Is it time for your teen to get braces, but you know that the process will be challenging. Teen orthodontics is a big commitment! As parents ourselves, we get it! That’s why we are providing you with our top tips and advice for parents to help their teenagers navigate the challenges of orthodontic treatment to ensure a beautiful, happy smile.
Understanding Teen Orthodontics as a Parent:
The most common time to get braces is during one’s early teen years. At this stage of life, your child will have most – if not all – of their adult teeth in place but still have softer jawbone tissue responsive to corrective movement.
By aligning your child’s teeth now, they will benefit in numerous ways. Not only will it improve their oral health by decreasing the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and jaw problems throughout their lifespan, but it can also boost their self-confidence and quality of life.
Motivating Your Teen to Prioritize their Orthodontic Treatment:
The idea of teen orthodontics may not appeal to your teen, as it could impact their lives. Therefore, it is vital as a parent to motivate your teen not only at the beginning stages but throughout the entire process. To do this, we suggest the following.
1. Explain the long-term benefits:
Help your teen understand the significant payoff, including improved oral health, a beautiful smile, and enhanced confidence. You want to emphasize how their efforts now will help them achieve their goals later.
2. Encourage consistent use:
Whether it’s braces, clear aligners, or retainers, following the orthodontist’s instructions is critical. You can remind your teen that wearing their appliances as directed means fewer delays and quicker results.
3. Stress the importance of regular appointments:
Skipping or frequently rescheduling orthodontic appointments can slow progress. You can reiterate to your teen that sticking to the treatment schedule helps ensure they finish their treatment on time.
4. Celebrate milestones:
Teen orthodontics is a journey with several steps. Celebrating small wins, like finishing a phase or tightening braces, can motivate your teen. We suggest pairing these milestones with simple rewards or fun activities to maintain motivation.
5. Be knowledgeable about potential problems:
Teen orthodontics has challenges, including oral hygiene, dietary restrictions, and possible discomfort. You and your teen should learn how to manage these together so you both know how to respond appropriately.
Managing Discomfort and Pain:
As a parent, it is vital to prepare and acknowledge with your teen that there may be some discomfort or pain during their orthodontic treatment. The process can sometimes be uncomfortable, and their mouth may be sore after the initial placement and following adjustments.
Fortunately, this discomfort and pain can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. We suggest talking to your teen about when it is appropriate to take pain relievers and how to ask you for them.
Additionally, orthodontic wax can help protect the inside of the lips and cheeks from braces, especially before your mouth has built up a tolerance or after an adjustment has been made to your braces. We recommend asking your orthodontist to demonstrate how to use orthodontic wax and have it on hand for your teen when they need it.
Lastly, we recommend that parents take into consideration the discomfort their teens may be feeling with meal planning for the first week or two. We suggest focusing on soft foods at meal times so your teen can easily chew and swallow without feeling self-conscious or in pain.
Oral Hygiene Tips to Teach Your Teens:
As a parent, you taught your teen how to perform oral hygiene care, and it is likely you will have to step in again. It is important to keep in mind that oral hygiene will be a different process during orthodontic treatment. Yes, your teen still needs to floss and brush their teeth, but now they may need to use different tools specifically designed to work with their appliances to ensure they perform their oral hygiene well.
We recommend asking your orthodontic team to demonstrate to you and your teeth how to properly brush and floss their teeth, with the use of specialized tools, and have your teen practice. Then, once home, check back in with your teen to ensure they follow the guidelines the orthodontist set. You know your teen best; if they are inconsistent with their oral hygiene, it can impact their treatment progress.
Dietary Guidelines to Keep Your Teen Safe:
One of the tricky aspects of teen orthodontics for parents is the dietary guidelines. Much to your teen’s dismay, there are a few things they should not eat throughout their treatment – essentially anything sticky, hard, or sugary that could get stuck in or damage one’s braces. The perfect example is a peanut granola bar!
To avoid this from becoming an issue, we recommend requesting a list of foods or making your own to provide your teen with a “no-go” list that they can keep with them until they have become accustomed to their guidelines.
You may also want to consider packing their school lunches for the first few weeks, using these new guidelines as a framework so that they can get used to the process easily.
Dealing with Orthodontic Comfort Concerns:
Even the best preparation doesn’t prevent all teen orthodontic comfort concerns from occurring. Say your teen ate that peanut granola bar and lost a bracket, or maybe they fell off their bike or got hit in the face with a baseball during P.E. These and other such scenarios may warrant a call to your orthodontist.
Understanding what constitutes orthodontic emergencies and how to handle them is wise. Your best option is to speak with your orthodontist at the start of treatment about possible scenarios and the appropriate response. You should know the levels of severity, such as making the next available appointment, calling for an emergency appointment, and when to go straight to the Emergency Room (while very rare, it can happen). By understanding this as a parent and teaching it to your teen, you and they can react calmly and appropriately to the situation.
Supporting Your Teen from Start to Finish:
Finally, one of the most important things you can do as a parent is to support your teen emotionally through the process. As adults, we understand the payoff, but we aren’t always present for teens’ day-to-day struggles physically, mentally, or emotionally.
As a parent, it is vital to encourage positive self-esteem and confidence throughout the treatment process. Orthodontic treatment can be uncomfortable, and your teen may feel self-conscious about their appearance. Reassure them that their braces or aligners are temporary and part of a journey toward an even more confident smile. Also, remind them that many teens go through the same process they are going through, as it is a normal part of growing up.
However, don’t just talk “at” them. It is vital to listen to their concerns and problems – whether it is frustration with the treatment or bullying at school. You want to create a space where your teen feels seen and validated. Here are a few things you can do:
- Being available to listen without judgment can be the most impactful support.
- Encourage your teen to embrace their individuality by focusing on what they can control, such as personal style, accessories, or even how they carry themselves.
- Point out when your teen is doing a great job keeping up with their treatment.
- Compliment their diligence in maintaining their treatment and maybe even reward their efforts!
- Help your teen reframe the treatment process as a valuable life lesson in patience and self-discipline.
Remember, you are their greatest cheerleader!
Teen Orthodontics with Greg Brown Orthodontics
At the end of the day, you want to ensure your teen receives the best orthodontic care. Call Greg Brown Orthodontics now to book an appointment and get personalized tips for navigating orthodontic treatment.
