Do you have a kid with braces? If so, you know that taking care of their teeth is a top priority! After braces, care can be tricky, but it's worth it as your kids can enjoy healthy teeth with a beautiful smile. And with a few simple tips, you can ensure that you and your child get the desired result.
This blog explains how to take care of your child's braces through 6 effective tips. Let's begin!
6 Tips to Take Care of Your Kid's Teeth With Braces
From the first visit to the orthodontist to the day that braces come off, your child's teeth are in your hands. It may seem a lot to take on, but not with the right braces maintenance tips and tricks. Check them out!
1. Encourage Kids to Brush After Every Meal
Brushing after every meal is a must when it comes to taking care of your kid's teeth with braces. Food particles can easily get stuck in the brackets and wires of the braces. This can lead to plaque build-up. Encouraging your child to brush after every meal is a great way to keep their teeth healthy and their braces clean.
After every meal, your kid should wash their teeth for two minutes. However, brushing with braces is tricky. Teach your kids to brush in short, circular motions above and below the brackets and along the gum line.
2. Make Sure They Floss Everyday
Flossing is an essential part of taking care of your kid's teeth with braces. Flossing helps to remove food particles and plaque from between the teeth and around the braces. Make sure your child is flossing at least once a day to help keep their teeth clean and healthy.
Your child can use an oral irrigator or water picks if flossing seems challenging while wearing braces. Water picks remove plaque and food residue from teeth using a high-pressure water stream. They are significantly simpler to use with braces than floss.
3. Be Careful of the Foods Your Child Eats
Certain types of foods can be damaging to the braces. These include sticky foods, hard foods, and sugary snacks. For instance, keep your child away from hard cookies, popcorn, potato chips, candies, etc. It's vital to ensure your child avoids these foods while they have braces to keep their teeth healthy and their braces in good condition.
You can always feed your child soft foods such as scrambled eggs, pastas, mashed potatoes, soft fruits like bananas, etc.
4. Get Braces Care Tips From Your Orthodontist
Your orthodontist is an excellent source of information when it comes to caring for your kid's braces. They have experience training kids to care for braces and make them understand the importance of oral hygiene. So don't hesitate to ask for their help in between the braces treatment of your child.
They can also answer any questions you may have. Make sure to take your child to their appointments and clear all doubts and queries with their orthodontist.
5. Make Them Wear a Mouthguard During Sports
Sports put the safety of your kids' braces in danger. For instance, while playing football or basketball, they could unintentionally be struck in the face by errant hands or loose balls. This can significantly harm their braces or gums. Additionally, the inside of their lip might be sliced by braces.
But you don't need to keep your kids away from sports for their entire treatment duration. You only need to make sure your child wears a mouthguard that fits their mouth perfectly when playing sports. A mouthguard helps to protect the braces and their teeth from any damage caused by impact or collision.
6. Use Devices Such as Bite Blocks & Temporary Anchoring Devices if Needed
Your child may need to wear additional devices to take care of their teeth while wearing braces, depending on their needs. These tools consist of rubber bands, bite blocks, and short-term anchors. They can keep the mouth open, realign teeth, and lessen the likelihood of the teeth sliding backward.
Your orthodontist may suggest these devices to help with the alignment of the teeth. You need to keep a careful eye on your child to see if they are wearing and using the braces tools properly.
Well, that wraps up the 6 most effective tips to take care of your kid's teeth with braces! Proper dental care is essential for kids with braces, and these tips are a great way to get your child on the right track. Remember they brush and floss regularly, keep an eye on the braces for signs of damage or lose wires, and schedule regular check-ups with your orthodontist.
Taking care of your kid's teeth with braces is undoubtedly a challenging task, but with a little effort, it can be done.
