Furthermore, if the brackets were rubbing, your child could develop sore mouths. Chilled food can be highly beneficial for its cooling effect. Therefore, ahead of taking your child for the orthodontic appointment, get your fridge well-fortified for duty.
You would need orthodontic wax
It is not unusual to see children who got braces to suffer from mouth sores. This is because of the irritation caused by the brackets as they rub.
Orthodontic wax prevents these scenarios. Alternatively referred to as dental wax, these substances help your child better adapt to the braces. Normally, the orthodontist will give you a sizable amount of dental wax at no cost.
Applying this wax requires minimal effort. All you have to do is roll the wax in your fingertips, get the wax softened and apply it gently to the brackets’ section responsible for the irritation. This creates a buffer that prevents them from brushing against themselves.
Being that you are not going to be around your child 24/7, it is wise to teach your child how to apply the wax (and have them take it with them anyway).
This way, when those irritations – consequent of frictions between brackets – occur, your child can quickly salvage the situation by pressing the wax against the section.
Assist your child in brushing
Most children tend to struggle with their teeth cleaning regimen after getting braces. Undoubtedly, children with braces on their teeth have more work to do the brushing.
Cleaning between the wire and all that would be challenging with the regular brush they used before the braces. Specialized brushes can help access the dental areas around the brackets and between your childs’ teeth and the wire – for proper cleaning.
Also, given the increased workload involved in brushing now, your naturally comfort-savoring child would opt to miss their mouth cleaning routine. You have to be at hand to enforce washing their teeth at the appropriate time.
Is your child struggling to adapt to the braces socially?
It is normal for parents to think orthodontic treatment is exclusively a dental procedure. No, there is the psychological dimension as well.
Do the braces introduce significant social insecurities in your child? Do they feel embarrassed and uncomfortable around their peers with braces on?
Don’t neglect this. Ensure your child doesn’t feel disadvantaged or “handicapped” wearing braces. Remind them that wearing braces is not an extraordinarily unfortunate event.
On the other hand, it is quite common. An estimated 4.5 million people in the United States wear braces. Eight in ten people in this category are within 6-18 years old.
Lastly, be readily accessible for your child to open up to you. If your child is being bullied, say in school, for wearing braces, don’t hesitate to escalate the incident to the necessary authorities or the bully’s guardians.