Haha, your dad sounds awesome—I wish my parents had made brushing that fun. You're totally right about braces though... I remember when I first got mine, it felt like prepping for battle every night with floss threaders and tiny brushes. But honestly, those early habits really do stick. Even now, years after braces, I still catch myself being extra thorough. Your little one is lucky you're starting this early—keep it up, it'll definitely pay off down the road.
"Even now, years after braces, I still catch myself being extra thorough."
I completely agree—those early habits do have a lasting impact. It's interesting how braces can turn dental hygiene into a lifelong routine. I've noticed in practice that kids who start brushing routines early tend to have fewer issues later on. But I'm curious, did anyone else find that braces actually made them more mindful about their eating habits too? I remember avoiding certain foods for fear of breaking brackets... habits that stuck around long after the braces came off.
I totally relate to this! Braces definitely made me more cautious about what I ate. I remember one time biting into a caramel apple at a fair (against my better judgment, lol) and popping off a bracket. The orthodontist was nice about it, but the embarrassment stuck with me. After that, I got super careful—no more sticky candies or crunchy snacks for me. Funny enough, even now, years later, I still hesitate before biting into anything remotely hard or chewy. It's like braces trained me to pause and think first.
But honestly, I'm grateful for those habits. My teeth have stayed pretty healthy, and I haven't had any major dental issues since. So yeah, braces can be annoying at the time, but they really do teach you some valuable lessons in the long run.
I get what you're saying about braces teaching good habits, but honestly, I've seen it go both ways. Working in dental care, I've noticed that sometimes braces can actually make kids rebel a bit—especially teenagers. I had one patient who was super careful at first, but after a few months, he got frustrated with all the food restrictions and started sneaking chewy candies and popcorn behind his parents' backs. He ended up popping brackets left and right, and it became a bit of a running joke in our office every time he came in sheepishly holding yet another loose bracket.
But here's the thing: even though he struggled at first, eventually he got tired of the constant orthodontist visits and started taking better care of his braces. It was like he had to learn the hard way, you know? Now he's older and jokes about how braces taught him responsibility—just not in the way you'd expect.
I guess my point is, braces don't automatically instill good habits for everyone. Sometimes kids (and even adults!) resist at first, and that's totally normal. It's more about how parents and dental professionals handle those slip-ups and setbacks. Being patient and understanding goes a long way. And honestly, a little rebellion here and there isn't the end of the world—it can even lead to some valuable lessons down the road.
Also, just a quick side note: toddler teeth issues are a whole different ballgame from braces. With toddlers, it's more about establishing gentle routines and making dental care fun rather than restrictive. I've found that positive reinforcement and playful routines work wonders at that age...but that's probably a whole other conversation!
"With toddlers, it's more about establishing gentle routines and making dental care fun rather than restrictive."
Totally agree with this. My little one used to freak out every time we brought out the toothbrush...it was exhausting. Then we started using silly songs and letting her pick a toothbrush with her favorite cartoon character. Honestly, it made a huge difference. Now she actually looks forward to brushing—most days, anyway. Small wins, right?
