Our team at LifeSmile Orthodontics provides orthodontic care for all members of your family, including your children. We offer braces for kids, focusing on straightening your children’s teeth to help them maintain a healthy smile.
Our friendly staff is always here for you and your family to answer any questions and help guide you through the treatment process.
The Age to Consider Braces for Kids
Many parents aren’t sure when to start thinking about braces for kids. It is recommended that your child should first see an orthodontist around the age of seven. However, you may want to contact an oral healthcare professional sooner if you notice issues with your child’s teeth.
Children begin to get their permanent teeth around the age of seven. Therefore, it’s a good age to assess children for signs of crowding, overbites, or crossbites. Addressing these issues before their permanent teeth fully come in can help your child’s oral health.
Types of Braces for Kids in Midlothian
Our team at LifeSmile Orthodontics offers several kinds of braces designed for kids. Contact our experienced team to learn more about the following orthodontic treatment options.
Traditional Braces
When considering braces, many people think of metal brackets, wires, and rubber bands. These features describe traditional braces, which have been used for decades to straighten a patient’s teeth.
Traditional braces effectively help patients with either moderate or severe dental issues. Orthodontists regularly adjust the brace wires and bands, slowly pulling your child’s teeth into the optimal position.
Lingual Braces
You may also select lingual braces for your child. These braces attach to the back of your child’s teeth, still using brackets and wires. They are usually much less visible than traditional braces.
However, some patients find lingual braces less comfortable than traditional options as the tongue constantly rubs against the brackets.
Self-Ligating Braces
Self-ligating braces do not use elastic bands, unlike traditional braces. Instead, they use smaller brackets which many younger patients find more comfortable than traditional ones. However, they still require regular visits to the orthodontist for adjustments.
Many patients find it easier to clean self-ligating braces, encouraging good oral healthcare practices.
Ceramic Braces
Finally, you may consider ceramic braces for kids. These braces use clear ceramic brackets instead of metal. Ceramic braces are much less noticeable than traditional metal options in many cases.
However, ceramic braces are not as sturdy as metal braces. They may be more prone to breaking, so keep this factor in mind when choosing your child’s orthodontic treatment.
What to Expect with Braces for Kids
Braces straighten your child’s teeth, improving their smile and supporting their oral health. In addition, it’s easier for many people to keep their teeth cleaned adequately when their teeth are straight, reducing the odds of developing cavities.
However, you can expect some growing pains with children in regards to braces. For some, caring for the brackets and wires can be a bit of a learning curve, but we’re here to help!
Braces May Cause Some Discomfort
Our office will take steps to keep their patients as comfortable as possible. However, children may experience some soreness after adjustments to tighten their braces. Generally, the discomfort fades after a day or two.
You can eat softer foods such as yogurt, applesauce, or soup for a couple of days after an appointment to avoid aggravating the soreness associated with an orthodontic adjustment.
Watch the Foods Your Child Eats
Children can eat most of their favorite foods with braces. However, you want to avoid serving certain foods while your child has braces. Orthodontic professionals recommend that you limit chewy, sticky, and hard foods.
These foods may tug the brace wires and brackets, or even pull the wires out.
Braces Require Good Oral Hygiene
Make sure your child continues good oral hygiene habits after getting braces. Bacteria and plaque can build up around the brackets, so it is important that your child continues to brush and floss regularly.
