What Your Child Should Expect | Before & After Braces 2021

Before & after braces. Though having braces is a common experience for children and teens, many are nervous because they do not know what they should expect. Whether your child chooses traditional metal braces or clear Invisalign, the process still involves the same basic idea of slowly moving the teeth into proper alignment. Here are answers to many of the questions that your child might ask about the process of getting orthodontic braces. In this article, we’ll show you What your child should expect before and after braces. Let’s get cracking.

People also ask

1. What is the best age for a child to get braces?
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3. Can a 10 year old get braces?
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5. Are teeth braces worth it

Before & After Braces

Before…

How Are Braces Put On?

The exact procedure of getting braces will depend on the type of braces that your child gets. If they choose traditional braces, the orthodontist will first attach the brackets to the teeth with bonding glue. After the glue is dried, the archwire will be secured to the brackets with elastic rubber bands. The archwire is typically secured with tiny rubber bands, which can be colored in fun colors.

There may also be another set of rubber bands that adjust jaw position and biting movements through connections to the top and bottom teeth, but these are not always necessary. If the braces are Invisalign, then molds of your child’s mouth will be taken, and they will be provided with custom-made aligners, which must be worn for roughly 20 to 22 hours each day. Something a child may need reminding of.

Does It Hurt?

This is the most common concern that most children have about braces. Getting the braces put onto your child’s teeth is not a painful or unpleasant situation. Instead, the procedure will only last an hour or two, and it is pain-free. However, once the braces begin adjusting the teeth, your child might experience some soreness. Soft foods are a go-to remedy. Here are some more tips on how your child can manage the discomfort of dental-braces:

• Eat soft foods, such as soup, yogurt, smoothies, mashed potatoes, or scrambled eggs.
• Use over-the-counter pain medications, including ibuprofen or acetaminophen
• Gargle with saltwater.
• Eat ice cream to keep any swelling down.
• Avoid any acidic drinks, such as soda or citrus juice.
• If the pain is extremely uncomfortable, an oral anesthetic can help to numb the mouth.

Will the Brackets Rub Against My Mouth?

It can take some time to get used to having braces. One of the most common complaints to an orthodontist by a child in the early process is that the brackets can rub against the interior of the mouth, causing sores on the inner cheeks. However, applying orthodontic wax to the dental-braces at first can give your mouth time to get used to them without any teeth or oral pain occurring.

What Can You Eat?

Eating foods change before and after braces. After your child starts to get used to their braces, they can begin enjoying most of their favorite foods again. Fruits, meats, grains, vegetables, and dairy can all be eaten while your child has braces on. However, certain foods should be avoided because they could break the wires of the braces or get stuck in the teeth and braces.

This includes sticky and gooey foods and hard and crunchy foods. Though treats such as caramel apples should probably be avoided, it is still possible to eat items such as corn on the cob, if you slice the kernels off of the cob instead of biting them off.

Do I Have to Take Special Care of My Braces?

It is slightly harder to clean teeth and gums while wearing braces. Because food can get stuck in them, your child will need to exercise more caution while brushing their teeth and flossing. A brush with soft bristles is recommended so that it can fit around the braces. Braces also tend to wear down a toothbrush faster, so you may need to replace toothbrushes more often while your child undergoes orthodontist treatment.

joelgluck

Dr. Joel Gluck has practiced orthodontics since 1983 when he opened his own office in Nashville. He earned his undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis, and his dental degree at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Gluck then completed an orthodontic specialty residency at the University of Michigan, one of the top five orthodontic training residencies in the country. He also wrote an original thesis and received a Master of Science degree.