The idea of wearing braces can be daunting for kids. They may be afraid of teasing at school, discomfort or caring for the braces properly.
For a lot of kids, the idea of going without their favorite foods can be the most troubling aspect of wearing braces. While it’s true they must avoid some foods during orthodontic treatment, there are ways to soften the blow. A little fun and a lot of education can go a long way to prepare kids for braces.
Why must you avoid certain foods during orthodontic treatment?
Braces are the best way to get beautifully straight teeth, but the truth is there are some downsides. Because certain types of food can damage or become trapped in your braces making it difficult to clean your teeth, you must eliminate them from your diet during your orthodontic treatment.
We don’t tell patients to cut these foods out to make orthodontic treatment unpleasant. Our goal is simple. We want your teeth to not only look good, but be healthy as well.
When food gets trapped in your braces, it can be difficult to remove. But if you don’t remove it, your mouth will suffer the consequences. Cavities, irritation and gum disease can occur. And, when food particles are stuck in between your braces’ bracket and wires, they can cause sores and discomfort in your mouth.
Plus, when you crunch on hard foods like nuts, ice or popcorn, you run the risk of damaging your braces. If the wires and brackets that make up your braces become dislodged or otherwise compromised by eating the wrong foods, your orthodontic treatment can take longer than expected.
At Brooklyn Orthodontics , we recommend patients completely avoid the following types of foods:
- Chewy, sticky foods: bagels, licorice, caramel candies, chewing gum.
- Crunchy, hard foods: popcorn, chips, ice, nuts, hard candies.
- Hard foods you must bite: corn on the cob, apples, carrots.
Young people who are undergoing orthodontic treatment can easily become frustrated when they can’t enjoy the foods they love. To prepare kids for braces, you can take a cue from Kate Gosselin by hosting a “pre-braces” party for your children.
What is a pre-braces party in Brooklyn?
Kate Gosselin, of reality television fame, threw a “Braces On” party for two of her daughters. She served gummy bears, pretzels, Swedish Fish, Airheads, pizza, nuts and other foods that are off-limits for people with braces. Regardless of what you think of Gosselin and her on-screen antics, her idea has merit.
If your child is getting ready to start orthodontic treatment, adopt Gosselin’s idea and let your youngster gorge on all their favorite, sticky, gooey, hard and crunchy foods. Make the idea completely unique and suited to your child’s individual personality and preferences.
- Party all night long: Invite your child’s friends for a treat-laden sleepover.
- Kid in a candy store: Take a special trip to a themed candy store like an M&Ms store, saltwater taffy shop or Jelly Belly outlet.
- Walk the red carpet: Make braces a “premier” event and treat your child to a tub of popcorn and a box of their favorite candy at the movies.
- Throw a campfire bash: Host an outdoor soiree with apple bobbing, caramel corn, s’mores and games.
Other ways to prepare kids for braces
Oftentimes, kids are excited about wearing braces. Even so, they may have some anxiety about what’s to come. Education is one of the best ways to prepare kids for braces and ensure your child has a good experience with orthodontic treatment, right from the start.
Talk to your child about why he or she needs to wear braces. Be honest and upfront. Address their fears and concerns the best you can and rely on the knowledgeable staff at Brooklyn Orthodontics to tackle questions you can’t answer. Here are some other ideas to help prepare kids for braces:
- A picture is worth a thousand words: Find pictures of celebrities who have worn braces. Before and after photos are a great visual, if you can locate them.
- Find help on the web: Use online resource especially for kids. Here is a good one.
- Peer encouragement: Let classmates and friends who wear braces talk to your child about the experience.
- Draw from personal experience: If you wore braces, show your child pictures and talk about your experience with orthodontic treatment.
- Set expectations from the start: Make sure your child knows what will be required. Explain that he or she will be required to actively participate in the cleaning and care of the braces to ensure the best results.
- Get cookin: Together with your child, search the web for braces-friendly recipes. Here’s a site to get you started.
Let us help prepare kids for braces
At Brooklyn Orthodontics, we have years of experience helping kids undergoing orthodontic treatment. No question or concern is off limits. We want to help prepare kids for braces by providing as much information as necessary to address fears, concerns and anxieties. Don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance.