Helping Your Teenage Children to Embrace Braces Smoothly
First impression really matters. Thus when you have whiter and straighter teeth, you are definitely more confident and more likely to be successful. But one has to make the hard work first to reap the harvest. You have to wear braces for a period of time to get the teeth straightened and your smile more beautiful and confident, says a dentist in London.
But consider life as a teen with braces. Of course the life is very difficult. Any teen feels like being isolated from his or her friends while getting sick taking care of the braces. But orthodontists handling teeth straightening cases using braces in London suggest, as a responsible parent you have an important role to play in this context.
In the following sections of the blog post let us discuss what responsible and supportive parents should do.
Be patience with your child
You may have considerable patience as an individual as well as a parent. But when your teenage kid is getting braces, you have to be extra patient. The braces treatment is only successful when your child follows the instructions of the orthodontist. Your role is to motivate the child to stick to those instructions. Obviously you achieve nothing just by shouting and punishing them at this stage. Rather reveal your sympathetic side and as we already mentioned – be patient with them. If your child forgets to follow any guideline to ensure oral hygiene, it is your responsibility to remind them.
Your teenager should understand certain facts
Nearly 16 out of every 100 children say they are afraid to visit a dentist. Just imagine how they will feel when they come to know that they have been signed up for an orthodontist. You should better educate your child before taking him or her to the orthodontic. This will make them rational and they will also know the need of braces for their life ahead. In kind of a storytelling way make your children understand why he or she needs braces. Ofcourse you should do your own homework ahead before educating your teens. You should never pass on any misinformation to your little ones about braces. It is a good idea to encourage your teenager to do his or her own research on braces.
Just support your child
As a doting parent you obviously want to support your little ones. There are ways to support your child even more without using words. When your child is about to wear braces make sure to change the usual diet in your household. Avoid food items or dishes that your teenager prefers but cannot have because of the braces. This seem to be a very small thing but can have a huge impact on your child’s orthodontic treatment.
Switch over to a healthy, square diet
Orthodontic braces restrict your normal diet to a large extent. At this stage of life you cannot eat what everybody else is eating. Therefore make sure your child is eating a healthy, square, nutritious diet. These days youngsters including teenagers have a poor diet anyway. Maybe you can use this opportunity to introduce healthier dishes at home. Again you may have to pick up the role of a storyteller. Take your time to explain how very harmful those cookies are for their teeth. Start preparing delicious and nutritious dishes at home that you all can enjoy.
Convince the child that braces are cool
Do you remember those days of your childhood when you first had your braces? Yes, those braces were not cool anymore. Well the times have changed since then and modern braces are slightly more convenient than those earlier ones. Explain your child that braces NOT UNCOOL really. In fact braces are more compact, smaller and much better designed now. Make sure your teenager is not nervous about getting his or her braces.
Remember coldness soothes pain
Initially when the braces are fitted inside the mouth little inflammation occurs and this phenomenon is natural. You better try soothing that discomfort with something cold. It can be anything like treat at the ice cream parlour or just a cold glass of water to comfort the soreness. Whenever the teen eats or drinks anything sugary, do tap his or her gently to brush the teeth immediately.
Look at the positive side of getting braces
You have to make all the effort necessary to convince your children that getting braces is not bad at all. In fact, wearing braces do not look that bad. Wearing the orthodontic braces for a year appears to be too lengthy for teenagers. Explain to them that they now grown ups and a year passes by so fast. They have to understand that it is important indeed to think about the future. Wearing braces for a year or two is never easy but that can help them develop amazing teeth for the rest of their life. If it helps then you should also definitely mention that Prince Harry wore braces as a teen.
Planning for a life with braces
When you are aware about your expectation, it becomes easier to prepare yourself for the future. This approach proves helpful to help your teenagers prepare themselves to deal with braces. Take your kid out for shopping. They need certain items to deal with life with braces. The items include a handy toothbrush, relief wax, small tube of toothpaste and even pain-killers. They also need develop certain skills like preparing smashed potatoes and smoothies. This is the best way to ensure they eat the right food while on braces.
Helping teenagers in their life with braces
Getting braces at teenage is a memorable event. You may be little anxious about how others are going to treat you. But as a responsible parent, you have to help your children adapt to life with braces. You have to support them as well as educate them for it, suggest orthodontists at London Braces. Do your research, update yourself to provide the necessary support to your kid at this stage. Feel free to contact us for more information.
