If you have a child who was just informed they will be needing braces to straighten their teeth, they may be a bit apprehensive and anxious about the entire concept. Braces are a necessary tool used to help forgo future problems with the teeth as your child grows, making them an important part of your child's overall oral health. Here are a few ways you can help your child accept the fact that they need braces.
Show Them Photographs
Let your child look at several photographs of people who had used braces to help their teeth become straight. If possible, find before and after photographs so they will understand the job the braces will do for a set of crooked teeth. A professional ororthodontist, like those at Braces Inc., should be able to help point you in the right direction to find examples. Make sure to show your child pictures of people who decided not to get braces, as well.
Talk About Fun Benefits
Focus on the positive points in having braces. Tell your child that braces do no need to be restricted to being silver metal wires. There are a variety of colors available to choose from. The wires can even be switched to different colors each time your child goes in for a tightening session, making it exciting to switch up the look depending on how they feel at the moment. Tell them they can match their braces to their wardrobe or sneakers to make a fashion statement.
If your child is not interested in flaunting their braces, there is always the option in invisible braces. These are clear braces that are not as noticeable, making them a great choice for those that are shy about the idea. Braces that slide over the teeth into a tray form are also an option. These are virtually undetectable.
Have Them Start A Group
If your child enjoys being a leader, encourage them to start up a braces club for others in their school that need to wear braces. They can swap ideas about foods they are able to eat and can speak to each other about ways to alleviate pain from tightening wires. They can start a social media group page to encourage others to join in on the action. The group can decide on a color and have everyone switch their wires to be uniform, making it fun to go to school showing they are part of a structured group
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Share17 July 2015
Halloween is a holiday that my children love, and telling them they can't go door-to-door collecting candy would break their hearts. This led me to allowing them to collect candy on the holiday, then rationing it out to them every day instead of letting them gobble it up in just a few days. I always thought this was better for them, but my dentist told me this could be the reason why their February dental check-ups were always their worst ones. Daily candy consumption was taking a toll on their teeth. I started a new tradition of letting them indulge for two days, then giving them the option to swap the rest with me in exchange for a new toy. They never pass on the opportunity for a new toy. I created this blog to encourage other parents find similar tactics to keep their children's teeth healthy after Halloween.