Solas Orthodontics - Brace Wearing 101 for Kids

1. Brace Wearing 101 for Kids How to take care of your braces

2. How to Care for your Braces: the Essentials Braces are for straighter sets of pearly whites. They also correct overcrowded teeth and overbites and underbites. Braces, springs, wires, rubber bands and other appliances are prone to plaque and food. If left unattended, teeth stains occur. Most dentists recommend brushing regularly after every meal with fluoride toothpaste and removing food bits stuck in your braces. Picking food or plaque from the mix of wires and bands proves to be a challenge. Some dentists recommend using mouthwash, which reaches places in the mouth a toothbrush cannot. Using floss and waterpiks also rid your teeth from stubborn bits.

3. How to Care for your Braces: the Essentials Brushing your teeth: essential aspect of dental hygiene, especially if you are wearing braces.When you brush your teeth, move the brush in small circular motions. Try to reach food particles wedged between your gum lines. Brush slowly and carefully. It takes about 3 minutes to thoroughly brush your teeth. Make sure to scrub each surface thoroughly to prevent plaque buildup and cavities. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth before you rinse. Foods to avoid when wearing braces: Prevention is better than repairing broken braces or cleaning stubborn plaque off your teeth’s surface. Cut your food into smaller pieces. This also prevents food from getting stuck between brackets. Certain foods must be avoided to prevent broken brackets and loose brace wires. Avoid eating too hard or sticky foods to avoid inflicting damage on your braces. Difficult as it sounds, steer clear from the following foods: Brushing your teeth is an Flossing with Braces:For hard-to-reach areas in your mouth, use dental floss. Flossing requires time and patience, especially if you are wearing braces. It’s important to floss after your brush to prevent plaque buildup and cavities. To floss through your braces, insert the floss’s short end through the space between the upper portion of the tooth and the main arch wire. Don’t pull too much to prevent bleeding or loose brackets. Use a gentle sawing motion to work the floss between your teeth. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Toffee Gum Liquorice Caramel Hard popcorn and Pretzels Corn on the cob Hard nuts and taco shells

4. Braces and Sport Having orthodontic treatments doesn’t mean you have to give up playing sport. However, having braces on does mean that some extra care is required to avoid injury in contact or ball sports, as the chances of more serious damage are much higher.

5. Braces and Sport Mouthguards are a must: One of the most common injuries incurred by athletes is damage to the mouth and jaw. A mouthguard is a great way of protecting your teeth whether they have braces or not, because they cushion your teeth, tongue and jaw from injury. With braces in, the possibility of injury increases, this can be anything from mouth lacerations to breaking the brackets, which is extremely uncomfortable and could damage the teeth. The best way to avoid this is to wear a mouthguard that has been designed to suit people with braces. Orthodontic Mouthguards: Orthodontic mouthguards are specially moulded to fit up and over the braces, protecting both the teeth and gums. This acts as a shock absorber, as well as preventing damage to the braces or mouth upon impact. You don’t have to give up your favourite contact sports like football, basketball, netball or hockey when you have braces in, but a mouthguard will ensure that your teeth and your braces are well- protected in case of impact. Image Source: www.motherpedia.com.au

6. Playing an Instrument with Braces Getting braces can be a major adjustment to the mouth and gums of your child, and when you play certain instruments there can be an even longer period of time getting used to playing with braces. Instruments in the woodwind and brass families are the biggest problem-causers, but there are ways to make the transition to playing with braces as smooth and quick as possible.

7. Playing an Instrument with Braces Woodwind Instruments:Woodwind instruments include the flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe and bassoon. Apart from the flute, these instruments are all reed instruments, and so put little pressure on the teeth. However, common occurrence when switching to playing woodwind with braces is extra condensation and saliva – meaning they may need to be cleaned more regularly than usual. Any other discomfort can usually be alleviated by applying wax to the problem area until the lips and gums have adjusted to having braces on. It typically takes about a week for this discomfort to disappear after having braces applied. Image Source: www.themusicacademies.com

8. Playing an Instrument with Braces Brass Instruments: Brass instruments are the biggest culprits when it comes to discomfort when playing with braces. In particular, the trumpet and french horn can be particularly difficult to adjust to due to their small mouthpiece size. In this case, making changes to mouth pressure and muscular control may be necessary to decrease the amount of pressure being applied to the mouthpiece. Applying wax to alleviate pain may not be an effective solution when playing the trumpet, as there is a good chance it will get caught in the braces once pressure is applied. For trumpet and french horn players, Invisalign may be recommended as an alternative to traditional braces, as their retainer style of adjustment is easier to work with when playing. Image Source: www.amarillo.com Larger instruments like the trombone, baritone or tuba have similar issues to the trumpet and french horn, but to lesser degree due to a larger mouthpiece circumference. Invisalign is a good option, but less likely to be necessary as there is less pressure on the mouth. Overall, the adjustment period for brass instruments can be up to 4-6 weeks.

9. Find Out More Solas Orthodontics Perth is a brand new three-room private practice with a convenient location in the Western suburb of Wembley in Perth. We provide state-of-the-art orthodontic treatment for the whole family in a relaxed environment. All treatment is carried out at convenient times to suit you by the practice’s owner, Dr Daniel O’Connor, who has worked in London, Australia and Hong Kong where he gained a Masters in Orthodontics, which provided a strong focus on early receptive treatment for children, dentofacial orthopaedic treatment for adolescents and various approaches to adult treatment. Solas Orthodontics is committed to providing the most comprehensive and highest quality service to patients of all ages. We keep our clients informed about their teeth or mouth’s condition and the treatment options available for them. As we are partners in caring for you and your family’s oral health, we will guide you every step of the way to help you make the right decision.