Helping Your Teen Adjust to Their New Braces

Your teen needs braces to help align their teeth, but these dental implements can cause a little discomfort initially. If your teen is having a hard time, make sure you take a few minutes to try some things to help them out.

1. Encourage them to eat softer foods for a few days.

In the first few days after your teen gets their braces, it is a good idea if they eat softer foods. Mashed potatoes, ice cream, gelatin, soup, and even soft vegetables will be easier to chew. The teeth can feel a little pressure with the new brackets in place, and chewing hard foods can make the issue feel a bit worse.

2. Make sure your teen uses the wax for their braces.

Your teen will be given a small thing of wax that they can rub onto the brackets on their teeth if the edges are rubbing the inside of their lips. Even though the brackets are designed to be rounded and smooth, initially, the unusual contact can cause some irritation on tender skin.

3. Show them how to rinse with saltwater.

Rinsing with warm salt water can actually help with some of the soreness on the lips and gums. Saltwater pulls out excess fluid, which can help with inflammation and deter some of the pain in small swollen areas of the mouth. Using warm salt water can also soothe some of the pain.

4. Talk to the orthodontist about issues your child can’t overcome.

If your teenager continues to have problems even with all the tips and tricks, reach out to your orthodontist for advice. In some cases, minor adjustments can be made to help negate some negative symptoms. For example, if one bracket is causing a lot of pain, the dentist may be able to use a different type of bracket on that particular tooth.

Talk to Us About Braces for Your Teen

Getting braces can be a major life change for an adolescent, and you being on board with helping them make the transition is ever-important. If you have a teen that needs braces or is having problems with their braces, reach out to us at Southern Oaks Dental Care in Beaumont, Texas.