Helping Your Teen Child With Their Orthodontics: What You Should Know
If you have a teen child that is showing signs that they need orthodontics like traditional metal braces or Invisalign (plastic and invisible braces), you may find yourself in a position where you have to help you teen child get used to the idea of getting orthodontics and then again help them get accustomed to wearing their orthodontics and taking care of their teeth while wearing them. This can be a challenge for parents of teenagers, especially if they are resistant to the idea of orthodontics. Get to know some of the steps that you can take to help your child with this transition so that you and they can have the best experience possible with their orthodontic treatments.
Include Your Child In The Decision Making Process
One of the many reasons that teens tend to be resistant to the idea of braces or orthodontics as a whole is that they feel as if they have no say or decision in the process. Teens are often trying to find their independence and individual identities. Because of this, having their choice taken away from them in any way, including in terms of their orthodontic care can cause friction and resistance.
To avoid this, include your child in the decision-making process when it comes to their orthodontic care. This can include the style and type of braces they wear, whether they want to wear headgear or try other methods of speeding the process, and the like. If your child is able to have their concerns and voice heard, their resistance to the process will likely decrease and their ability to handle it, increase.
Help Ensure That They Are Able To Continue With Their Extracurricular Activities
Orthodontics can have an impact on many different activities that your child may participate in. If they play a woodwind or brass musical instrument, for example, they may need to adjust the way that they play in order to attain the same rich tone and sound.
Braces, especially traditional ones, protrude out from the teeth pushing the inside of the lips further out and changing the way the mouth moves and its overall shape. Your child will need to change and alter their learned mouth positions in order to properly play their instruments. This may require some private instruction from an instrumental music tutor and could also require extra wax to place on the braces to prevent friction and pain while playing.
On the other hand, if your child plays sports, they will need to protect their teeth and the orthodontics that they are wearing. This will require them to wear mouth guards that will prevent cuts and other damage to the teeth and mouth if they accidentally get hit in the mouth while participating in sports.
If you take these steps to help your teen child with their orthodontics, you can be sure that you are doing everything you can to help them adjust and deal with their orthodontic care. Click here for additional info.
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