Avoid Getting Braces

Braces can be used to correct crooked teeth, overbites, and other orthodontic issues. However, braces can be painful and unsightly. There are measures you can take to reduce you risk for needing braces. You can also use alternative methods to correct any issues with your teeth.

Steps

Preventing Children from Needing Braces

1. Prevent mouth breathing. If your child breathes through his mouth frequently, this may lead to misalignment of his teeth that will eventually need correcting with braces. Take measures to make sure mouth breathing does not occur with frequency.
   • Ideally, the tongue should rest just inside the upper teeth. When a child breathes through his mouth, his tongue is pushed down and outside pressures are exerted on the teeth. This can result in teeth becoming crooked over time. The upper teeth and the upper maxilla (the jaw) make a triangular, pyramidal shape and braces may be necessary.
   • Oftentimes, nasal problems (usually nasal polyps), allergies, and asthma may be the reasons your child is breathing through his mouth. Make an appointment with a pediatrician to figure out the physical cause behind his mouth breathing and find ways to keep his nose clear to correct the problem.
   • Children may breath heavily through their mouths or snore during sleep. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including enlarged tonsils. If you notice your child breathes through his mouth during sleep, make a doctor's appointment to determine the cause and correct the problem.
2. Discourage thumb sucking. Bad oral habits, like sucking the thumb or fingers, can cause a misaligned bite that will require braces. If your child sucks his thumb, fingers, or a pacifier, find ways to discourage the habit.
   • Thumb sucking is a reflex found in young infants that fosters feelings of security. Thumb sucking often continues into toddlerhood and beyond. Usually, thumb sucking is not a concern until your child's permanent teeth come in, which should happen around the age of 5. At that point, intervention may be necessary to make sure it does not affect how a child's teeth line up. It may also affect a child's bone structure and may be hard to correct, even with braces.
   • Positive reinforcement helps. Try praising your child when he is not sucking his thumb with small rewards like a piece of candy or a trip to the park.
   • Identify any triggers for thumb sucking. Children may suck their thumbs in response to stress. Reassuring your child with soothing words or a hug when he seems stressed may prevent him from sucking his thumb.
   • If you see your child thoughtlessly sucking her thumb, gently ask her to stop. Small, gentle reminders can discourage the behavior over time. You should avoid yelling or scolding, as this may increase your child's stress and lead to further thumb sucking.
3. Correct stress-related teeth problems. Bruxism is a periodical contraction of muscles in the face while sleeping that's often accompanied by behaviors like teeth grinding. While sometimes genetic, bruxism is often caused by stress. If you believe your child may be grinding his teeth due to high anxiety, finding ways to help him cope can lessen the habit and help him avoid braces in the future.
   • Children cope with stress in a variety of ways. While some children may be easygoing by nature, many children have trouble dealing with even small stressors and may cry, throw tantrums, or run and hide in response to pressure. Many parents falsely believe children are unaware or unbothered by stressful factors in their own lives, such as problems at work or health concerns. Try to understand even if your child does not know exactly what's going on, he can be affected by stress as much as you are.
   • Talk to your child about stress. Help him understand the physical signs of stress, such as tightened chest, increased heartbeat, etc. Having a word and explanation for such problems can make them less scary. It's often the unknown that's most frightening to children. Help him understand stress is normal and something everyone experiences to some degree.
   • Providing physical support, like hugs, pats on the back, and kisses, can help a child relax when stress comes on. You should also provide emotional support through open communication. Allow your child to explain to you what is causing him stress and why, and you can help by listening, understanding, and reassuring him. Remember, young children often find it difficult to explain their emotions so your child may explain stress in abstract, bodily ways. He might explain a body part, like the heart or the head, hurts.
   • If there are major life events occurring, such as a divorce or the death of a close family member, your child may need a therapist or counselor to help him cope. Many therapists work with children and you can try asking your pediatrician for a recommendation.

Finding Braces Alternatives

1. Try a retainer. For a variety of reasons, wearing braces may be difficult for you. In this case, you may want to look into alternatives. A retainer, a removable device used to correct crooked teeth, may be an option.
   • Typically, retainers are used after braces are removed to correct crooked teeth. However, if you only need a small amount of correction, ask your dentist or orthodontist about the possibility of a retainer instead of braces.
   • Retainers are typically inexpensive and sometimes only need to be worn during certain parts of the day; you typically wear them for long periods of time, such as while you sleep. Your dentist might recommend a special toothpaste or mouthwash to clean and rinse your retainer.
2. Ask about clear aligners. Clear aligners, such as invisalign, are clear and removable braces that need to be worn for certain intervals. They are a popular alternative to braces for adults.
   • Clear aligners can correct major structural issues and also minor crookedness. If you need a tooth gap corrected, aligners are a good option as correction is minimal.
   • For your first pair, you'll have to wear them 20 hours a day for two weeks. After this, you'll be fitted with a different pair. Your dentist will tell you how long you need to wear your new pair determined on the problem you're correcting.
3. Try veneers. Veneers are primarily used to treat gaps between teeth, cracks, chips, or even severe discoloration. They are porcelain caps inserted into your teeth, onto the "vestibular surface," or the area of your teeth that is visible when you smile, to correct damages and imperfections.
   • Your dentist will remove a thin layer of tooth enamel and then fix veneers to your teeth.
   • Veneers are often considered cosmetic rather than medical, so your insurance may not cover them.
4. Use accelerated orthodontics. There are ways to fast track orthodontic treatment that can minimize the time you have to wear corrective devices like braces.
   • Most fast-tracking treatments use a system called micro-osteoperforation that weakens your bones to the point your teeth move under pressure. This allows braces and other devices that to remold your teeth to work faster.
   • This can easily be used with other braces alternatives, such as retainers and clear aligners. The treatment, however, can be quite expensive and may not be covered by insurance.

Caring for your Teeth

1. Brush your teeth twice daily. Caring for your teeth, before or after remodeling treatments, is important. You want to make sure you avoid needing further treatment after braces, aligners, or retainers are removed. You should brush your in the morning and before bed.
   • Use a soft bristle brush and gently brush your teeth on all sides, using circular motions. Use a fluoride toothpaste. In addition to your teeth, brush along the gum line and on your tongue.
   • If you have arthritis or conditions that limit motion in your hands, try a battery operated toothbrush.
2. Floss. You also need to floss your teeth each day with dental floss. This will remove plaque between the teeth that cannot be otherwise removed. Flossing also prevents gingivitis and gum disease. Floss until you reach the gums, but do not dig into your gums with floss until they bleed or become sore.
3. Understand braces may be inevitable. While you might not like the prospect of getting braces, sometimes alternatives can be too expensive or will not work for you given the level of correction needed. Crooked teeth are also dependent on genetic factors, so even if you brush and floss regularly braces may still be necessary.

Warnings

• None of these methods are foolproof. Due to genetic factors that affect teeth alignment, you may still need braces as alternatives and precautionary measures do not work for everyone.

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• Avoid Pain When Your Braces Are Tightened

Sources and Citations

See also

• Stop Fiddling with Your Braces
• Rock Both Braces and Glasses
• Apply Dental Wax on Braces
• Prepare on the Day You Get Braces
• Take Away the Pain of New or Tightened Braces
• Take Care of Your Braces
• Determine if You Need Braces
• Persuade Your Parents to Let You Get Braces
• Deal with Braces
• Eat Food With New or Tightened Braces

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• Alleviate Orthodontic Brace Pain
• Avoid Pain When Your Braces Are Tightened
• Take Care of Your Braces