Something you may not be aware of is that approximately 4 million people in the United States wear braces. No matter your age, braces are the best way to align your teeth and set them as straight as possible in the long run. If your child is on the verge of getting braces they are by no means alone.
Perhaps you’re considering whether or not to invest in braces for your child. Most millennial moms are in the dark about kids’ braces and whether their kids need them. This brief guide will break down a few key things you should know about braces for kids.
According to most orthodontists, a child should make their first trip to a children’s orthodontist by the age of seven. This is because there are many potential signs your kid needs braces, all of which are best caught and treated as early as possible.
As children lose baby teeth and their adult teeth can set in, they have the potential to grow crookedly or overlap one another. Your child may also develop an overbite or underbite as their jaws grow, sometimes disproportionately at first.
At your child’s first orthodontist visit, his or her teeth will be examined with thorough care by a professional as well as x-rayed. This will determine exactly the care they will need going forward.
There is no way around it, quality orthodontic care for your child comes at a significant cost. Metal braces tend to cost anywhere between five thousand and seven thousand dollars altogether. The cost of alternate options such as Invisalign can vary a bit more, though the window still normally remains between three and seven thousand.
However, if you need financial assistance or help with approximating the cost of orthodontic care, aid is available. With an orthodontist visit, you can get an accurate quote on the cost as well as learn more about the variety of payment plans available to you.
Before braces are applied, your child’s teeth must be as clean as possible beforehand. The ideal way to ensure this is to schedule a dentist appointment for your child so they can receive a thorough teeth cleaning prior. If this cannot be arranged, an orthodontist can also clean your child’s teeth with a protective polish.
Remember, once your child receives braces, they tend to remain on their teeth for what will likely be a couple of years. Therefore, it is crucial that braces for kids receive a clean surface before application.
Another unavoidable aspect of wearing braces is the fact that your child might have to expect some discomfort at first. After all, it’s hard to quickly become used to having metal gear and wires over your teeth after going your whole life prior without them.
It will naturally take time to adjust to having areas inside the mouth becoming irritated, or teeth being a bit more sensitive to extra pressure. However, if any severe discomfort persists for much longer than usual, be sure to let your child’s orthodontist know so adjustments can be made.
As previously discussed, the unusual feeling of braces in one’s mouth can be the biggest hurdle children face at first.
To cater to potential discomfort or sensitivity, encourage your child to eat softer foods that are less likely to cause additional irritation. To the extent that you can, try to dissuade your child from eating any exceptionally crunchy, chewy, or sticky foods. These foods are more likely to get stuck in between crevices in your child’s braces, posing more harm to their teeth than normal.
Braces for your child also mean changes for their daily and nightly dental hygiene routines.
After applying your child’s braces, an orthodontist will walk you and your child through some important ways to care for this new equipment.
Special toothbrushes exist to accommodate for the space that braces occupy in the mouth. There are also some unique dental picks and flosses that are made specifically to knock all food particles from crevices in or around braces.
Making sure your child sticks to these new routines will be all the more important for the long-term health of their teeth.
There is no shortage of orthodontists that will apply braces to your child’s teeth. But what matters most isn’t getting the lowest price or the shortest proposed timeline. At the end of the day, you want the safest return on your investment in your child’s teeth.
Be sure to do all the research you can before choosing a qualified orthodontist for your child. Ideally, you will want to seek out a clinic with years of experience and testimonials from satisfied customers. You may even want to consider a sit-down with a doctor for additional peace of mind.
Making sure you are making the safest decision you can when it comes to investing in kids’ braces is hard work. Therefore, if you have any doubts or reservations, we would love nothing more than to explain them for you.
At Just 4 Kids Teeth, we offer years of experience in personalized dental and orthodontic care for children with and without special needs.
Contact us today and let us tell you exactly how we can provide your child with a healthy smile from now into adulthood.
