While braces can almost seem like a rite of passage, there’s still the element of the unknown that makes some kids a little bit nervous.
Does the process involve needles? How long will treatment last? Do braces hurt? What will my friends think? You get the idea!
Dr. Jeff and the team here at Jeffrey Kwong Orthodontics are friendly, fun, and work hard to put kids’ minds at ease. Yet, our young El Dorado Hills braces patients also need encouragement from their parents to get over anxiety and stay motivated during treatment.
Here’s our guide to how to get your child ready for braces along with some local ideas. And if you need more suggestions, we’re always here to help!
7 Ways to Prepare Kids for Braces
1. Schedule Your Child’s First Visit to the Orthodontist by Age 7
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends kiddos see an orthodontist for the first time by age 7. Not only will Dr. Kwong be able to monitor the growth and development of their teeth and jaws, but he can also keep his eyes peeled for red flags that may warrant early intervention.
While little kids getting braces is pretty rare, sometimes using appliances before all of the permanent teeth are in ensures treatment is easier and cheaper down the road, while also reducing the risk they’ll need surgery or extractions.
Before you start panicking and wondering, “Is my child ready for braces already?” just know, that usually, this is merely an observational period, and we’ll inform you when the time is right for treatment.
Kicking off regular visits at an early age will help them get acclimated to the office, build rapport and trust with the orthodontist, and alleviate any fear surrounding braces.
2. Explain the Braces Procedure
Demystifying treatment goes a long way in getting kids ready for braces. The thought of pain, needles, and metal hardware is enough to make anyone uneasy.
While we always walk our patients through exactly what will happen at every stage, when the information comes from their parents, it can carry a lot of weight. Plus, giving them a rundown of the process prior to a visit allows them enough time to make a list of questions and concerns to ask Dr. Kwong about.
Make sure to let them know that getting braces put on doesn’t hurt (it’s like putting stickers on your teeth), shots aren’t involved in the process, and maybe even outline the different parts of braces.
Invisalign Teen and Spark Aligners don’t usually elicit the same response, but an overview of the Invisalign procedure always helps.
If you had braces or aligners yourself and now have a beautiful smile to show for it, talk about your experience!
Be Honest With Yourself and Your Orthodontist
Be realistic about your child’s personality and lifestyle and let your orthodontist know the details. This will allow you to seriously evaluate their treatment options and choose the route that’s likely to be the most successful.
Is your child a whiz at oral hygiene or is getting them to brush their teeth a chore? Do they play sports or an instrument? Are they fairly responsible or still working on the whole self-discipline thing?
For example, if your kid plays the flute, isn’t the greatest with flossing, or you know they’ll never turn down popcorn, then Invisalign Teen might be preferable.
If you don’t think they’ll wear their Invisalign aligners for the full 22 hours a day or you’re afraid they’ll consistently lose them, braces could be the way to go.
Or for a happy medium, ask us about InSmile™ behind-the-teeth braces. They’re both invisible and fixed in place.
Set the Ground Rules
Orthodontic treatment is an investment and, obviously, you want your child to have lasting, dramatic results in the shortest amount of time possible.
Consistently damaging brackets, failing to brush and floss correctly, forgetting to wear aligners, or skipping appointments will drag out treatment and make it less effective.
Be clear about your expectations, outline the consequences, and be consistent in enforcing the rules. Getting this out of the way upfront will eliminate any confusion once treatment has started.
Offer Some Motivation
Do you know what’s really motivating? Seeing the end results!
If your child knows that getting braces or wearing Invisalign Teen, sticking to the treatment plan, being diligent about oral hygiene, and making a few small sacrifices, like avoiding sugary candy and soft drinks, are the keys to getting the smile of their dreams, they’ll be more likely to jump in with both feet.
Research which of their favorite celebrities had braces, and show them before-and-after pictures of other orthodontic patients (I mean, just look at these JKO smiles). Better yet, show them your own before-and-after braces pictures if you have them.
On bad days, or if they start questioning treatment, remind them of how their smile will look when it’s all over.
Plan Ahead
Before your child’s braces treatment starts, get your supplies ready and involve them in the prep. Look up recipes together, go shopping for braces foods (here’s 25 school lunch ideas for braces wearers if you need them), stock up on orthodontic flossers, a Waterpik, and electric tooth brush heads, and make a list of some Sacramento-area restaurants with braces-friendly food to try (we’ve go you covered there too: “Braces-Friendly Food in Sacramento.”)
Familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of life with braces and tackle treatment head-on.
Lend an Ear
Just being there for your child is extremely valuable. Listen to their concerns about treatment and validate them. Let them know how proud you are when they practice excellent braces or Invisalign behavior, which brings us to our next point:
Dole Out a Few Rewards
Creating a rewards system is an awesome way to encourage positive habits, like abiding by Dr. Kwong’s instructions, wearing elastics, and brushing and flossing as recommended.
Whenever your child reaches a predetermined milestone or just impresses you with their dedication to the teeth-straightening process, do something fun.
We even have a few ideas:
- Go see a movie and let them choose the flick. For a bargain, visit Palladio 16 in Folsom on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 am all summer long for its Summer Matinee Series. For just $1, you can watch a kid-friendly film. Teens would probably rather take advantage of $5 Tuesdays, which lets you see any movie at any time for, you guessed it, $5.
- Hit up an area park and make a day of it. Pack a picnic (with your kid’s favorite braces-friendly snacks, of course), visit the super fun El Dorado Hills sprayground at Promontory Community Park or the outstanding playground at Folsom Kids Play Park, take a long walk, and if the weather’s nice, fly a kite. While you’re at it, you can even stop by Old City Kites, a really cool Sacramento store with just about every kite variety that’s sure to wow kids and adults too!
- Go on a Sacramento scavenger hunt with Urban Adventure Quest. It will take you around to the historical sites in the Capitol district and through Old Sacramento while you solve clues.
- Put your child or teen in charge for a day of family fun. You can get the ball rolling with some of our recommendations for summer activities for kids in El Dorado Hills and Folsom or, in cooler months, try out our compilation of winter activities in the area.
- Let them sign up for a class or activity they’ve been wanting to try. Not only is it a good reward, but they’ll also learn something too. The El Dorado Hills Community Services District offers all sorts of classes for kids in El Dorado Hills, ranging from science camps to creative writing courses. In Sacramento, kids and teens can learn to climb during kids’ belay or climbing camps at Sacramento Pipeworks. For Folsom kids’ classes, swing by the Folsom Public Library for events like the Build Robots program.
How to Get Your Child Ready for Braces: The Bottom Line
Honestly, the youngest members of the JKO family are the best! The vast majority of our child and teen patients are amazing at caring for their appliance and teeth during treatment.
But, a little extra encouragement and preparation never hurt. By doing things like talking about your expectations from the get-go and using the occasional reward as positive reinforcement, you can set the stage for a sucessful braces experience.
And remeber, while being prepared is helfpul, your orthodontist will be a great resource as well!
Start Your Child’s Braces Journey in El Dorado Hills, CA
At Jeffrey Kwong Orthodontics, we offer Invisalign Teen, InSmile hidden braces, metal and clear braces for kids in El Dorado Hills and the surrounding areas.
We’re your ally in your child’s smile journey and we’re always available to answer questions, educate kids about the teeth-straightening process and keep you informed so that you and your child both feel confident about treatment.
Schedule your free consultation today!
