How To Help Your Child With Wearing Braces
If your child recently had braces put on their teeth, they may not be prepared for the additional responsibility that they now have. Here are two ways that you can help them manage the changes the come with wearing new braces.
Help Them Remember To Wear The Rubber Bands
Braces will require regular maintenance, and one of those things you child may have to do is use rubber bands. It’s a good idea to check that your kid has put on their rubber bands on a daily basis. For example, part of the routine may be to put them on first thing in the morning. You can tell them that you noticed they put the rubber bands in when you first see them, or give them the reminder that they still need to do it. You can also use positive reinforcement by commenting on the rubber …show more content…
With positive support instead of nagging, you will help them make this step a part of their daily routine.
Emphasize Good Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene becomes very important when wearing braces, since food can become stuck around the brackets quite easily. Even if they were good at brushing and flossing before, it’s important that they don’t slack on oral hygiene because the braces make it more difficult.
The biggest change is that they will need to completely alter the way that they floss. They can use a dental floss threader, or a proxabrush. They may find that the latter is much easier to use, but you should help show them how to properly use it.
You use a proxabrush by sticking it between the teeth and moving the brush back and forth. Avoid sliding it down from the top of the teeth, and insert it from both the front and the back to clear away any plaque that may be forming. You can also bend the proxa brush so it wraps around the sides the of the surrounding teeth. Demonstrate how to use the proxabrush on yourself, and then have your child show you what they’ve learned by using it on
If your child recently had braces put on their teeth, they may not be prepared for the additional responsibility that they now have. Here are two ways that you can help them manage the changes the come with wearing new braces.
Help Them Remember To Wear The Rubber Bands
Braces will require regular maintenance, and one of those things you child may have to do is use rubber bands. It’s a good idea to check that your kid has put on their rubber bands on a daily basis. For example, part of the routine may be to put them on first thing in the morning. You can tell them that you noticed they put the rubber bands in when you first see them, or give them the reminder that they still need to do it. You can also use positive reinforcement by commenting on the rubber …show more content…
With positive support instead of nagging, you will help them make this step a part of their daily routine.
Emphasize Good Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene becomes very important when wearing braces, since food can become stuck around the brackets quite easily. Even if they were good at brushing and flossing before, it’s important that they don’t slack on oral hygiene because the braces make it more difficult.
The biggest change is that they will need to completely alter the way that they floss. They can use a dental floss threader, or a proxabrush. They may find that the latter is much easier to use, but you should help show them how to properly use it.
You use a proxabrush by sticking it between the teeth and moving the brush back and forth. Avoid sliding it down from the top of the teeth, and insert it from both the front and the back to clear away any plaque that may be forming. You can also bend the proxa brush so it wraps around the sides the of the surrounding teeth. Demonstrate how to use the proxabrush on yourself, and then have your child show you what they’ve learned by using it on