My Daughter Is Getting Braces

This is a little ahead of the game, but consider having those permanent retainers put behind her teeth when she gets the braces off. I regret that I didn't wear my retainers as often as I should have and now my teeth are crooked again! What a waste! I never wanted to wear the retainers and soon enough they became uncomfortable, starting a vicious cycle. Good luck!

Your orthodontist will have a list of things she needs to avoid. Stick to them, or you'll have broken wires and a mess of other problems. She MAY be allowed sugar free gum. Seems to vary by orthodontist. She also needs to learn how to brush and floss around the braces to avoid bad breath and cavity problems later. We also invested in several extra packs of wax (can be found at the drug store) and I think it was Orajel that makes a numbing spray that one of the kids really liked.

We also had to keep on them for wearing the retainer properly later. I think that was the harder part for us. The excuses abounded. They both hated the retainer.

Any time she gets them tightened, let her eat softer foods and give her Tylenol. It can really make her mouth ache.

Also, don't be afraid to find another orthodontist if you don't like the person you're dealing with. You'll be dealing with braces (retainers) for years. Like/trust who you have. We had an issue with one doctor, so we switched, even though it was out of network. If you can find an orthodontist that has a flat fee, it will help keep costs down later. I much preferred that the second time around. The first time (and first orthodontist) charged for every little thing and it seemed we were always in there. Just dealing with him was unpleasant on top of that. We're so glad we switched. Just keep it in mind.

When the braces came off, we had a party with all the stuff they couldn't eat for the duration.

Good luck!

P.S. If your daughter likes popcorn, try Pirate Booty. It's a puffed snack that's a lot like popcorn, but no kernels to get caught in braces.

I had braces when I was 14. The best advice I can give you is to make sure your daughter wears her retainers for the rest of her life. I am 32 now and I stopped wearing the retainers 2 years after my braces came off. My teeth have moved a lot and are almost back to where they started before I got the braces. It was a waste of my parent’s money for me to get the braces and then not wear the retainers. The orthodontist never actually told me that I needed to wear them forever. The doctor might tell you that information now. I can tell you if my girls need to get braces I will be sure they keep wearing their retainers if they want to keep their teeth straight.

I had braces as an adult and the orthodonist office I went to was great. It was a wonderful experience for me. They'll give wax to your daughter to put on the braces so it doesn't rub up against her lip. She'll also be able to choose colors of her bands. One year at 4th of July I had red, white and blue bands. Unfortunately, she won't be able to chew gum or have anything like caramels that are sticky and would rip the braces off. I didn't have any problems with lips cracking but if it happens to your daughter then just use some type of lip balm. If she's in any discomfort after getting her braces tightened each month she could take some Tylenol or Advil. I found I was most sore for the rest of the day after my braces got tightened. The end result is always beautiful so just keep reminding her of that. Tell her good luck for me!

I remember from my brother and my experiences with braces that chips are very bad. Especially dorito or other thick corn chips. My brother snapped off a bracket eating these! And they get stuck in the brackets and teeth. You have to be very careful eating and chips. I ate most things though and was fine, I just had to cut up my apples and other hard food in pieces, and cut the corn off the cob.

I had braces for about 3 years when I was 15 and both my son and daughter had braces for about 2 years. Avoid sticky candy like caramel and gum. Corn on the cob and biting into apples are not a good idea either. Cut the corn off the cob and the apple into slices. She may get some blisters on the inside of her mouth. The orthodontist should provide some wax to apply over the braces to help with that. The wax is also available in the toothpaste aisle in the grocery store/drug store. She may experience some pain when the braces are first put on and then every time she needs them tightened. It is totally normal. Motrin will do the trick. Stick to puddng, yogurt, jello and soups for the first day or so. After a week or two the braces will just feel like part of her mouth. Mka esure to follow a good mouth cleaning routine. A normal toothbrush does not get all the food stuck in the braces. I had to use a water pick but my children were given different flosses and mouthwash to keep their mouth clean. You won't believe ther difference the braces will make in her smile. They are very much worth it!!! Good Luck!!

My daughter just got hers off. A few firm rules in the beginning helped us. No gum or sticky/chewey candy of any kind (caramel, marshmallow, starbursts, skittles, snickers, etc.) Also, no hard items such as carrots, ripe apples, hard bread/bagels. If you do not give in on these from the beginning, then they are more likely to not have problems with them coming off, etc. Also, always remember the Advil/Tylenol for the days they add more or adjust. Usually after the second day, they do not need it anymore....but the first 24 hours they often need it. They give you wax for sores/rubbing which helps.

Hi T.,
Our son is fourteen, and getting ready to get his braces off soon. Braces can be really expensive, but not if you know what dentists to go too...Your daughter will adapt very quickly to them...but make sure she doesn't chew alot of sticky gooey foods, anything obvious such as caramel, tootsie rolls ect, should be avoided. Sometimes things like sesame seeds or raspberry seeds can bother as well. I limited the amount of soda and sugar drinks, and paid for sealants, sealing the tooth and keeping cavities away.
Some dentists participate in a new health care that saves you over $2000! The care is just as great as others that charge 1000's more. It's really amazing how great his teeth look. I can't wait to see him without the braces! Good luck, and remember it pays to shop around...

Hello,

I know this is late advice, but you should wait a few more years until your daughter's mouth matures. I have had braces 3 times in my life. Once because I was too young and the work the orthodontist did moved as my face matured. I would say, if your daughter is not experiencing any discomfort or embassment, you should wait for a few years. Your daughter must be faithful to her retainer for years to come.

T.,
I am a Dental Hygienist and have 2 daughters who have had braces.
Most important: Purchase a Water Pik, she needs to use it at least 1 x day.
Second Purchase an electric toothbrush with a 2 minute timer.
Brush for about 30 seconds with water only to loosen the plaque.
Use a flouride rinse
Use the wax is she complains of the braces chafing her mouth.
Chapstick for the lips
Avoid soda, chewing gum and other "sticky" things, Avoid very crunchy things, hard pretzels, raw carrots etc unless cut in VERY small pieces.
Also if she is able to take it give her some ibuprofen or tylenol before the appt and for the next few visits when getting them tightened, tell her she will be a little sore but this is normal and it WILL go away
Good luck!
Cindy

Hi T.! I had braces about 6 years ago. The worst part is the first week or so when you get them on. Keep lots of wax handy and be ready w/pain reliever. Blisters will form from the metal rubbing against the inside of the lip and covering the brackets with the wax helps a lot!! The gums hurt from the braces moving the teeth and that where the pain reliever comes in. Also, for a quick fix for the pain use baby oragel on the gums....I went through a tube of this when I first got mine on. Hope everything works out and your daughter doesn't have many problems! Good Luck!!

T. -

My 14 year old son has braces and he has had them on now for 2 years. It seemed like nothing helps the discomfort. We tried all types of things to help but he still was in pain. The process of getting them on was a little much but then it did get easier as the months went by. He still to this day can't eat for a few days after he gets them adjusted and tightened. They told him to avoid hard foods such as nuts, ice, carrots etc. He wasn't allowed to have licorice or anything gummy and chewy. I have heard from others that their child didn't have that much pain so I am assuming every child is different. Good luck and if you have any other questions please feel free to ask!

K. N

Avoid gum,taffy types of candy,chips like doritos.Keep a good supply of lip balm/chapstick on hand.Give her some ibuprofen right before she goes in to have them applied.

Hi T.,

This is also my first time to this site. I as an adult had braces and they say it's usually harder for adults as far as pain. The first two weeks I thought why on earth did I do this however after the initial pain and lots of soups and shakes it was fine.
I would get the occasional blister with any adjustments which by the way were no big deal about every 5 weeks. I would take an aleve for comfort right before my appt. for any soreness from the adjustment and went on about my day.
WAX is great for easing pain with any sores and the rubbing on the gum, just take a small clump and press on top of the brace. WAX was my savior! You can use ambesol to numb the sores I just found that wax stopped the rubbing and the blister would typically clear up w/in a day or two. I never had a problem with my lips cracking however I use chapstick each day so that should do it.
As far as foods the orthodondist will tell you what to avoid but naturally things like gum, hard candy, popcorn, pizza crust, hard vegetables.
Brushing after each meal is so important with braces and kids aren't so good about it however your daughter will have much better results and appointments with her ortho. Don't worry my ortho went over how to brush with braces because it is a bit different.
The entire experience seems overwhelming but after a couple of weeks it will be a part of her and it's no big deal. She will love the results! It's so worth it even when she has her doubts. I have no regrets and my husband thought my teeth were so pretty he now has braces. Our 9 and 6 year old daughters think it's an adventure. Best of luck to your daughter.
PS: My ortho went over everything!! Provided me with all the things I've mentioned.

I had braces for 2 years. i just got them off last June. I had an over bite, under bite, cross bite and a canine tooth that was laying paralelle to the ground in my upper jaw behind my front teeth that had to be pulled into place. My mouth was a mess. Now, I am a lot more confident and I am glad i got them. The worst part was the bands they put around your molars to keep everything in place. They hurt putting them on and taking them off. I would just take tylenol about an hour before my appoitment and I went through about 10 containers of wax in my first 6 months. But It was well worth it. I had the clear brackets on top and the metal ones on the bottom, and you could hardly tell i had braces on. I also had a spacing device on the roof of my mouth for 6 months and it had to make my upper jaw bigger. Like my mouth wasn't big enough already! LOL. But it is no biggie, after a month or 2 she won't even notice them. Just make sure she brushes and flosses like she is supposed to. Super Floss is great and i still use it around my retainer on my bottom teeth.

my son just got his braces off after a little over 3 years. we have a great ortho, and it was not a big deal at all. occasional mild discomfort when they were tightened, but nothing that tylenol couldn't handle easily. and rarely, for that matter. dry lips taken care of with that magical blue blistex. the ortho discussed food caveats with him. even with having to have a rather awful invasive oral surgery at the start of the process, where his hard palate had to be opened and an anchor awkardly attached to an ingrown adult tooth (so it could be hauled out to where it belonged), it was all very well done.
i hope your daughter's experience is as positive. i bet it will be!
:) khairete
S.

11: wow. Personally I will try everything else in the book before I go the braces route. Dentists are braces gung ho these days. Its a huge expense and sometimes alot of pain that is not always necessary. I do understand there are extreme cases where braces are absolutely needed. I had them in jr.high. My bottom teeth were not that bad at all, I could have used a retainer. And my top teeth: my front 2 came forward a little too much which made the next 2 receed a bit. So braces on the top were painful for me. Before the braces I had to use a device to widen my palette which was extremely painful. I had to put spots of wax where the metal would catch my jaw. There were days I could not open my mouth. There were also times I had to go back in to have them UN adjusted because it was just too tight. But I really didnt avoid any certain foods. Long story short. I opted to take them off before my teeth were straight and I dont regret it. I can live w/ my slightly crooked teeth. If my daughters teeth arent too bad I will let her help us make the decision. Its all on her and how she wants to look and you are never too old for braces if she changes her mind down the road and wants them. Just make sure your child is aware of all that will be involved, and is ok w/ the idea. For some kids if their teeth arent that bad then braces arent too painful.So if the teeth arent that bad then why not opt for some kind of retainer. Good luck.

Avoid - nuts, popcorn, anything sticky (gum, taffy, caramel)
The day she gets her braces on and for a couple of days after, make sure you have soft foods. After I got my braces on at 23yo, I would only eat mashed potatoes. Milkshakes are good also. If you are concerned about nutrition keep pedisure on hand.
You can just put Chapstick on her lips if they start to crack, but they shouldn't.
As far as the discomfort for myself and my daughter we just took tylenol. She shouldn't be sore that long. I think I was worse at 23 than my daughter was at 11.

T.,

My daughter is 9 and has only had her braces a couple of months. The first couple of days she had her braces, she ate a lot of soup and mashed potatoes! One thing that her ortho did that I thought was really effective was that he showed pictures of what happens if you don't take care of your teeth and follow his advice. There was a picture of a kid with permanent bracket shaped stains on his teeth because he didn't brush properly. There was one of gums that had swollen out over the braces. I don't want to scare you because as long as your child takes care of her teeth, she'll be fine. But, the pictures worked for my daughter. She brushes her teeth after every meal (even at school, her teacher has several kids with braces and they are all allowed to brush after lunch). She uses her water pik every night, it was the best investment I made. And she has memorized the list of what she shouldn't eat and follows it to a T.

I had braces for 4 years myself and remember them well! Fortunately, braces are way cooler than they were when I was a kid! My daughter couldn't wait to show her friends, I was afraid to smile!

Good luck.

My son Nathan who will be 10 in July, has had his braces for about 5 months now and will have them for 36 months. He is actually doing well. You didn't say whether they will be upper and lower or just uppers. My son has uppers and lowers. He had slight dicomfort for a day or so, then he will ocasionally get abrasions from the braces. The dentist will give you things to ease these discomforts. Also my son gets to choose the color of his bands when he goes in once a month to get them tightened which is fun for him. As far as food goes, again the dentist will give you a list of foods to avoid. I know for us, the Easter will be different. Although he doesn't believe in the Easter Bunny anymore, I like for him to have a basket. This year I am making him one up instead of buying a pre-made basket which usually contains alot of "forbidden" foods, and I can choose some items that I know he will enjoy like word puzzels,crafts etc. Braces these days don't seem to be as bad like they were in the past. THANK GOODNESS for modern medicine. Good luck!

hey
my whole family has had braces they can be a painful thing for first time kids and have some oral gel on hand just in case and soup and ibuprofen sometimes they dont have any effects but others do so just incase be ready also do not let her eat apples or popcorn and the very most important thing is to get her a butler brush and a water pik to use to keep her from getting gum line cavitys i had them i just turned 43 and i got them when i was 30 and wore them for 3 years due to the fact that i teeth were shifting and when i got them off my teeth were a mess so i learned the hard way i had gum line cavitys and did not know it til about 4 months later when i had to have tons of other work and also the gums with fall down and i had to have my gums cut away so you could see my teeth it was really a mess sometimes they are not worth it unless it is really necessary but for a 11 year old it is the prime time of her life so she will do great also for the lips cracking and stuff i made them give me wax and used it on the braces where there was rubbing on my lip but it went away after the teeth started shifting but if you need to know anything else just send me a message like i said all my family even my mom was 54 and had to have them due to receding gums and her teeth are beautiful now so in the end it is work all the work and pain and everything you go through but i am sure she will turn out great
take care
T. morsi

My daughtergot her first braces at 9, she adjusted well, kids are good at that, they need to avoid gum and sticky candy. Anything real hard. I would recommend having chapstick on hand and apply every morning and everynight before bed to help prevent the painful lip cracking. I would also reccomend having tylenol and giving her some the day she has the braces put on. THis will help ease the discomfort, and probably for the 1st few days until she adjusts to them. French fries are good as one of the first foods, they love fries and they are soft. Chips and things get caught up in the braces. THe dentist will give you a list of no no foods.