Helping Your Child Adjust to a Space Maintainer: 5 Tips for a Smooth Transition

Adjusting to a Space Maintainer

A space maintainer can sound scary, but this piece of orthodontic equipment is designed to help guide a child’s permanent teeth into place. Baby teeth are temporary, and act as placeholders for your child’s adult teeth. If one of those baby teeth falls out prematurely, the surrounding teeth can begin to drift into that empty space. And that is where a space maintainer comes in.

A space maintainer is a custom-made orthodontic appliance that is used to hold a gap open after a primary tooth is lost. Without this oral appliance, your child’s teeth could shift, causing overcrowding or impacted teeth. If that happens, your child may need braces to help straighten out the teeth. The space maintainer will help guide those misplaced teeth into place using gentle pressure.

Adjusting to having a space maintainer can be tough for kids, so here are five tips from We Make Kids Smile to help your child adjust to their new hardware.

1. Soft foods are a good start.

The first few days after getting a space maintainer can be rough; your child may feel their mouth is tender or a little “different” or “off.” This is completely normal, as your child’s mouth gets used to their new oral appliance. To help make mealtime easier, choose some soft, easy-to-chew foods for the first few days. This can include things like warm soups and broths, mashed potatoes, applesauce, or even yogurt. If there is swelling, cold smoothies can help provide some relief.

As your child gets more comfortable with their space maintainer, they can gradually add in their regular favorite foods.

2. Practice talking and smiling.

At first, your child’s space maintainer can feel like a foreign object in their mouth. That can cause your child to speak or smile a little differently until they get used to their new orthodontic device. At We Make Kids Smile, we want our patients to feel confident. So, to help out with that, we recommend that children with new oral appliances practice smiling and talking in front of a mirror.

This way, your child can see that their new hardware is barely visible, and only shows when they want it to. Have your child practice reading a story, especially to their younger siblings, to help them get used to speaking with their space maintainer. The more they practice talking, the more their tongue and brain will adapt to the new object in their mouth.

3. Keep the space maintainer clean.

We Make Kids Smile in Prince Frederick and Waldorf, Maryland, wants to remind wearers of space maintainers that it is important to keep them clean. Because the appliance creates nooks and crannies, food particles and plaque can easily get trapped, which can lead to cavities or gum irritation. Make sure your child knows how to brush around their new space maintainer. We suggest using a soft bristled brush to ensure the oral appliance is getting cleaned around its wires and bands. We also suggest your child brushes their teeth after every meal, when possible.

Like any orthodontic appliance, there are foods that should be avoided when wearing a space maintainer, like taffy, caramel, hard candies, sticky foods, and chewing gum.

4. Offer your child encouragement.

We all know that positive reinforcement can go a long way, so encourage your child when they try new foods or when they brush their teeth properly. Parents can also normalize using a space maintainer. If you have used one, explain to your child how normal it is, and how your smile benefitted after using a space maintainer.

5. Schedule follow-up visits.

With any dental device, professional monitoring is needed. A space maintainer is temporary, and We Make Kids Smile wants to make sure it is doing its job without causing discomfort. A regular follow up will allow your dentist to monitor the fit of the oral appliance, as well as the progress of the adult teeth in your child’s mouth.

Call We Make Kids Smile today.

It may take your child a few days or even a few weeks to fully adjust to their new space maintainer, but supporting your child through the process and providing encouragement can go a long way toward helping your child adjust. If your child has questions about their oral appliance, make sure they reach out to our staff to get their questions answered.

If your child feels pain, discomfort, or like their space maintainer is loose, contact our office to schedule an appointment and let us take a look. We Make Kids Smile is here to make sure your child’s oral health journey is smooth and healthy!