3 Braces Facts to Help with Orthodontic Anxiety

A lot of American children need help with their smiles. According to the Chicago Tribune, 3.5 million of them go to an orthodontist. Braces are the most common way to get their teeth straight. This orthodontic treatment is going to be a big change for them. That means you might need to talk with them to get them to feel comfortable. Here are three fun facts about braces that you can tell them:

NASA Invented the Type of Wire That Is Used For Braces

If your child is interested in space and loves hearing about astronauts, this is a fact that will get their attention. Yes, the same agency that is responsible for sending people to the moon and back made the wires that run through the brackets in their very own mouths. This bit of information may send your child over the moon. This material, known as nickel titanium, was initially used to protect the space shuttle since it resisted heat so well, but it was made into the wires that we all know so well. The reason for this is that it was very flexible while still being very strong.

Ancient Egyptians Made The First Type of Braces

This ancient civilization was ahead of its time! The ancient Egyptians knew that it was a good thing to have straight teeth. While they may not have had specialized orthodontic treatment available, they did use animal intestines and wrap them around a person’s teeth in an attempt to straighten them. Sadly, it doesn’t look like there were any hieroglyphics made to explain the details of their process.

Braces Are Nearly 300 Years Old

A French doctor in the early 1700s began to use a metal material that he put in his patient’s mouth and then strung together with thread. Fast-forward roughly 200 years and an American doctor, Edward Angle refined the metal material and made them into tiny brackets that used 14-karat gold. This was a very early form of orthodontic treatment.

Helping your child through their orthodontic anxiety can be easier when the positives of the treatment are presented instead of the negatives. Contact Imagine Braces today for more information on how to help your child through their orthodontic anxiety.