With school right around the corner, there’s no better time to get a shiny new smile! If your kid is getting braces before school starts, there are some things we’d like to share to help set the stage for an awesome orthodontic experience.

Getting braces is a rite of passage for teens, but emotions can range when it comes to the subject. Some kids are excited because it means they’ve finally reached their teenage years and they are on their way to rocking a beautiful, mature smile. For others, not so much. They may fear feeling self-conscious or worry that braces will hurt.

At our orthodontic office in Montebello and Palmdale, we’ve witnessed both sides of this emotional spectrum and everything in between. Rest assured, getting braces should NOT be a traumatic experience. In fact, with the right knowledge, your child can get their braces on and feel cool and confident heading into the new school year.

Here are three tips to steer clear of any drama when your child gets braces.

1. Put their mind at ease.

At Ray Orthodontics, we always schedule a free consultation with patients before the big day. This ensures our doctor and team can explain everything your teen needs to know about getting braces: how we put them on, how it will feel, foods they should avoid, etc. We always try to make them laugh and create a relaxed environment. That way, they are a lot less nervous when the big day arrives, and most are even excited.

2. Be prepared.

There are a lot of things you can do to make those first few days and weeks of having braces go a lot smoother. First things first: have dental wax on hand. Encourage your kid to place wax anywhere on their brackets or wires that feels tender. Second, stock up on ice cream and make cool treats like smoothies readily accessible. These cold snacks and meals help relieve swelling and help numb some of the soreness, especially for the first few days. If that’s not doing the trick, feel free to use pain relievers like Tylenol or Ibuprofen in proper dosage.

3. Set up the reward system.

Orthodontic treatment is a journey. It can be a little lengthy depending on your child’s orthodontic issue, so it’s important to celebrate milestones. For example, once your child has braces for six months, consider celebrating with a delicious meal of their choice. For their one year braces anniversary, maybe you can take them shopping at their favorite store.

Getting braces should be fun and that’s what we strive for at our orthodontic practice in Montebello and Palmdale. It’s a complete transformation not only in their smile, but also in their confidence. Hopefully, these helpful tips will have both you and your child ready to rock the braces process to create a smile that sparkles in yearbook photos for years to come!

Good luck and best wishes for a wonderful school year for all!