Undergoing orthodontic treatment is something that’s quite common in modern times. Parents worry that getting their teen or tween braces could be a socially isolating experience for them. The good news is that there are various ways for parents to shift the experience of having braces to a positive one for their child.

Ways You Can Help Your Child Enjoy Braces

Children could worry about the social and emotional impact of braces once they learn they need orthodontic treatment. They may be extremely reluctant. Parents can reassure them and ease their concerns using some of the following methods:

1. Let Your Child Know They Can Customize Their Braces

Letting your child know they can be involved in the decision-making process reduces feelings of anxiety for them. Modern orthodontic treatments are easy to customize. They can become an element of your child’s style and self-expression. Teens and tweens are finding out who they are as a person. Being allowed to express their own style can be fun and rewarding. 

Some ways to customize braces include:

• Gold, ceramic, or natural tooth-colored braces
• Choosing rubber band colors
• Fashion brackets in fun shapes

Your child can let their inner artist out and make their experience with braces truly unique.

2. Use Rewards After Each Trip

If you need to get your tween braces, they might like to know there’s something to look forward to each time they go for their appointments or tightenings. You can enjoy some of their favorite activities with them. You can have a lunch date, go to a movie, go to the mall, or go to a park with them. Your child will end up loving the quality time with you and associate their appointments and braces with positive feelings and memories.

3. Show Your Child Before and After Photos

One way to ease your child’s mind and make braces fun is to show them the way braces have helped other people. You can show your child that their favorite celebrity had braces, too. They can see in full color how much improvement braces can bring to a smile and how a beautiful, healthy smile lights up a person’s face. Another way to get them excited is by allowing them to take a “before” picture. They’ll know they have something to look forward to. 

4. Get Them Involved With Food Shopping

An aspect of getting braces that may make your child less than enthusiastic is all the foods they need to reduce or avoid while wearing them. You can let your child know that they still have incredible foods to choose from and let them make their own “menu”. 

Some braces-safe foods include:

• Pasta 
• Soft cooked rice
• Mashed potatoes
• Applesauce 
• Bananas 
• Fruit juice

Your orthodontist can help you find options to satisfy any palate. 

If you think your child is a candidate for braces, call Mountain View Dental today for questions or to book an appointment. Even the most reluctant child will feel at ease in their comfortable, professional dental office. 

Do you often find yourself asking “when will my baby start teething?” If you answered this question with a confident “yes,” just know that you are not alone. Some parents do not know when their baby will start teething, and most parents are not confident about what to expect. Here is a short, informative guide to answer your question: “When will my baby start teething?”

Age of Baby 

When it comes to the age that babies usually start teething, there is a wide range of normal ages. Some babies start teething as young as two to three months, but many do not begin until about six months of age. Most children will have their full set of teeth by their third birthday. By this time, your child will probably be having fun with their teeth brushing routine.

Signs of a Baby Teething 

Do you know when your baby is teething? The signs of a baby teething may not be obvious to some parents.

Biting:

Many teething babies find comfort in biting anything that they can get their little hands-on, from rattles to teething rings. By doing so, the pressure from the slowly protruding teeth will be temporarily relieved. 

Irritability:

The pressure that teeth place on the gums will cause your bundle of joy to be more fussy and irritable than usual. If you’re lucky, your baby will be irritable for just a couple of hours, but the fussiness could go on for several days or weeks.

Crying:

Since teething usually causes inflamed gum tissue, most babies will cry because of the pain. Although some babies will cry a lot when teething starts, they may eventually get used to the pain as time goes on.

Drooling:

A noticeable sign of teething, drooling can start anywhere from ten weeks to four months of age. Just make sure that you place a bib on your baby to keep everything dry. 

Trouble Sleeping:

The thing about teething is that it can happen at any time of the day, even during the night. When teething occurs during the night, your baby may have trouble sleeping. 

Worrisome Symptoms 

Teething can be extremely uncomfortable, but babies don’t usually get sick from this experience. Make sure to call your pediatrician as soon as possible if your baby is suffering from diarrhea, extreme cough, vomiting, or fever. 

Great Teething Remedies

As a parent, you probably can’t stand the sight of your baby in pain. The good news is that you can greatly alleviate your baby’s pain with a few teething remedies.

A Nice, Cold Drink:

Did you know that a cold drink can relieve achy gums? For babies who are six months and older, give them a bottle of cold water to help relieve the pain.

Cold Food:

Just like a cold drink, cold food can also ease achy gums. Consider feeding your baby chilled food from the refrigerator like applesauce and yogurt. 

Pain Medication:

After getting the “ok” from the pediatrician, give your child baby acetaminophen if all else fails.

Trust Mountain View Dental for All of Your Children’s Dental Needs

Mountain View Dental prides itself on providing excellent dental services to young children who just got their first set of teeth. Many people love this specific dentistry because it’s comfortable and professional, and the office even features a fun No-Cavity Kids Club. Please don’t hesitate to call Mountain View Dental today to schedule a consultation or ask important questions.