogurt, and ice cream.
Let your child know what to expect
Talk to your child or take them into the dentist a few minutes early for their appointment so they can learn how the procedure works. Your child is likely going to be a bit apprehensive about getting braces, so letting them see how the process works can help ease their fears. Their dentist can show them a video or slideshow of the procedure.
Have a reward ready for following through
Getting braces is a big deal, and it changes the way your child looks and how they can talk and eat. Until your child gets used to their braces, they may feel self-conscious and unlike themselves. To make getting braces less impactful on your child, have a reward ready for when they heal from the procedure. The reward can be a sleepover with friends, going to the movies, or anything your child enjoys.
When you prepare your child for getting braces, you make the common procedure much easier to endure. Your child's orthodontist will give you tips for making getting used to braces easier.