So your child’s adult teeth have come through, and they are not a straight as they need to be. Perhaps they have an overbite or some seriously crooked teeth. Whatever the issue, your child needs to have braces, and they do not want to have them. This is a common problem for parents and one that can be dealt with, despite how unlikely that may seem right now. At the end of the day, having braces is in the best interests of your loved one. It is up to you to convince them. Here are a few things to discuss with your child when they are refusing to have braces:
Their Appearance in the Long Run
They may be worrying that the other kids in school will make fun of them due to them wearing braces. And even though this may be true, if they are strong and go through the process of having braces they will end up having straight, beautiful teeth. Sometimes even better than their peers who are not having braces. So their confidence will sky-rocket. You should point out that if they do not fix their teeth now, they may end up being bullied even more when their crooked teeth become worse. Ask them if they want misaligned teeth when they go on that first date, or out with their friends when they finally become an adult. A little bit of discomfort now will pay dividends in the future.
Point Out Other People Have Braces
They are not alone. Advise your child that plenty of other children in their school have braces. Let them know how brave you think these children are, as they are able to put fears aside and do what’s best for their future. It may be worth finding out what celebrities your child admires and finding which ones had braces when they were young too. Braces are a normal process many teenagers have to go through.
It’s not all Metal
It’s possible that your child has a major aversion to having metal in their mouth. Maybe they like to play sport and worry that the metal will cut their mouth, or possibly they fear how it will feel. Well in this day and age, you can get clear braces that may resolve these issues. They may take longer to repair the problems and will result in more visits to the dentist to upgrade the clear brace, but it is a great fix.
For the Health Conscious
Braces are a great way to avoid having dental problems in the future. With straight teeth, you can clean your teeth much more easily, and it will result in less frequent visits to the dentist. And we all know how cheap they can be. Many teens are very health conscious, so you should play in this aspect. Do they want their teeth to fall out and have gaps? Do they want gum disease or to have to have a jaw set back in place due to letting the problem run riot?
