September 06, 2021
Braces are used to help align crooked teeth. As your child grows, their jaw also changes shape and size. Braces are used to fix misaligned jaws, improving both dental appearance and overall well-being. Keeping the braces clean is essential because decay under the wire can become a serious issue if it's not treated early on. Braces need to be cared for properly in order to minimize discomfort and maximize their effectiveness. It is important to follow all the instructions from your dentist and orthodontist, as well as to make sure that you are brushing your child's teeth twice daily and maintaining an adequate oral hygiene regimen. You should also go for regular dental visits. Lastly, you should never use a toothbrush designed for adults on a child because it could result in damage to their gums and teeth. Follow these tips to understand the importance of taking care of your child's braces.
1. Brush your child's teeth twice daily
Brushing your child's teeth twice daily is important because it prevents tooth decay, tooth loss, gum disease, and cavities. You should brush them in the morning and before bed. To brush your child's teeth, start by getting them to rinse their mouth with water after eating or drinking anything. This will get rid of any residual food particles that could cause plaque buildup. Then apply a pea-sized drop of fluoride toothpaste on your child's brush or toothbrush and gently scrub the teeth for two minutes. Besides that, you should also floss between their teeth, carefully brushing all of the areas around the braces and wires that you can't reach with a toothbrush. Your child's dentist will be able to give them special instructions on how to safely brush and floss around their dental appliances such as braces.
2. Maintain an adequate oral hygiene regimen
As mentioned before, you'll get all the necessary instructions from a dentist on how to maintain your child's oral hygiene. Usually, braces for kids are left on for 1-3 years so in that period of time you need to make sure that your child is following a good oral hygiene regimen. Not maintaining an oral hygiene regimen could result in serious dental problems and pain. Part of maintaining proper oral hygiene care is to choose what food your child can eat. Don't allow your kids to chew ice, hard candy, and gum because these activities can damage the wires which hold the braces in place. If they need to chew something like sugar-free gum or hard candy then it is best that you supervise them by ensuring that they don't bite down too hard or chew for too long. Damaging braces this way can be very expensive to fix. Also, you should allow your child to drink through a straw instead of sipping at the liquid with their teeth. Drinking through a straw allows them to get the liquid without putting pressure on their braces. You should also restrict your child from eating sticky, crunchy, hard, and chewy foods as these can damage the braces. Softer foods will tend to decrease the risk of cavities and other dental problems. Your child may also be given instructions for special kinds of toothpaste and mouthwashes which contain ingredients like triclosan zinc citrate which can help kill bacteria and reduce plaque accumulation.
3. Go to your regular dental visits as scheduled
Regular dental visits are very important for keeping the teeth healthy since gum disease can be a big problem when it's not treated early on. You should encourage your child to go for routine dental checkups at least every six months even if they don't have any problems with their teeth or gums at the moment because, during these checkups, their dentist and orthodontist will be able to notice cavities and other issues before they become problematic. If they are afraid of dental visits then you should try to put their fears to rest and explain that regular dental appointments will ensure that all of their teeth and gums remain healthy. Prevention is always better than treatment, so be sure to take them to their appointments on a regular basis.
4. Use a toothbrush designed for children
You should never use a toothbrush designed for adults on a child because it could result in damage to their gums and teeth. Children's toothbrushes usually have smaller bristles than adult ones to accommodate the smaller mouths of kids. They may also have softer bristles since children's teeth are softer than adults'. Dentists recommend that you give your child a soft-bristled toothbrush to use. The reason for this is because hard bristles can irritate and damage their gums and also damage the enamel of their teeth which, when left untreated, can lead to cavities. Also, if your child brushes his/her on his/her own, it is recommended that you supervise them since children may not know how to brush properly or may not be able to reach all of the areas around their teeth and gums. Teach them to brush at least twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, for about two minutes each session.
Taking care of your child's braces is very important because it could affect their oral hygiene as well as how their teeth develop naturally. If you are a parent, make sure to follow the instructions from your dentist and orthodontist, brush your child's teeth twice daily, maintain an adequate dental regimen for your child (this includes regular trips to the dentist), and never use adult toothbrushes on kids' mouths. Also, if your children are brushing their teeth on their own, teach them the proper way to do it. Finally, if you notice that your child is having trouble with their braces or teeth, take them to an orthodontist immediately so they can get treatment before it gets worse. Just make sure your child is not afraid of going to the dentist or orthodontist. If they are, explain to them how important it is for their teeth and gums. Having healthy gums will help with the proper development of your child's mouth - don't let them down!