Wearing braces is a painful and frustrating experience for adults, let alone young children. If the formation of your child’s teeth is not normal, you need to opt for braces to restore the teeth to their original position. However, it is quite a task to convince your children to go for kids teeth straightening treatment.
Kids are likely to show resistance to the kids teeth straightening treatment out of fear. You need to talk them out of fear and make them understand how it can help them restore their smile.
Once your kids have got braces, it may take some time to adapt to their new lifestyle. Here is how you can help them cope with the new dental equipment.
Show the Results of Braces
Children usually find it difficult to adapt to the changes after getting braces. The equipment causes them discomfort and sometimes severe pain. They also have to give up on their favourite lollies and chocolates. Therefore, they may cry and ask you to remove the braces.
As a parent, you need to help your child to accept this change. Discuss with them the benefits of this dental treatment. You can also convince them by showing the results of braces. Look for the pictures of other children who received this treatment to straighten teeth. These images will convince them they can also get rid of the existing dental problems via braces.
Reduce Braces Pain
No doubt, braces can improve your dental health, but they also bring along mild to severe pain. For children, it is not easy to cope up with this pain. You should opt for some home remedies to reduce pain.
If braces cause soreness, apply ice packs. It will get rid of the swelling and inflammation to reduce pain. Ice cream and cold treats can also effectively cure braces pain.
On the other hand, warm salty water can also help your kids get rid of pain. All they need to do is to swish with it for a minute or two to get relief.
If pain doesn’t subside despite these remedies, you should get in touch with your dentist regarding kids teeth straightening. They will adjust the braces if needed or suggest pain killers to reduce pain.
Follow the Dietary Plan
With the braces on, your child also has to make some dietary adjustments. They need to follow the diet plan as suggested by the dentist. You should convince your child to follow this diet plan so as to make the procedure less painful.
If your dentist has forbidden your child to have sweets or any other food, make sure your kid stays away from those food items. Make them understand why it is important for them to refrain from having unhealthy food. Prepare healthy and delicious meals at home that can satisfy their taste buds without inflicting any harm to their dental health.
At Sunshine Dental Group we offer a wide range of kids teeth straightening services to treat your dental health problems. We use modern technology to provide effective treatment.
Invisalign Vs Braces: Which One Is Your Best Bet?
Proper teeth alignment not only maintains your smile, it also reduces the risk of tooth decay and gum diseases. You can visit your dentist for orthodontic treatment to align your teeth.
However, it’s another task to choose the right orthodontic treatment to straighten your teeth. Invisalign clear aligners and braces are the most common forms of treatment that can help you overcome orthodontic problems.
Braces comprise of metal brackets that are attached to your teeth. These brackets are held together with the help of rubber bands and wires. On the other hand, Invisalign is an aligner tray made from plastic that holds your teeth in place.
Invisalign Vs Braces: A Brief Comparison
Let’s compare both teeth alignment solutions:
Feasibility
This is a relatively painful procedure to apply metal braces to your teeth. However, it can efficiently treat complex orthodontic problems.
An Invisalign aligner is a small tray that you can wear and remove on your own. The dentist will analyse your dental health via digital imaging and then configure your aligner tray according to your specific needs.
Treatment Duration
It takes around a year or two to restore your teeth via braces. Since you can’t remove the braces on your own, you won’t be tempted to remove them and delay your orthodontic treatment.
It takes 6 to 18 months to straighten your teeth with the help of the aligners. However, you need to wear it for 22-24 hours a day for the desired results.
Cost factor
The average cost of metal braces treatment is $1,800. However, if you need the braces in varying colours, styles or materials, you may need to pay up to $5,500.
Invisalign is a relatively new technology that involves higher costs. Invisalign cost $5,000 for your orthodontic treatment.
Maintenance
Whether you opt for braces or Invisalign, you will need to maintain and clean the equipment. Regularly clean the braces to get rid of plaque and prevent diseases. Floss and brush your teeth to clean metal brackets and wires.
However, if you are using Invisalign aligners, remove the tray before brushing your teeth. Also, don’t forget to rinse the tray with warm water.
Appearance
Many people don’t opt for braces, since they are afraid it can negatively affect their appearance. However, you can get brackets that match your enamel to make them discrete.
Invisalign aligners, on the other hand, are almost invisible. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about your appearance.
Discomfort
You may feel discomfort from metal brackets or wires. Oftentimes, the equipment makes it difficult to chew sticky and hard food items.
You may experience pain with this treatment, since the aligners move your teeth to reposition them. Also, you will need to remove and wash the aligner tray after every meal to protect it from any stains.
Invisalign and braces have certain pros and cons and you should choose the treatment that meets your needs. Contact Sunshine Dental Group to know about braces and Invisalign cost and straighten your teeth with the most suitable orthodontic treatment.
8 Simple Ways To Keep Your Retainers Clean
Orthodontic retainers keep your teeth in place so that they can’t move even after the braces are removed. However, did you know it’s extremely important to keep these retainers clean?
Just as you brush your teeth to protect them from bacteria, it is equally important to focus on cleaning your dental equipment. If you forget to regularly clean your orthodontic aligners, they will collect bacteria that will then have easy access to your teeth and gums!
You can discuss your concerns with a children’s dentist in Melbourne to know more about the cleanliness of retainers. But here are eight simple ways you can clean the equipment on your own.
1. Denture Tablets
If you are looking for an effective cleaning solution, then denture tablets are your go-to solution. All you need to do is to add a tablet in a bowl of water and place your retainer in the bowl. The fizzing bubbles will get rid of the toughest stains in no time.
2. Baking Soda
Baking soda is a natural cleaning agent that can prevent the growth of bacteria and ward off the nasty smell from your dental equipment.
Take equal parts of baking soda and water in a bowl and add a small amount of toothpaste. Wash your retainer with this solution and then rinse with clean water.
3. Mouthwash Solution
Do you use a mouthwash solution to improve your oral hygiene? You can use this mouthwash to clean your retainers as well.
Soak the orthodontic retainers in the mouthwash solution for a few minutes and then rinse with distilled water.
4. Hydrogen Peroxide Solution
Hydrogen peroxide can effectively clean your invisalign, but it may leave behind a sour taste. Opt for this method only if you can stand its taste.
Place your retainer in a bowl and pour hydrogen peroxide. Leave it submerged for a minute before washing it with water.
5. Toothpaste
Apply a small quantity of tooth paste on a toothbrush and gently apply it over the retainer. Although your retainer is less likely to get damaged by the motion of the brush, it is recommended to use a soft-bristled brush to protect it from any damage during the cleaning process.
6. Apple Cider Vinegar
Take equal parts of vinegar and water. Submerge the aligners in this solution for 20 minutes and then rinse thoroughly. It is a natural cleaner that won’t damage the equipment in any way.
7. Anti-Bacterial Soap
Nothing can kill off harmful bacteria like an anti-bacterial soap. Wash your orthodontic aligners with the soap to clear off the accumulated debris and eliminate germs.
8. Castile Soap
You can also use a castile soap to clean your retainers, since it is a gentler soap that does not damage the orthodontic equipment. Castile soap is made with natural ingredients, including olive oil and coconut oil that will efficiently get rid of any smell. After washing the invisalign with the soap, make sure you rinse it thoroughly to remove the lather before placing it in your mouth.
To be precise, regular cleaning of orthodontic retainers is extremely important to protect it from plaque and germs growth. Clean retainers can help you straighten your teeth while keeping the germs at bay.
Contact us today
Do you want more information on how to ensure that your retainers remain clean and hygienic? Contact Sunshine Dental Group today by calling (03) 9311 1056 to speak with our children’s dentist.
