School & Clear Aligners: How to Help Kids Keep Track of Their Invisalign Goals
The school year makes everything harder, including orthodontic treatment. Keeping tabs on assignments, friend groups, and school events doesn’t leave you or your little one a lot of time for staying on top of removable orthodontic appliances like Invisalign trays.
If you’re worried about your child or teen losing their Invisalign (or other clear aligner trays), don’t be. We’ve got some amazing tips that will make wearing and storing orthodontic appliances a breeze in comparison to the rest of the schooltime chaos. Take a look at Pura Vida’s top three tips and tricks we’ve put together for optimal orthodontic treatment – without any expensive replacements!
Make That Case POP!
Make sure your child’s Invisalign or retainer case is always easily visible – why not make it stand out even more with some cool stickers and bright colors?
Kids and teens will love personalizing their gear, and it makes with way easier to keep track of the small case that you’ll be using to store trays during mealtimes. An eye-catching case is the absolute best way to make it harder for young patients to forget their trays.
Pro Tip: Put your name and phone number inside the case so that you can be contacted if they leave their case behind in the lunchroom, at the mall, or at a friend’s house.
Use Awesome Rewards to Build New Habits
Getting used to a new routine doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact, it can be fun!
Setting up a reward system for your child or teen can be the best incentive for building new habits. You’re trying to get them to put in their Invisalign trays, brush their teeth after every meal, keep those clear aligners in 22 hours a day, and pop those bad boys in a case when they aren’t getting used. That’s a lot to keep track of on top of school!
Some of our favorite rewards involve things like getting tokens for good behavior (like wearing their trays all week or remembering to put them in the case) that they can cash in for extra screentime, watching a movie, going to a favorite place, getting ice cream on the weekend, or some other low-cost (but high-fun) bonus.
Upfront Rules Mean No Surprises
Ground rules are important. Your kid or teen needs to know what’s expected from them at the start of treatment. They’ll need to wear their Invisalign 20 to 22 hours each day, clean them (and their teeth), store them in their case, and more.
Make sure to discuss all the important stuff ahead of time and break it down clearly. This way, it will ensure everyone is on the same page and your expectations can be met! You can also talk to your orthodontist and ask them to explain the importance of treatment and how Invisalign works – sometimes, understanding the process can help your kiddo build the habits and hygiene necessary for an awesome orthodontic journey.
Need Help? We’ve Got You.
Are you a parent struggling to balance braces or Invisalign care on top of your kid’s school activities? Pura Vida Orthodontics in Blaine, MN, has got your back. We’re the local tooth experts when it comes to transforming young smiles! Talk to our team today about braces or clear aligners for your child.
