New School Year, New Smile, No Problem!

With school right around the corner in Smithtown, 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 from elation to trepidation. Some kids are excited because it means they’ve finally reached their teenage years and 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.

As an orthodontist, I’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 kiddo gets braces in Smithtown.

1. Put their mind at ease.

At my orthodontic practice, I always schedule a free consultation with patients before the big day. That way, my team and I can explain everything your teen needs to know about getting braces, including how we put them on, how it will feel, and the foods they should avoid. We always try to make them laugh and create a relaxed environment. By doing that, I’ve noticed that the kids I treat are a lot less nervous when the big day arrives; most are even excited. Especially when I tell them they can pick out different colored rubber bands at every appointment to show off their unique style. It’s the little things!

2. Be prepared.

There are a lot of things you can do to make those first few days and weeks of having braces go more smoothly. 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. Need a recipe? We got you covered. Check out this link.

These cold snacks and meals help relieve swelling and 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 with the 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 on for six months, consider celebrating with a delicious meal of their choice on Long Island. For their one-year braces anniversary, maybe you can give them a gift card to their favorite store. For the grand finale, pull out all the stops and give them a “skip day” from school (if there are no tests, of course!) so they can spend the day with you taking selfies of their new smile.

Getting braces in Smithtown should be fun. It’s a complete transformation for teens, not only in their smile but in their confidence, too. 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!

Give us a call at North Shore Orthodontics to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Dr. Craig Smith

Smithtown Orthodontist