Wearing braces is far from an ideal situation for most teenagers. Learn how to help a teen cope with wearing braces in this parenting video.
Try transparent braces
Emphasize short term
Emphasize events after braces
Avoid criticisms
Dr. Ferrara has worked with children and adult survivors of abuse for over twenty years in CT, NY and FL. She is currently in private practice in Tampa, FL and affiliated with the University of South Florida as adjunct associate professor.
DR. F. FELICIA FERRARA: Hello. I'm Dr. Felicia, the parent coach, and I've been working with families and children for over 25 years. I'd like to speak to you about how to help your child handle braces. When a child has to get braces, it's probably the most mortifying time in their life because it's already a very self-conscious time. Usually, most of the adult teeth are in by middle school, and it's usually when they start to use braces. It's either middle school or freshman year of high school and it is a time of painful, painful self-consciousness, so the fact that you're going to add braces just heightens their anxiety about going to school and be made fun of. Now today with modern inventions, we have our transparent braces and those seem to work pretty well with other persons, so if you're lucky enough to have the kind that's transparent then maybe your child's anxiety will be reduced quite a bit. The thing to emphasize with your child when you're talking about braces is the fact that it is short term that they will be removed within a year; and perhaps if there's an event that's coming after they should be removed, you want to emphasize that event. So let's say, there's a homecoming dance in sophomore year and your child's braces will come off at the end of freshman year, so you want to emphasize that homecoming dance, how nice it's going to be for them to go to that dance without the braces, and so that may help a little bit. Do not criticize your child if they put their hands in front of their mouth like this. They usually do when they have braces. Don't criticize them about it. Let them function with it the best way they can. And by all means within your family, make sure no siblings make fun of them and you do not make fun of them. Make sure that you encourage them to straighten their teeth because it is a health issue. Okay? And if you're one of those lucky parents who never had to use braces on your children, then good luck to you; but for those of you who do need to get braces for your children, please encourage them with an encouragement and positive attitude. Thank you.
Member Comments