I know what you mean about the anticipation—my son was way more anxious about the cleaning than the braces too, and honestly, I get it. Even if you’re diligent with brushing and flossing, those back molars are just tough to reach. We went with a professional cleaning before his braces went on, mainly because our orthodontist pretty much insisted. They wanted a clean slate to work with and said it’d help prevent issues down the line.
To be honest, I thought it was a bit much at first. I figured if we kept up with his regular routine, it’d be enough... but they still found a couple of stubborn spots he missed. The hygienist wasn’t judgmental or anything, but my son felt like he’d failed some kind of test. Afterward, though, he realized it wasn’t a big deal—just part of the process.
I guess in hindsight, I’m glad we did the professional cleaning. It gave me peace of mind and probably made things easier for everyone involved. Still, I don’t think missing a spot here or there is the end of the world—just part of being human.
The hygienist wasn’t judgmental or anything, but my son felt like he’d failed some kind of test.
That’s so relatable. My daughter was convinced she’d “messed up” too, even though she brushes like it’s a sport. I had to remind her (and myself) that those cleanings are just a reset, not a report card. I’ll admit I was skeptical about the extra appointment, but in the end, it did make me feel better knowing we started with a clean slate. Kids put so much pressure on themselves—sometimes more than we do.
- My kid legit flossed twice the morning before his cleaning, but still got told there was “some buildup.” He looked at me like I’d failed as a parent.
- I get it—those appointments feel like pop quizzes you didn’t study for, even though you totally did.
- Honestly, I thought about skipping the pro cleaning and just doing a DIY blitz, but the dentist convinced me. Now I’m glad we did, even if my wallet’s still recovering.
- Funny how the kids stress more than we do sometimes… I’m just happy if no one cries (including me).
We did the pro cleaning before braces too. Honestly, my kid’s brushing and flossing is decent, but there’s always something the hygienist finds. I used to feel bad about it, but now I just figure it’s their job to notice stuff we miss at home. The cost stings, but at least it’s a clean slate before all that hardware goes on. Kids get worked up but really, we’re all just doing our best.
but at least it’s a clean slate before all that hardware goes on
That’s exactly why I did the pro cleaning, even though I was super nervous. I kept thinking, what if they find something terrible? Step by step, I just told myself: 1) get through the appointment, 2) ask lots of questions, 3) hope for the best. Turns out, there was a bit of tartar I totally missed. It made me feel weirdly relieved, though—like, okay, at least now it’s handled before braces. Still kind of anxious about what else I might miss at home…