Taking children to the orthodontist is definitely different from taking them to Disney World; you can’t expect them to be overly excited about the former. This is especially when they have to get braces.
It is natural for your children to be frantic. They anticipate the pains and the disruption the braces would introduce to their normal lives. How do you then prepare them for braces? How can you get them confident and composed when going for orthodontic treatment?
Prepare for the questions first
Sure, your child is going to flood you with questions. These questions range from why your child needs the braces to whether the braces would hurt even as far as how long they would have to wear them.
The best approach is to give them authoritative and candid answers to their queries. Don’t try to tell them getting braces is a thoroughly enjoyable process.
No, you want to gently prep them for reality without fueling fright in them. Tell your child the braces may hurt a bit for the first seven days and the possibility of further discomfort when the braces are tightened or modified.
After this, tell your child the experience wouldn’t be devastating as effective pain relievers could alleviate them. Regarding the duration of wearing such braces, emphasize the temporariness of the treatment. Let your child know the braces would be taken off in no time.
And then when your smart child asks why he can’t do without the braces, illuminate the inevitability of the brace treatment. Positively highlight the importance of having that sweet smile either for their prom date or TikTok escapades.
Get a healthy supply of soft foods on hand
The braces could slightly pressurize your child’s teeth for the first few days. This could make eating hard food (that needs significant chewing) a bit discomfiting for your child.
For this time, your child should eat soft foods that need minimal mastication before ingestion. Need ideas?
Well, you can go with mashed potatoes, rice, ice cream or pasta. Rich soup is another viable liquid alternative. However soft, such diet should be sufficient in nourishing your child while sustaining their energy levels.