If you or your child is wearing braces, there is a possibility that one of you will need to visit our Little Elm dentist office at some point for emergency care. When you first come in for braces or aligners, we will walk you through the process of how to care for the braces and your teeth while undergoing treatment.
If you follow these tips, it will reduce the likelihood of an emergency.
#1 – Wear a mouth guard while playing sports.
This is a big one. If your child has braces, the inside of his or her cheeks and lips will already be somewhat sensitive. Playing sports is dangerous because it is way too easy for an elbow or a fly ball to come in contact with your child’s face. If it does, the brackets can cut up the cheeks, causing irritation and bleeding. If your child wears a mouth guard while playing, you can eliminate this risk because the guard will serve as a barrier. Additionally, your child’s teeth are less likely to become damaged, and you can prevent a dental emergency.
#2 – Avoid sticky foods.
We treat patients of all ages in our dentist office, and one thing we always warn patients of is the necessity to avoid any foods that are too sticky. Things like bubble gum, taffy, and sour candy can stick to your child’s teeth and braces. Simply chewing on them can force your child’s brackets out of position, creating the need to visit our office for emergency care.
#3 – Stay away from anything too hard.
Just like sticky foods can move your child’s brackets, so can things that are too hard and crunchy. While undergoing your child’s dentist treatment, your child needs to avoid eating hard nuts and even some hard chips and crackers. Anything that could force your child’s braces out of position is something that should be avoided.
#4 – Brush and floss throughout the day.
This is a tip you will routinely hear from your local dentist, but it applies to dentists as well. Food can become trapped between the brackets, wires, and teeth. As it does, your child’s risk for developing cavities increases. This can pose a unique challenge because if your child has a bad cavity or infection, the braces will need to be removed so the dentist can access the area and treat it. Even if only a few of your child’s brackets are taken off, this will cost you precious treatment time, not to mention being entirely inconvenient. After all, your child would need to visit the dentist for a toothache, us to remove the braces, the dentist again to treat your child’s tooth, and us again to replace the braces. That is a lot of dental visits and a lot of time out of work or school. Avoid this by keeping your child’s teeth clean.
Call Our Little Elm Dentist Office in an Emergency
If you do have an emergency like a wire snapping or poking your child’s cheek or the bracket moving out of position, call us. We are here to help whenever you need us and will work to get your problem solved and your child’s treatment back on schedule quickly.
