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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

Braces virgin! What do we need to know/do/buy?

51 replies

OinkBalloon · 23/04/2015 18:30

Ds gets braces tomorrow. I know I'll get info from the orthodontist, but would appreciate a heads-up from people who've already been through this.

And is there anything I ought to stock up on beforehand?

OP posts:

Furball · 23/04/2015 18:36

My ds has braces and the orthodontist supplied the toothbrush and all things related.

First few days will be tender whilst the teeth get used to it (they will be like this every time they are adjusted) so I just make sure he has soft easy eat foods for those days. paracetamol has always been on hand but he's never wanted it yet.

Stillnoidea · 23/04/2015 18:37

Lots of painkillers and easy to eat food. My DD was in agony for the first few days.

gonegrey56 · 23/04/2015 18:40

Bonjela for any sore patches in mouth , and dental wax for any rough bits on braces . The first few days are the worst, soup or scrambled eggs, yoghurt etc . But end result so worth it! Hope it goes ok tomorrow .

fridayfreedom · 23/04/2015 18:42

Yy to painkillers. Soft foods . Straws for soft and fizzy drinks, so the residue doesnt stay on the teeth as much.

Sparklingbrook · 23/04/2015 18:50

Hi Oink. Did two year of braces with DS1 and about to do round two with DS2 this summer.

There were tears when we got home having had the brace put on, and it didn't help that he refused all painkillers. We got the waxy stuff from the Orthodontist to help if any of the wire rubbed. It comes in different flavours.

We were told he had to brush his teeth 4 times a day and his dental hygiene had to be top notch. If it isn't the bits where the brace is fixed to the teeth can leave marks. He managed 3 times most days and that was sufficient.

Prohibited food-crusty bread, chewing gum sweets and fizzy drinks. Apples etc will need to be cut up.

But the end result should definitely be focussed on. DS1's teeth look great now. He just has to wear the retainers every night.

Original poster

OinkBalloon · 23/04/2015 19:25

Are jelly and ice-cream ok, or are they too sugary?

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 23/04/2015 19:32

No they are fine. As long as brushing is good. We got some of those Tepe brushes for cleaning around the brace.

I think our Orthodontist is possibly ultra picky with the list of banned stuff and the 4 times a day cleaning.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 23/04/2015 21:53

Watching closely as this will be us in May....

Heyho111 · 23/04/2015 22:27

They often rub and the dentist gives you wax to stop it. If you run out buy a baby bell and use the wax around the cheese as a temp measure. This has come in handy a couple of times.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 23/04/2015 23:05

Good tip

PeaceOfWildThings · 23/04/2015 23:11

Make sure your child really wants braces, both top and bottom, if you want them done on the NHS. To get them done on the NHS, their teeth have to be 'wonky' enough to qualify. Usually that means something like 6 points of correction between the two sets. If the child refuses to get the second brace fitted, the NHS doesn't cover the cost of the first set anymore, and you get the hefty bill!

Our oetho slls packs of what they need for around £15.

AnythingNotEverything · 23/04/2015 23:25

I began a similar post 15 months ago, and honestly, all we've needed is calpol, tepe brushes and that wax stuff for when the wires rub DS' gums. Oh, and a special mouth guard for rugby.

It's been a much smoother ride than I expected, and he can eat most things. We always plan pasta for the day he has his braces tightened, but the soreness only seems to last one night.

You can buy Calpol melts that they can take to school to self administer if needed.

Original poster

OinkBalloon · 23/04/2015 23:56

Thanks for the tips - and the reassurances! Babybel tip very useful.

Jelly is setting in the fridge, and ds has put in a request for haggis with mashed swede for dinner tomorrow.

OP posts:

Millipedewithherfeetup · 24/04/2015 00:04

Couple of things i found really good for dd was a plastic mug for drinks and a
plastic fork, for some reason she kept knocking her braces in tbe first couple of days with normal cups etc, it was agony, but the plastic was ok !

Original poster

OinkBalloon · 24/04/2015 00:10

Plastic cups and cutlery - picnic kit, check!

OP posts:

Stinkersmum · 24/04/2015 00:17

Interdental brushes and a water flosser.

HelenF350 · 24/04/2015 01:28

I could only eat cold super noodles for the first few days after I got mine. Unfortunate since I don't particularly like them!

differentnameforthis · 24/04/2015 06:06

Painkillers - do not use an anti inflammatory (ibuprofen etc). They can slow down tooth movement.

Sparklingbrook · 24/04/2015 06:35

YY to the water flosser, I already had one and he used the head with a brush for cleaning round his brace.

Good luck for today Oink and your DS. At least he will have the weekend to get used to it all, good plan.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 24/04/2015 06:45

Expect some tears and misery for the first few days.

Ds1 had his fitted before he turned 12 and was so miserable for the first few days, it was horrible to see. We had anger and resentment to deal with too. He blamed us for 'making him get them' (we didn't) and he wished he'd never agreed to it It was hard but a few weeks down the line his teeth had already moved so much and he was thrilled.

Hopefully they will be off by the end of this year. His teeth have gone from being incredibly wonky to fantastically straight. The difference is quite incredible and he has no regrets now.

At some point he the may need elastics too, which help to move the jaw in to alignment. I really had no idea about these and it came as a shock to both of us. It feels very weird at first and ds1 was adamant he couldn't keep them on but he got used to it within a few days, just taking them off to eat.

Good luck

Sparklingbrook · 24/04/2015 06:55

Your Ds sounds like mine Doyou. He was about 13 and we had tears when he was told he was having them then tears when they first went on. Then he was demanding I take him back to have them taken off and saying I forced him to have them against his will.

More tears over the elastics, which he couldn't get the hang of for 24 hours, then as predicted could do it without the mirror by the end of the week....

When he was told at the first adjustment things were happening he seemed to cheer up about it all. And getting out of school early every 6 weeks was a bonus to him.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 24/04/2015 07:37

Yes indeed, the guilt was hard to live with for a while there. Ds1 didn't hold back at all in blaming us for ruining his life

Poor ds1 got his elastics on New Years Eve which was not a great present! After lots of negotiating and cajoling I managed to get him to put them on 2nd January and within a few days he hated being without them!

Must admit I'll be glad when it's all over though. Unfortunately ds1 doesn't like missing school so I have to bend sideways to try and get appointments outside of school hours

Are the retainers easy to get used to?

Sparklingbrook · 24/04/2015 07:43

Oh yes DoYou, I totally ruined his life by sorting out him getting his perfect teeth and trailing back and forth to appointments every 6 weeks.

The retainers are odd looking things, like dentures with no teeth on for the top and just plastic teeth covers for the bottom. He has been told (by possibly v picky Orthodontist) that he needs to wear them every single night for the rest of his life. He told us if you miss a few nights the retainer may not go back on again.

A year on and he has missed one night. I think it's just habit now, but took a bit of getting used to. They live in a little box and you have to get retainer cleaner as you can imagine how manky they get.

MyVisionsComeFromSoup · 24/04/2015 07:49

re retainers - a friend of DDs had the moulds made for her retainers, and when she went back two days later to get the retainers themselves, her teeth had moved so much the retainers didn't fit . So, yes, retainers are v important, and may very well be every night forever.

Sparklingbrook · 24/04/2015 08:04

Everyone I have spoken to in RL has said they were told the retainers would only be required for about a year.

He has his last appointment in May (12 months after he had the retainers) then that will be it.

I am sure those retainers won't last him forever though.

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