Every person wears braces for a different length of time, but most people wear braces for 1 to 3 years. After the braces are removed, many kids need to wear a retainer for a while to keep their teeth in place. During this time, you'll still need to visit the orthodontist regularly. Every kid wears a retainer for a different length of time. But the good news is, by the time you're wearing a retainer, you'll be smiling a super smile!

Braces correct how your teeth line up by putting steady pressure on the teeth, which eventually moves them into a straighter position. A retainer also applies pressure to your teeth, and it may be used to hold your teeth in a straight position after wearing braces. Sometimes the orthodontist may recommend that you have one or more teeth removed to create more space in your mouth. If you need to have teeth removed, you'll get medicine that will keep you comfortable.
Once your braces are on, you'll visit the orthodontist every few weeks. It's important to remember that you still need to get regular dental checkups during this time because the orthodontist doesn't clean your teeth or check for cavities. On some visits to the orthodontist, he or she may simply check to make sure that your braces are in place as they should be. At other visits, the orthodontist may adjust wires on the braces to move the teeth into position. The orthodontist may show you how to wear rubber bands, which are stretched between two teeth and help to correct the way your teeth line up.
Some kids also may need to wear other devices, such as headgear. You may have seen kids who have headgear, which gets its name from the fact that it's worn around the head. Headgear uses a horseshoe-shaped wire, which attaches to back teeth. It's designed to apply pressure that pushes the back teeth back, allowing more room for teeth in the front of the mouth.
You can expect to feel a little uncomfortable sometimes when you wear braces or other orthodontic devices. Your mom or dad can give you a pain reliever if it hurts. And the orthodontist usually provides wax you can use to cover any sharp spots on the braces that are bothering you or are rubbing against the inside of your mouth or gum.

There's no set age for a kid to visit the orthodontist - some kids go when they're 6, some kids go when they're 10, and some go while they're teens. Even adults visit the orthodontist for treatment. Many orthodontists say a kid should see an orthodontist before age 7 so any problems can be spotted early. That doesn't mean a kid will get braces right away. But the orthodontist will know which problems exist and can choose the best time to start treatment.
What Happens at the Orthodontist?
When you make your first trip to the orthodontist, you'll visit an office that looks a lot like your dentist's office. You'll sit in a dentist chair and the orthodontic technician or assistant might take X-rays or computer pictures of your mouth and teeth. The X-rays and pictures show the orthodontist where the teeth are positioned and whether you have teeth that haven't come in yet.
The technician also may make a mold (or impression) of your teeth by pressing a tray of gooey material into your top and bottom teeth. When the mold is removed, there will be a perfect impression of the shape and size of your teeth. A mold helps the orthodontist decide how to straighten your teeth.
The orthodontist will examine your teeth, mouth, and jaws. He or she may ask you to open wide or bite your teeth together. He or she may ask questions about whether you have problems chewing or swallowing or whether your jaws ever click or pop when you open your mouth. The orthodontist may tell you and your parent that your teeth and jaws are fine. Or he or she might recommend that you get braces or a retainer.

Every other week, Joey's friend Vinnie misses math class to go to the orthodontist and have his braces checked. One day the dentist told Joey's mom that Joey should see an orthodontist, too. What's an orthodontist? Why does Joey need to see one? And what will happen at the appointment?
Just like baseball and gymnastics are types of sports, an orthodontist (say: or-thoh-don-tist) is a type of dentist. An orthodontist prevents and treats mouth, teeth, and jaw problems. Using braces, retainers, and other devices, an orthodontist helps straighten a person's teeth and correct the way the jaws line up.
Straight teeth and aligned jaws create nice smiles. On top of that, when your jaws and teeth are well aligned, it's easier to chew food. Orthodontic care can even help prevent snoring!
So why would you go to the orthodontist? Your dentist or one of your parents might recommend it because they see a problem with your teeth or jaws. Or a kid who doesn't like the way his or her teeth look might ask to see an orthodontist.
Orthodontists treat kids for many problems, including having crowded or overlapping teeth or having problems with jaw growth and tooth development. These tooth and jaw problems may be caused by tooth decay, losing baby teeth too soon, accidents, or habits like thumb sucking. These problems also can be genetic or inherited, meaning that they run in a person's family.

Although HSV-1 isn't a big deal, it's a good idea to try to keep cold sores as far away as possible. If someone you know has a cold sore, don't kiss him or her and don't drink out of the same glass or use the same knife, fork, or spoon. Sharing towels, washcloths, or napkins is off-limits, too, because the virus may survive on the fabric.
If you've had cold sores before, it can be hard to tell what might make them come back. For some kids, too much stress, too much time in the sun, or getting sick can cause cold sores to reappear. Eating well, getting enough rest, and learning how to deal with stress are important things for any kid to do, especially a kid who is likely to get cold sores. Putting on sunblock lip balm and sunscreen on the face before going out in the sun may help prevent cold sores from reappearing in kids who tend to get them.
Treating Cold Sores
For most kids, the sores go away on their own without any special treatment from a doctor. If you get a cold sore, try holding some ice wrapped in cloth on the sore. It also might help to eat a popsicle.
Sometimes, if the cold sores are making a kid sick, a doctor may prescribe a special medicine that fights the herpes simplex virus. Some kids may take acetaminophen or ibuprofen if their sores are painful.
While you're waiting for the cold sore to go away, wash your hands regularly and don't pick at it. You'll only get in the way of your body's natural healing process. Picking at a cold sore is also bad news because it's easy to spread the virus to other parts or your body, like your fingers or eyes. Worse yet, you might spread the virus to other people. No one will thank you for giving them a cold sore!

Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes (say: hur-peez). Herpes is one of the most common viral infections in the world. The medical name for the specific virus that causes cold sores is herpes simplex.
There are two types of herpes simplex infection: herpes simplex virus one (called HSV-1 for short) and herpes simplex virus two (called HSV-2 for short). Although both can cause cold sores around a person's mouth, most are caused by HSV-1.
HSV-1 is so common that most Americans get infected with it, although many never have any symptoms. People can catch HSV-1 by kissing a person with a cold sore or sharing a drinking glass or utensils, so it's easy to see why there are so many cold sores around.
Kids who get infected with HSV-1 may get cold sores occasionally for the rest of their lives. That's because even after the sores themselves dry up and go away, the virus stays in the body, waiting around for another time to come out and cause more sores. When a cold sore reappears, it is often in the same place as the previous one.

Johanna's lip had been feeling itchy all day - itchy and a little tingly, like someone was tickling it lightly. When she woke up the next morning and her lip still felt strange, she looked in the mirror and yelled "What's on my mouth?" Her mom took a look and said, "Oh, you have a cold sore."
What's that? Johanna wondered.
What Is a Cold Sore?
A cold sore is a small blister that is reddish or purple. They are usually on the outer edge of the lip, on just one side. Cold sores can appear one at a time or in little bunches, and they are sometimes filled with fluid. They usually crust over and form a scab before they go away. They last a week or 2 and usually don't require any special treatment.
Although they're called cold sores, you don't need to have a cold to get one. Some people call them fever blisters, but you don't have to have a fever to have one, either. (Cold sores aren't the same as canker sores, which are small white sores that are always found inside the mouth.)

Most canker sores don't hurt as much after the first few days, but it may take 2 weeks for the sore to heal. While you're waiting, you'll want to be careful when eating and brushing your teeth. Scraping the sore can make it hurt worse. You might need some medication to dull the pain. Your mom or dad can ask your doctor about which one is best for you.
If your canker sore is large, lasts longer than a week, or is keeping you from eating, you should see your doctor so he or she can check it out.
How Can You Prevent Canker Sores?
There's no guaranteed way to prevent canker sores, but it's a good idea to eat healthy, get enough sleep, and try not to get too worried or upset. Put canker sores on the list of things you don't have to worry about. They hurt for a little while, but before you know it, you'll be a sore loser!

Not all mouth sores are canker sores. Cold sores or fever blisters are a different kind of sore, which is caused by a virus called herpes simplex (say: hur-peez sim-pleks). Cold sores and fever blisters often form outside the mouth, around the lips, on the cheeks or chin, or inside the nostrils of the nose. Unlike canker sores, those sores are contagious. Chickenpox are another kind of contagious sore, and it's possible to get chickenpox inside the mouth.
What Causes Canker Sores?
No one really knows what causes canker sores. But researchers think stress may make a person more likely to get one. A canker sore also may spring up if a person's diet doesn't contain enough vitamins and minerals.
The inside of your mouth is delicate, so mouth injuries, such as biting the inside of your lip or brushing your teeth too hard, also seem to bring on canker sores. But anybody can get a canker sore and they may run in families, which means that if your mom or dad gets canker sores, you might get them, too.

Have you ever had a canker sore? If so, you know that these small mouth sores can cause major pain. You can get a canker sore on the inside of your lip or cheek, or on your tongue or the roof of your mouth. Usually canker sores form one at a time inside your mouth, but you can get more than one in a little cluster.
Canker sores are round and usually about the size of a kernel of corn (1/4 inch, or 6 millimeters), but they can be as big as a quarter (1 inch, or 25 millimeters). If you look in the mirror at your canker sore, it will be white or yellow with a red border.
What Do Canker Sores Feel Like?
Canker sores hurt, especially if you eat something hard, crunchy, salty, or acidic (like orange juice). They usually go away on their own and they are not contagious. So no one can catch a canker sore by kissing you or sharing your drink.

Braces act like magnets for food, so you need to keep your teeth especially clean while you have them on. You'll want to brush after meals and be extra careful to get out any food that gets stuck in your braces. Your orthodontist also may give you a special flosser you can use to floss in and around your braces. When your orthodontist changes your wires, ask if you can do a quick floss (it'll be easier without the wires).
You won't have to go on any special diet when you have braces, but you'll want to avoid some foods that are problems for braces. Stay away from popcorn, hard and sticky candy, and especially gum. Sugary sodas and juices can cause a problem, too, because the sugar stays on your teeth and may cause tooth decay. You can have these drinks, but be sure to brush afterward.
Because braces put pressure on your teeth, you might feel uncomfortable once in a while, especially after the orthodontist makes adjustments. If you have pain, ask your mom or dad to give you a pain reliever.
If you ever have a loose wire or bracket, or a wire that is poking you, you should see the orthodontist right away to get it taken care of. If your orthodontist can't find a problem, he or she may give you some soft wax that you can stick on the bracket that's bothering you. Then it won't rub against your mouth.
So braces can be inconvenient, but lots of kids have them and they are definitely worth the trouble. When will you know for sure? On the day your braces are removed and you can see your new and improved smile!

How Braces Work

Braces straighten teeth by putting steady pressure on your teeth and by staying in place for a certain amount of time. Most kids just need regular braces with wires and rubber bands doing their jobs to keep pressure on the teeth. The wires on your braces help to move your teeth, and the rubber bands help to correct the alignment (say: uh-lyne-munt), the way your teeth line up.
If your teeth need a little extra help, you may have to wear head or neck gear with wires attached to your teeth. If you do have to wear headgear, don't panic! You probably will only have to wear it at night or when you're at home in the evening.
Everyone has to wear braces for different lengths of time, but most people usually wear braces for about 2 years. You'll want to take special care of your teeth after the braces come off. You may need to wear a retainer, which is a small, hard piece of plastic with metal wires or a thin piece of plastic shaped like a mouth guard. Retainers make sure your teeth don't go wandering back to their original places. Your retainer will be specially molded to fit your newly straightened teeth.
After you get your retainer, your orthodontist will tell you when you have to wear it and how long — you might have to wear your retainer all day and all night for 2 years, you might have to wear it at night for 6 months, or you might have to wear it every other night for many years. It just depends on your teeth.

Some kids can't wait to get braces. Others are a little worried about what it will be like or how they will look. It can help to learn more about braces, which straighten your teeth and make your smile even better looking.
Tooth Talk
Lots of kids don't have perfect teeth, so don't worry if yours aren't straight. Take a look at most of your classmates. Many of them probably don't have straight teeth either. Sometimes teeth just don't grow in evenly.
Your teeth might be crooked, or your upper and lower jaws might not be the same size. If your upper jaw is bigger than your lower jaw, that's called an overbite. If your lower jaw is bigger than your upper jaw, you have an underbite.
Either way it's called malocclusion (say: mal-uh-kloo-zhun), a word that comes from Latin and means "bad bite." Malocclusion is just a word that dentists use to describe the shape of your mouth.
Your dentist might notice one of these problems during a regular visit and recommend that you see an orthodontist (say: or-thoh-dahn-tist). This person may also be called a braces specialist. He or she can determine whether you need braces.
Types of Braces
If your parents had braces, you may have seen pictures of them with their mouths full of metal. Today, braces are much less noticeable. Metal braces are still used, but you might be able to get clear braces or braces that are the same color as your teeth. There are even braces that go behind your teeth where no one can see them.
The wires that are used in braces today are also smaller and better than they used to be, and they're made of a space-age material that straightens your teeth faster and easier. The rubber bands that go along with braces come in funky colors now, too. So you could have black and orange ones for Halloween!

You lean over to whisper something to your friend and you can tell by the look on your friend's face that something is up. Could it be your breath? Maybe you shouldn't have put extra onions on your hamburger at lunch. What's a kid with smelly breath to do?
The good news is that bad breath happens to everyone once in a while. Let's find out how to detect it, prevent it, and even treat it.
What's That Smell?
Bad breath is the common name for the medical condition known as halitosis (say: hal-uh-toe-sis). Many different things can cause halitosis — from not brushing your teeth to certain medical conditions.
Sometimes, a person's bad breath can blow you away — and he or she may not realize there's a problem. There are tactful (nice) ways of letting someone know about bad breath. You could offer mints or sugarless gum without having to say anything.
If you need to tell a friend he or she has bad breath, you could say that you understand foods can cause bad breath because you've had it before yourself. By letting someone know that bad breath isn't something unusual, you'll make the person feel more comfortable and less embarrassed about accepting your piece of chewing gum.
If you suspect your own breath is foul, ask someone who will give you an honest answer without making fun of you. (Just don't ask your brother or sister — they just might tell you your breath stinks even when it doesn't!) Although everyone gets bad breath sometimes, if you have bad breath a lot, you may need to visit your dentist or doctor.
What Causes Bad Breath?
Here are three common causes of bad breath:
foods and drinks, such as garlic, onions, cheese, orange juice, and soda
poor dental hygiene (say: hi-jeen), meaning you don't brush and floss as you should
smoking and other tobacco use
Poor oral hygiene leads to bad breath because when you leave food particles in your mouth, these pieces of food can rot and start to smell. The food particles may begin to collect bacteria, which can be smelly, too. Plus, by not brushing your teeth regularly, plaque (a sticky, colorless film) builds up on your teeth. Plaque is a great place for bacteria to live and yet another reason why breath can turn foul.
Preventing Smelly Breath
So what's a kid to do? Don't smoke or use tobacco products, of course. And take care of your mouth by brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a day. Brush your tongue, too, because bacteria can grow there. Flossing once a day helps get rid of particles wedged between your teeth. Also, visit your dentist twice a year for regular checkups and cleanings.
Not only will you get a thorough cleaning, the dentist will look around your mouth for any potential problems, including those that can affect breath. For example, gum disease, also known as periodontal (say: per-ee-uh-don-tul) disease, can cause bad breath and damage your teeth.
If you're concerned about bad breath, tell your doctor or dentist. But don't be surprised if he or she leans in and take a big whiff! Smell is one way doctors and dentists can help figure out what's causing the problem. The way a person's breath smells can be a clue to what's wrong. For instance, if someone has uncontrolled diabetes, his or her breath might smell like acetone (the same stuff that's in nail polish remover).
If you have bad breath all the time and the reason can't be determined by your dentist, he or she may refer you to a doctor to make sure there is no other medical condition that could be causing it. Sometimes sinus problems, and rarely liver or kidney problems, can cause bad breath.

The adenoids (say: add-eh-noids) are lumpy clusters of spongy tissue that help protect kids from getting sick. They sit high on each side of the throat behind the nose and the roof of the mouth. Although you can easily see your tonsils by standing in front of a mirror and opening your mouth wide, you can't see your adenoids this way. A doctor has to use a small mirror or a special scope to get a peek at your adenoids.


Like tonsils, adenoids help keep your body healthy by trapping harmful bacteria and viruses that you breathe in or swallow. Adenoids also contain cells that make antibodies to help your body fight infections. Adenoids do important work as infection fighters for babies and little kids. But they become less important once a kid gets older and the body develops other ways to fight germs.


Some doctors believe that adenoids may not be important at all after kids reach their third birthday. In fact, adenoids usually shrink after about age 5, and by the teenage years they often practically disappear.


When Adenoids Swell

Because adenoids trap germs that enter a kid's body, adenoid tissue sometimes temporarily swells (gets puffier) as it tries to fight off an infection. The swelling might go away on its own, but sometimes medical treatment is necessary. Adenoids can get so walloped by a bacterial invasion that they become infected themselves.


Swollen or enlarged adenoids are common. When this happens, the tonsils get swollen, too. Swollen or infected adenoids can make it tough for a kid to breathe and cause these problems:
a very stuffy nose, so the kid can breathe only through his or her mouth
snoring and trouble getting a good night's sleep

sore throat and trouble swallowing

swollen glands in the neck

ear problems

Tell a grownup if you have any of these problems, so he or she can take you to the doctor.
What Will the Doctor Do?


At the doctor's office, the doctor will ask you how things feel in your ears, nose, and throat, and then take a look at these parts. Your doctor will listen to your breathing by using a stethoscope (say: steth-ah-scope) and may also feel your neck near your jaw.

Your doctor may use a small mirror or a bendable light to look at your adenoids, and might even send you for an X-ray to get a really close look at things. If it looks your adenoids are infected, the doctor may give you an antibiotic (a germ-fighting medicine) to take.

When Adenoids Come Out

Sometimes doctors recommend removing the adenoids if medicine doesn't help and they are making a kid sick a lot. This means going into the hospital and having surgery. Sometimes, a kid's tonsils and adenoids are removed at the same time. That's called a tonsillectomy (say: ton-seh-leck-teh-me) and adenoidectomy (say: add-eh-noid-eck-teh-me). Both are common surgeries for kids to have.

During these surgeries, kids get special medicine that makes them fall asleep and ensures that they don't feel any pain while the operation is being done. Usually, neither operation requires stitches. The cut areas will heal on their own. It takes a little time, though. After surgery, a kid will have a sore throat and will need to eat soft foods for a while.

Most kids are feeling back to normal after about a week. And do they miss their adenoids? Not one bit!