Dental Braces for Kids

Parents whose children have orthodontic problems such as underbites/overbites, misaligned jaw, crowded teeth and the like are in a quandary as to which dental braces are the best for children. With so many kinds of dental braces available in the market today, the choice can really be overwhelming. There are the traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, golden metal braces, Invasalign, lingual braces, self-litigating brackets and more. Although it is true that the type of braces your children should have will depend greatly on the recommendation of their orthodontist based on the extent of the treatment required, the final choice of which dental braces is best for your child is yours. To help you in your choice as to which dental braces are the best for children, here are descriptions of some of the most common types:

Metal braces – Metal braces, at least the traditional braces, are clunky metal braces that are quite unsightly and uncomfortable. But there are more modern metal braces that are thinner, smaller and more aesthetically attractive than the metal braces of old. In fact there are even metal braces made of gold.

Lingual braces – This type of braces will appeal to older children or teenagers who have become more conscious of their looks. Lingual braces are not very obvious since the braces are placed behind the teeth.

Invasalign braces – Invasalign braces are also called invisible braces since these are made of transparent plastic that is not visible to the naked eyes. This type of braces is best worn by kids 12 years old and above since these are rather delicate braces.

Ceramic braces – Ceramic braces are fashioned out of composite materials. This type of braces blends well with the color of the teeth and is less obvious than metal braces. These characteristics plus its non-stain capability and its durability make ceramic braces the choice of most adults

There are several other types of dental braces which would qualify as the best braces for children. But take note that these different types of braces also comes in varying prices. If cost is a major consideration to you in your choice of which dental braces are best for children, then shop around first before making a decision.

Questions such as “Dental braces, does it hurt?” is a very typical question coming from those who are thinking of having the treatment mostly young people. The answer to this question varies as to what kind of pain is expected and as to what stage of the treatment is referred to. Let’s tackle this one by one.

Upon installing the braces
When your orthodontist installs your braces, particularly metal braces, they normally use glue on metal brackets on the front teeth and even metal bands surrounding selected back teeth. A wire is also threaded through the brackets. The wire will be the one to employ pressure on the teeth to gradually shift it to the right position. All these processes do not normally cause any pain. It is after a few hours when the braces are in place that you could feel a little pinching discomfort or a dull pain, on the teeth. Not everybody will experience such discomfort and also in varying degrees, depending on a person’s threshold to pain. If the discomfort becomes bothersome, taking Ibuprofen or a mild pain reliever will help.

While the braces are doing its work
Once the braces are settled and doing its work of shifting the teeth to the correct position, dental braces- does it hurt? No pain or discomfort will be felt at all. In fact, you won’t even notice that it’s there unless you face the mirror.

When braces are tightened
When braces are adjusted or tightened it normally would cause some discomfort again. The new wire will exert new pressure on the teeth, and this normally will have that pinched feeling again which is supposed to go away after a few days. Ibuprofen could also help.

When braces are removed
Wwhen braces are removed, dental braces- does it hurt? Removing braces will not cause any pain or discomfort. In fact you will be totally pleased and happy; you now have a lovely smile!

If the solution to your child’s orthodontic problems is dental brace, the treatment time needed will depend upon the severity of your child’s problem, the health of your child’s teeth, the distance that the child’s teeth will travel as well as space available in your child’s mouth. Average treatment time is from one year to three years.

Children’s dental care after braces is your next priority once the braces are removed. The first thing the orthodontist will do is clean the child’s teeth thoroughly. He most probably will also do bite impressions and take a set of x-rays to determine how well the child’s teeth were straightened by the braces. He will also check if during the duration of the treatment, wisdom tooth came in. If wisdom teeth start to come in after your child’s braces are removed the orthodontist may suggest that it be pulled out to see to it that the recently straightened teeth do not shift position in the child’s mouth.

The next thing that the orthodontist will do is to provide your child with retainers. It is a especially made detachable appliance that will help your child’s teeth sustain its new position once the braces are removed. Some other orthodontic problems of your child can also be treated by retainers. Wearing retainers is a vital element in children’s dental care after the braces. Retainers are generally made of clear plastic or rubber with metal wires. It covers the outer surface of the teeth and needs to be worn continually for the first 6 months after the brace removal and then afterwards, only during sleeping time. How long your child will be required to wear retainers will depend on how well the braces have positively affected the teeth. Even when the braces have effectively straightened your child’s teeth, they will need retainers to fully settle the teeth in their new position up to the time the gums, bones and muscles have adjusted to the new position.

Installing braces on children as it is in adults will usually cause some pain. But the pain however is minimal and very short-lived. The pain is sometimes caused by the following reasons:

• The novelty of the experience and movement of the jaw
Having something foreign on ones mouth would normally cause some getting used to and so will the jaw bone. The slight movement in the positioning of the jaw will be a source of some discomfort. Taking some pain relievers such as Tylenol will help deal with the pain.

• The kind of braces used
The kind or type of brace use will also determine if there will be pain when braces are installed. Usually braces made of metal will cause more discomfort because of the very nature of the material. Frames made of metal could damage the teeth if installed poorly.
Poor oral hygiene such as not brushing properly and having some food particles left stuck on the braces could also be a reason for the discomfort and pain.

• Incorrect size or dimension
If the braces are sized incorrectly and they are too tight, the child will surely feel pain. Tight braces is one common cause of pain and discomfort that even an adult and especially a child dental patient will feel. The tightness will result in excessive pressure that will cause painful spasms.
The good news, is as mentioned earlier, the discomfort and pain experienced by children at the onset of the treatment is short-lived or temporary and will go away once the child gets used to the device on their teeth.

However, if the pain persists, and pain relievers don’t help, it is best to bring the child back to the orthodontist to check what the problem is. Get also some prescription and advice on how the pain can be eased or relieved.

On your own, you could really not tell if your kid needs braces. It needs the educated eyes of a qualified orthodontist and comprehensive and through X-rays to determine if your child’s teeth need braces – their teeth and jaws are not aligned properly.

As a concerned parent though, it is imperative that you bring your child to an orthodontist for an early evaluation of their orthodontic condition when they reach seven years old. An early assessment could correct any early signs of unaligned teeth or jaw precluding any prolonged treatment in the future.

It is important that parents discourage children from thumb sucking when they are still very young. One big ground for bringing your child to an orthodontist is when they are habitual thumb suckers. Thumb sucking is one reason why some children have misaligned teeth. While thumb sucking, the thumb shifts the teeth around and serves as a mold for the teeth to develop around. Misaligned teeth can change speech, make it more difficult to chew food properly, and can even influence proper breathing patterns, and could even alter the shape of a child’s face.
Some other signs that parents should watch for would be early or late loss of baby teeth, clicking jaws, jaws that project too far or not far enough and teeth that are not lined up correctly.

If the child resists the use of braces, parents should explain to them the procedure clearly and not hide anything from them. It would help also if they can meet with children who are already wearing braces. Your child could identify with the experience of another child better than if the one relating their experience is an adult. Make your child realize also that braces will not make them less of a person. In fact it could even add to their “appeal” since there are braces now that are not only almost invisible but attractive and colorful as well.

Braces are the corrective orthodontic devices that kids need to straighten, align and position their teeth properly with regards their bite. Treatment with braces usually takes from one to three years depending on the severity of the case and some other factors. After the braces are removed, there are still some procedures that need to be undertaken to ensure that the newly positioned teeth stay in place permanently. This may include:

• A thorough cleaning of the teeth.

• A new set of bite impression and X-rays may have to be taken by the orthodontist to ensure that teeth have been properly straightened and positioned in the proper way. An X-ray will also show if wisdom teeth are starting to come out after the braces are taken off.

• If there are wisdom teeth, these may have to be pulled out to preclude the recently straightened teeth from moving and changing position again. After the removal of the braces, the child will also need to be fitted with a retainer. This is another orthodontic appliance that is customized for their own personal needs that aims to help their teeth keep their new position. A retainer is a vital aspect of proper care for the teeth after the braces. This orthodontic appliance is usually made of clear plastic, metal wires or rubber that is designed to cover the external surface of the teeth. For the first six months after the brace removal, a retainer should be worn all the time. Afterwards, the child needs to wear them only when they sleep. The time duration for wearing a retainer differs from patient to patient.

The main reason why a retainer is vital as a post-brace care is that even if the teeth condition has been successfully corrected by braces, the teeth are not yet entirely established in their new position until such time when the gums, bones and muscles have totally become adjusted to the change.

Responsible and caring parents realize that beginning orthodontic treatment at an early stage will mean less cost and shorter treatment later. As a result, more and more children are getting orthodontic treatment or braces at an early age, usually at age 7 or thereabouts. In fact, orthodontists recommend that children should be given an orthodontic screening when they reach the age 7. This is because permanent teeth begin to come at age 6 or 7, a period of a child’s oral development when orthodontic problem begins to appear. This age, when a child’s bones are still growing, is the perfect time to assess and determine what orthodontic treatment, if needed, is best for the child.

To make braces more tolerable and agreeable to young people, braces for children are now made with colorful elastics, the bands that hold the braces and wires together. Children can now choose elastics in colors of their preference; a favorite color, the school color, a holiday color such as red and green for Christmas or black and orange for Halloween. Giving children the freedom to choose their preferred color for the elastic will also give them some sense of involvement in the process.

In spite of the fact that braces for children now- a- days are more convenient, less visible and less uncomfortable than braces of the past, it still need a some period of adjustment or time for kids to get use to it. The teeth could sometimes feel sore, brushing and flossing could be a bit complicated and food can get caught in between the wires – these are some of the inconveniences that may be experienced at the early stage of brace application or even after the regular adjustment. Sore tooth caused by braces for children can be remedied or controlled by taking a pain reliever such as ibuprofen or any pain analgesic. Lighter and more pliable wires also lessen soreness and discomfort greatly.

Braces are one of the things most kids are anxious about. They don’t like braces and would rather not have them. Unfortunately, most of them need to have braces. The best way to prepare them for braces is to give them a comprehensive low-down on what braces are in words and manner that are easily understandable to them.

Why they need braces

Children should be able to understand why they need to wear braces. Most kids don’t have perfect teeth. They either have crooked teeth or teeth that are not evenly spaced. They can also have an upper jaw that is larger than the lower jaw (a condition called overbite) or their lower jaw is larger than the upper jaw ( underbite).

How braces work

Braces are dental devices made of small metal brackets affixed on the teeth and connected together with a thin piece of wire. The wire is held in place by small stretchy bands. Braces exert steady pressure on the teeth to keep the teeth in place, move them in the right direction and help them grow in the right place. There are metal braces, ceramic braces and even invisible braces.

How to deal with braces on a daily basis

When kids are wearing braces they need to take more care of their teeth. Food debris get trapped in and around the braces, and if teeth is not cleaned properly these food debris can be the cause of teeth cavities. Teeth should be brushed properly after every meal or after every time food is ingested. Flossing is also an important routine when kids have braces. There is floss specially made to make flossing teeth with braces easier. Kids with braces should also avoid eating certain type of goods that might get stuck in the braces and will be difficult to remove such as gums, hard and sticky candies and even popcorn.

How long will kids wear braces

Kids would normally wear their braces for around two years. After the braces are removed, kids will also have to wear retainers to help the teeth be on their own. Depending on the teeth, retainers can be worn only at night or all the time.

Braces have become a normal part of most children’s development. In fact cost of braces and the services of an orthodontist are two of the major costs concerned parents prepare for. This normally comes about when all the adult teeth of the child have pretty much all grown in. There are cases however when some children need to see an orthodontist much earlier, such as when the child has a serious problem such as a bad bite. The dentist would usually advice the parents if such is the case. He will be more in a position to know when the service of an orthodontist is needed and when the child needs braces. The dentist will, more often than not, recommend an orthodontist that he partners with, but parents have the option to pick the orthodontist of their preference.

The average outlay for braces for children varies from $5,000 to $8,000. This price is for traditional metal braces and cost will rise if the child or their parents will opt for other type of braces such as ceramic braces (an additional $500), Lingual Braces and Invisalign or clear braces are even more expensive.

Of course children will always be concerned if braces will hurt. Parents can alleviate a child’s worry or concern by being truthful and factual. If possible they can have the child talk to another child who already is fitted with braces. At least their child will feel that they are in good company and this may ease some of their concern. Whatever inconvenience or pain the child will feel during the banding and tightening of the braces will be short-lived and will ease pretty quickly.

The braces treatment for a child will typically take 24 months. Although this will differ from case to case, the orthodontist will prepare a treatment plan. This normally will last in 2 years except in cases where the problem is more serious that a child may need a palatal expander for jaw widening. This will prolong the treatment for the child.

Dental Health Tips for a Pretty Smile

Dental health is vital to a person’s overall health since dental problems can be the root cause of some chronic ailments. Research has shown that there is a connection between dental and gum diseases with other conditions such as cardiovascular ailments, diabetes and even Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately frequent brushing and flossing is not enough to control the bacteria that cause dental problems such as tooth decay and gum inflammation and diseases. To assume responsibility of your dental health, check out the following tips on how to maintain a healthy smile:

• Visit your dentist regularly

A visit to the dentist every six months is imperative to preserving your dental health. Professionally cleaned teeth by a dental hygienist is not only to give you a big bright smile but it will also prevent the incursion of bacteria that cause dental problems. People with dental problems will only experience pain when the condition is already at an advanced stage.

• Prevent Dental Caries by having a pH neutralizing program

Sugar or sweets are not the actual cause of tooth cavities. What causes cavities are dental caries, a bacterial infection that builds –up when the mouth become very acidic. Simply brushing and flossing will not prevent tooth decay. What is needed is to counteract the pH level in the mouth that causes caries-causing bacteria. This can be done by using products that balances the pH content of the mouth that causes the acidity. Such products can be recommended by your dentist as you undergo a pH neutralizing program.

• Eat food that fight caries-causing bacteria

Regular diet of cheese, onions, celery, shitake mushrooms and wasabi, food that fight caries-causing bacteria, will enhance dental health.

• Drink plenty of water

Water keeps the gums moisturized and encourages the production of saliva which fights bacteria. Drinking plenty of water will help you maintain dental health. So does green tea which contains catechins that is a good prevention for bacteria.

• Eat food and use products that contain Xylitol

Xylitol is a 5-carbon sugar that is not breakable by bacteria into damaging acids. It also has a lot of properties that boost dental health such as shielding tooth enamel, precluding bacteria from sticking to the teeth and keeping under control acid-creating bacteria in the mouth. Six to eleven grams per day of Xylitol intake from specific fruits, toothpaste,, chewing gums and mouthwashes is recommended.