What Parents Need to Know About Orthodontic Treatment for Teens
Do you think your teenager might be one of the 50-80% of teens who need metal braces? Considering treatment for a child — regardless of what kind it is — is a big decision. At Younis Orthodontics, we’re big advocates of making educated decisions, especially about something as crucial as dental health. If you’re considering orthodontic treatment for your teen, you’re in the right place! Keep reading to learn four more things parents need to know about teen orthodontic treatment.
It Might Be Covered By Insurance
Not all dental plans offer orthodontic coverage, but it’s worth checking to see if yours does! Having some, most, or all of the treatment paid for by insurance can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs. (Note: When reviewing your plan, make sure there are no restrictions on what they’ll cover. Some plans only cover orthodontic care for patients up to a certain age or certain types of braces.)
We know that dealing with insurance can be confusing, frustrating, and time-consuming if you’re inexperienced with insurance jargon (or, like most people, you have other, better things to do than mess with something designed to be annoying). That’s why we can handle the insurance part for you! Our financial coordinator will help you get the most out of your insurance coverage so you can have a stress-free orthodontic experience that allows you to put your energy toward things that matter more — like supporting your child or meeting your own needs.
It Won’t Stop Them From Extracurriculars
If your teen is a lover of sports, band, choir, debate, or any other hobbies that you worry might be affected by braces, you can rest easy knowing that braces will not impact these after-school interests at all!
When they first begin treatment, they might need to get used to speaking, singing, or playing their instrument with braces, but it won’t hinder them. After some practice and maybe some adjustments to technique, they’ll be good to go!
As for teen athletes, they’ll need to wear a mouthguard to protect their mouth and their braces, even if it’s not part of their team’s uniform. Braces make them a little more susceptible to injury, so a mouthguard is essential to keeping them safe and off the sidelines.

You Might Have To Make Sure They Follow Their New Braces-Friendly Routine
Braces are a fixed orthodontic treatment method. This means they cannot be removed for eating or oral hygiene. Your teen will have to change their daily routine to protect their oral hygiene and keep their braces in good condition.
For Oral Hygiene:
- Brush and floss every morning and evening
- Brush and floss after meals and snacks
- NO whitening strips
- Interdental brushes, water flossers, and thread flossers make flossing easier
- Drinking water throughout the day helps keep the mouth and braces clean
- A portable braces care kit (a mirror, orthodontic wax, travel toothbrush, floss, interproximal brushes, etc.) will make it easy for them to maintain their oral health no matter where they are
For Eating:
- Avoid anything hard or crunchy, like hard candy, nuts, etc
- Cut food, including soft food like sandwiches, into bite-size pieces
- Avoid anything chewy, like licorice or pizza crust
- Avoid anything sticky, like gum or caramel
- Eat boneless meat
- Some hard foods can be made soft (e.g., steaming vegetables)
It might be hard at first to get your teen on board with the new diet, especially if they love Takis or toasted sandwiches, but a temporary diet is better than frequently damaged braces.
It Will Do More Than Make Them Yearbook Ready
Straight teeth have more benefits than just a nice driver’s license photo or yearbook photo. There are plenty of advantages, many of which can improve their quality of life for many years.
- Better first impressions
- More confidence
- Easier to thoroughly brush and floss
- Less oral health issues (e.g., tooth decay, cavities, gum inflammation, bad breath)
- Saving time and money on dental work
- Orthodontic care is usually easier, cheaper, and quicker in kids and teens than in adults
- Easier time forming platonic, romantic, and professional relationships
- Less likely to experience indigestion, TMJ, or dental-related headaches
- Less likely to develop dental-related anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem
Overall, braces can be a very effective way to improve many aspects of your teen’s quality of life in one big swoop. Isn’t that cool?
Knowing this can help you motivate your teen to take their orthodontic treatment seriously and follow all instructions closely. Plus, if you frequently remind them that they’ll not have to do this again if they do it all right the first time (and wear their retainer as directed!), you might have a smoother experience with fewer problems (like them not wearing their bands or eating the wrong food).

Discover How Braces From Younis Orthodontics Can Help Your Teen
At Younis Orthodontics, we have 20 years of experience bringing smiles to Martinsburg and the surrounding areas. Over the years, we’ve found one thing to be true again and again: every smile is as different as the person it belongs to. That’s why we put a strong emphasis on creating individualized experiences and treatment plans in a welcoming, fun, professional, and educational environment.
For an orthodontic experience your child will both enjoy and benefit from, bring them to Younis Orthodontics! Schedule their zero-commitment, no-catch, free consultation today so you can see what we’re all about and find out if braces are right for your child. (No dentist referral necessary!)