Having a child that needs braces to correct alignment or spacing issues in their mouth is a very common scenario that many parents will end up going through.
Braces can be an important part of a child having a healthier mouth than what they would if they did not have braces. St. Leo residents should know that there are some pieces of information that they should know before they make a decision whether their child should have them placed on the teeth of their mouths.
Here we will discuss some of the common misconceptions that misinformed patients might have thought about braces because of something that they previously heard or something that they saw on television about braces, which may not be accurate.
Braces May Need to be a Lifetime Commitment
One of the worst pieces of information that some parents might have heard about braces for their child is that they may need to be on their child’s teeth for many years, or multiple times as they age.
This is not true, and there is no reason for someone to have a lifelong commitment to braces. St. Leo residents should know that while the average length for someone to have braces on their teeth is two years, this can be longer depending on the specific issues a dentist or orthodontist is trying to correct.
Some parents have seen adults with braces, which may make them think that braces are a lifetime commitment, but this is not so. This is just someone who chose to have braces on their teeth later in life.
Braces May Affect Teeth Health
Another issue that gets brought up a lot to dental professionals and orthodontic professionals is how braces may affect the oral health of their child. Because a child will have their teeth covered with braces, St. Leo residents might be under the impressions that it will drastically affect the health of their teeth, but this is not true.
Even though a tooth may be partially covered by metal wires and brackets, they can still be cleaned normally with a toothbrush and toothpaste. This may be harder for the child, so more time and effort may need to be practiced during regular brushing, but a parent does not have to worry about a child developing cavities or other forms of tooth decay.
When a child with braces goes to the dentist, a dental professional will remove the wires of the braces, but not the brackets, in order to more effectively clean teeth during a regular cleaning procedure.
*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Anchor Dental Care*