Braces are often an inevitable rite of passage for most children. As they grow into their smiles, children with braces also evolve in their self-esteem levels. However, a beautiful smile knows no age. Today, a significant number of adults are choosing to wear braces to improve their smiles, overall oral health, and boost their self-confidence too! When you feel good about your smile, you are likely to interact more, and shine brightly in your own unique way. 

And while the rewards of straight teeth and properly aligned jaws are a gift that literally lasts a lifetime, the process isn't always an easy one. 

If you and your child are on the verge of beginning an adventure into the world of orthodontia, here are four tips that will help you ease the pain of braces. A little creativity, encouragement, and fun goes a long way towards making your journey to a confident smile a bit more bearable. 

1) Be Prepared. When beginning your braces journey, it is easy to become fixated on what the final product is supposed to be that the importance of the process gets lost along the way. The best way to prepare yourself for the process and the purpose is to educate yourself. First and foremost, always remember that if you or your child have any questions you can ask your orthodontist! They will be able to give you insight and resources that can have you better acquainted with what you can expect throughout this journey. Finding an informational video online, like this one, can also help you or your child feel more prepared for your trip to the orthodontist. Before each trip for a new tightening, bracket placement, or other procedure, knowing what you should expect eases the anxiety that can be associated with getting braces and what feels like a lengthy process.

2) Count it down. Since this is a long-term endeavor, one of the most fun ways to engage with the process is to start a monthly and yearly countdown. Mark major milestones in your progress with special celebrations, rewards, meals out or other surprises. Engaging in fun activities such as photo sessions, dental diaries, making paper chains with a link for each day of the month between appointments, or creating a wall chart to keep track while counting down your braces journey can make the process more tangible and enjoyable., turning a daunting experience into an exciting adventure!

3) Get colorful. Some thing many traditional braces wearers look forward to is changing the color of your rubber bands each visit. As the song goes, you are never fully dressed without a smile; make your smile one of your greatest accessories. Whether you or your child are the ones donning braces, expressing yourself through your braces “decor” and changing it up each month can be a fun, creative, and stylish way to embrace the journey to a perfect smile. Some ideas can include choosing colors that match the current holiday season (i.e. red & green for Christmas or red, white and blue for July 4th). You can also pick colors that match your favorite sports team or colors that will make your teeth shine!

4) Be sweet. Sticky or hard candy and gum will be out of the running for a while, but milkshakes or ice cream are still options and, often, will be the perfect way to help soothe a mouth that is sore from getting braces tightened!

Hey, remember, getting braces doesn't have to be scary or something to feel shy over! Let's frame it as an adventure to a better smile. It might seem a bit overwhelming or tedious, but this orthodontic journey is all about getting you a happier, healthier, more confident smile. Each little step is key & there's plenty of fun ways to spice it up!