Getting braces is a big milestone, but once the excitement wears off, the day-to-day responsibilities begin. For teens, remembering every instruction isn’t always easy. Parents can help—but the goal is to create good habits without constantly nagging.
Here are a few ways to help your teen stay successful with braces.
Make Oral Hygiene Part of the Routine
Brackets and wires create extra places for food and plaque to collect, making good brushing and flossing especially important. Instead of repeatedly reminding your teen, connect brushing to routines they already have—after breakfast and before bed, for example.
Keep orthodontic supplies easy to find, and consider creating a small travel kit with a toothbrush and other recommended cleaning tools for school, sports, or activities.
Help Them Make Braces-Friendly Food Choices
Hard, sticky, and chewy foods can damage braces, potentially leading to broken brackets and unwanted treatment interruptions.
Stock the house with foods your teen enjoys that are also braces-friendly. When eating out, encourage them to think ahead about choices that won't put their appliances at risk.
Follow Instructions for Elastics
If your teen is prescribed rubber bands, wearing them exactly as instructed is important. Elastics only work when they're being worn!
Help your teen establish cues, such as putting in fresh elastics after brushing. Keeping extra elastics in their backpack or sports bag can also help.
Let Your Teen Own Their Treatment
Parents play an important role, but ultimately, orthodontic success requires teamwork.
Encourage your teen to ask questions at appointments and understand what they need to do between visits. Recognize when they're doing a good job rather than focusing only on mistakes.
At Hester & Morris Orthodontics, we know nobody is perfect! What matters is building consistent habits that help treatment stay on track.
Parents, teens, Dr. Morris, and our smile team are all working toward the same goal: a healthy, confident smile!
