MAIN Health Dental Health Braces

Bracing for Fashion:
New Styles in Kids Braces

Nick names like "brace face" and "metal mouth" might bring back horrifying memories for some orthodontia survivors. It used to be bad news to find out braces were necessary.

Being a kid might be harder in today's world, but some things have gotten easier ...

Companies have figured out that some people don't want others to see their braces. So they created a bracket that adheres to the back of the tooth.

For some kids, braces have even become a fashion statement. There are different colored rubberbands that you can interchange with your outfit, your mood, spirit day at school, or the holiday.

That isn't so cool for boys - but hold on...! There are even different shapes of brackets that can be purchased to match your favorite sport!

How to Tell If Your Child Needs Braces

It isn't always what you see that determines the need. It takes a trained eye and complete set of x-rays to see if your child's teeth and jaw are aligned correctly.

Children should see an orthdontist by the time they are seven years old to get an initial assessment. Jaw growth and tooth alignment can be prevented or even fixed at that stage so that future treatment might not be needed.

What are some reasons to bring your child to see an orthodontist?

Finger sucking is a big red flag. Although it is one seemingly insurmountable task, helping your child break that habit is really important. The positioning of the fingers moves the teeth around and acts as a mold for the teeth to grow around. The position of the teeth can alter speech, make it harder to chew food correctly, can affect correct breathing patterns, and might even change the shape of someone's face.

Perhaps the jaw juts out too far or not enough. This is something that can be fixed. Some other things parents can look for are jaws that make sounds, losing baby teeth too early or too late, or simply noticing that the teeth aren't lining up correctly.

What If My Child Still Resists the Idea of Braces?

Children need to know, most importantly, that it's not the braces that make a person who they are. It is only for a season, and one that can be actually used to accentuate your personality not detract from it. Characters like Betty Suarez on ABC's hit show, Ugly Betty have helped drive this point home. It is your bright ideas and your winning personality that will shine brighter than your braces ever could.

Find out more on the Web at top sites offering news and information, pictures, illustrations and expert tips and advice on braces and orthodontia....

Braces - Kidshealth.org - A site for children to learn more about braces and get some questions answered in a language they understand.

Braces.org - The official site of the American Association of Orthodontists with complete information on procedures & techniques, types of braces, before-and-after photos, complete FAQ.

Frequently Asked Questions about Braces - Orthodontics.org - FAQ sheet that covers 34 points about braces.

Should I Get Ceramic or Metal? - Which types of braces are for you? Read this interesting article that lists the pros and cons before you make a decision.

Braces - How To Information - Advice & step-by-step instructions onhow to buy braces for your kids plus tips on cleaning, flossing, dealing with associated pain and how to wear braces as an adult, from eHow.com

also see in Health -> Dental Health | Childhood Development | Kids Health

also see related Feature -> Cosmetic Dentistry is in Demand

This information is intended as reference and not as medical advice.
All treatment decisions should be made by medical professionals.