Kids don’t need a mouthful of traditional metallic braces anymore to correct crooked teeth, or a bad bite. Though this may be the first thing your mind goes to when you notice your child could use orthodontic treatment, you now have many options for how you approach treating the issue, one option in particular your child may actually prefer.
Braces work just as well as they always have, but when it comes to young children, Invisalign certainly has its’ benefits. Some are cosmetic; Invisalign is clear, subtle, and perfectly molded to the teeth when being worn. It’s very likely that no one will be able to detect your child is in the middle of orthodontic treatment – even the kids at school most likely won’t notice! This is great for children, as the thought of having to adopt a mouth of metal over the course of two years often has little appeal.
There are other benefits, too – let’s take a look at all of them below!
Fixing Their Teeth Early Can Keep Them Healthy
Good overall health can, in part, be dependent on your teeth. Choosing to fix your child’s bite early in life is the best way to effectively clear any build up of plaque or bacteria that may be hard to reach, due to misalignment creating tight, hidden spaces. Theses spaces are great places for harmful bacteria to build up – and we know that kids aren’t always the best for remembering their oral care routine.
When your child has braces, keeping the teeth clean and healthy can pose even more of a challenge. Braces require plenty of maintenance, and it’s very easy for a child to fall behind in doing their part to take care of them, and always keep the entire area clean and bacteria free.
Luckily, Invisalign treatment is completely removable. This makes keeping the teeth clean throughout treatment almost too easy. While eliminating the gaps, spaces and straightening the teeth, your child will also be keeping every area clean along the way! Once they’re done brushing and flossing, they can simply pop them right back in.
On the flip side of things, sometimes certain issues can occur if crooked teeth are left untreated. Misaligned teeth don’t necessarily equal poor oral health, but your child may be at a higher risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral infections if the problem is not closely monitored.
Invisalign will ensure the teeth are being correctly moved, and the convenience of being able to remove it whenever needed will help to maintain your child’s oral health long term!
They Won’t Have to Stop their Sports and Activities
As important as it is for our children to have healthy teeth, we want them to be able to remain active, too!
While wearing braces often requires having extra protection over the teeth, even when it comes to low or no impact sports, this will be completely unnecessary when your child is sporting Invisalign aligners.
This means there’s nothing stopping them from remaining competitive on the field, and pursuing all the sports and competition their heart desires!
There Will Be No Diet Restrictions
Having to tell your child to say goodbye to gummy candy, popcorn, and anything with an extra salty or sweet crunch is never an easy task.
Due to Invisalign being removable, they won’t have to change their diet at all. While you may still want to tone it down, as the teeth need to be very clean as not to stain or tarnish the aligners, your child won’t need to take a multiple year hiatus from their favourite foods.
Invisalign Won’t Stop Your Child From Smiling
It’s unfortunate, but true – some children will stop smiling or showing their teeth when they have braces, due to being self conscious about the way they look. Some children worry about how their peers will perceive them, or being potentially made fun of for the metal brackets. While this may not even be a reality, children will still worry about it.
Naturally, as a parent, you want to make sure your child feels confident and good about themselves. As a parent, you may also want to see to it that their school pictures have a nice smile in them for fond memories later!
The clear, natural appearance of Invisalign will ensure your child never feels afraid to smile, and is never too embarrassed to do so! When no one can even tell your child is in the middle of orthodontic treatment, their confidence won’t take a hit at all.
They Could Experience Less Discomfort with Invisalign
Especially in the early stages, braces can cause a great deal of discomfort that is particularly difficult for children to deal with. The metal brackets are known to rub areas of the mouth and cause soreness, even creating cuts and sores along the gums. Invisalign may irritate just a little bit, but not to the extent that braces can. If it does irritate, the problem areas on the clear aligner can be easily shaved down by your child’s orthodontist.
Thankfully, there’s no specific age requirement for Invisalign, making them a completely viable alternative to braces. Your dentist will be able to analyze whether or not your child is a good candidate for the clear aligners with a thorough consultation.
