Tips For Helping Kids Wear And Keep Track Of Orthodontic Appliances
Posted on 2/2/2024 by Weo Admin
It is the joy of every parent to see their child get ready to remove their orthodontic appliances such as braces and Invisalign after a long period of treatment. It is during this time that you know for sure that your efforts throughout the course of their treatment have finally paid off. This is the time to get ready to see the benefits of the orthodontics appliances that you have been all along putting effort and emphasis on your child to put on.
Importance of Wearing Your Orthodontic Appliances
Your kid can only have their teeth straightened if they wear Invisalign or clear removable braces for the stipulated time frame. Otherwise, if they fail to do so, the treatment time could prolong. The kid could spend additional months before finally having a straighter bite. It is for this reason that parents should encourage and help their kids to wear braces.
Set Up a Reward System
Encourage them to try and stick to a good habit using incentives and rewards. For instance, you might emphasize they wear aligners for 22 hours a day or put in a retainer every night and properly store their appliances when they are not using them. When they achieve these goals, you can offer them a reward. For instance, you can take them to places they want after a week of wearing their braces. This reward system is only temporary and doesn't have to cost a dime.
Using Reminders
Repetition plays an important part when developing a positive habit. The more often kids repeat a good behavior of wearing their aligners for 22 hours a day or putting their retainers in their case, the more quickly they will stick to the new behavior. Therefore, since they have to remember the behavior first for them to learn it, you can put a sticky note on their school bag to serve as a reminder. You can even slip a note into their lunch box to wear their Invisalign.
Talk to us about encouraging your kid to wear braces or handle them properly. Contact us today or visit our dental office.