braces and headgear -- help needed for hair

**WritingMum** · January 8th, 2009, 10:25 AM

I have a long haired child who is about to get braces, complete with headgear. (I didn't realize anyone ever used headgear anymore!) We realized this morning that headgear rubs the back of the head! Do we need to be concerned about hair matting? Are there ways to protect and prevent tangles and damage while working with cloth headband rubbing, etc. for a large number of hours every day (and night)? Our puppy tends to matt on the side she likes to lie on if we're not diligent with keeping her snarl-free, (die-hard long-hairs, complete with long haired dog!) so we realize this could really become an issue. Any veterans out there? Any mamas? Any suggestions?

Thank you,
WritingMum

P.S. If you have thoughtful encouragement (for the one getting braces) you would like to include in your reply, it would be welcomed and appreciated by the long haired child in question.

P. P.S. Hooray! This is my 100th post!

**HairColoredHair** · January 8th, 2009, 10:39 AM

Could you maybe make a silk/satin 'sleeve' for the part that will rub against her hair? It could make tangles/damage less likely.

As for the child in question... This too shall pass... promise.

**WavyGirl** · January 8th, 2009, 01:56 PM

That sleeve idea is a good one. It might be worth experimenting to see if it's possible to wear the hair in different styles beneath it so it's not always rubbing the same spot.

To the child I'd say remember the positive:
You'll have a beautiful smile
You will be able to bite and chew neatly
You will be able to pronounce sounds better
You are going to be wearing them at an age when a lot of people do so it won't be as traumatic as it will if you decide that you really need to do it 10 years from now.
Your parents are paying for it, not you!
Make sure you brush your teeth!

ETA: WritingMum congratulations on 100 posts.

**SimplyLonghair** · January 8th, 2009, 02:10 PM

Yes find something to cover the headgear where it might rub! I work with kids that have rubbed bald spots on their heads due to helmets and other issues. They simply have "epilated"

their hair off. Use something as slippery as possible to prevent rubbing and catching hair. Good luck!

**suicides_eve** · January 8th, 2009, 02:17 PM

i had braces for 4 years and the bigest thing was tylenol and bruch and floss. It is very painful to have them tighten or added on always take a pain reliver about and hour before and so on to help the pain. stick to soft foods for that day.

brush and floss. it can leave those little white marks on your teeth that can't be lighten. not to mention cavities are easiyer to get b/c the food can get trapped.

not trying to bring the negitive up.. but these are facts i dealt with.
now i have a lovely smile and i'm not scared to wear it

**WritingPrincess** · January 8th, 2009, 02:41 PM

WritingMum, my recommendation is to give your daughter the butterfinger in the candy jar before she gets the braces.

Originally Posted by SimplyLonghair

Yes find something to cover the headgear where it might rub! I work with kids that have rubbed bald spots on their heads due to helmets and other issues. They simply have "epilated"

their hair off. Use something as slippery as possible to prevent rubbing and catching hair. Good luck!

Would silk be slippery enough? I have a lot of silk scarves.

Yes, I'm the one getting the headgear. Don't know why Mommy didn't come out and say so.

**Elphie** · January 8th, 2009, 04:16 PM

I wonder if this product would be helpful. It's the first thing that came to my mind.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...ad.php?t=18235

**Anje** · January 8th, 2009, 05:43 PM

If it's smooth silk (not "raw silk"), it might be slippery enough.

Good luck, WritingPrincess. I haven't had to deal with headgear, but hopefully it won't be too bad, nor last too long. Take care of the teeth, and be careful around crunchy foods like apples and Butterfingers -- it is certainly possible to pop those glued-on brackets off your teeth. I did it several times. Gum will probably get caught in them too much for you to bother chewing it.

In addition to brushing your teeth, you of course should floss. You'll want to get some "threaders" for that, and some little brush thingies to get things that are stuck under the wires out.

Good luck! It'll be over before you know it, especially when you look back on it.

**AnneAdeline** · January 8th, 2009, 10:04 PM

WritingPrincess - Good luck with your braces! I had them for about 2.5 years and they were worth it. Remember to be careful with really sticky/chewy foods--I also popped off brackets or popped wires off that way. At first they will feel really weird, but you get used to the metal in your mouth in no time.

I agree that silk would be a good idea for cutting down on the rubbing.

Good luck again!

**sillyca** · January 8th, 2009, 10:15 PM

Oh my- I remember those! SIlk would be a good idea. You have gotten great advice. I only had to wear something at night that pulled back my teeth or bite during my sleep.

Brush and floss. I did not use that extra brushing gel- and my teeth did not stain. If you have an auto or buzzing brush- use it- because during my time with braces I did not have one and I think the automatic ones would be more effective around braces.
Tightened braces call for milkshakes.
Pre cut your corn off of your cob first. In 4? years it will all be over.
Oh and I actually still have my retainer from post braces madness... it is actually on my desk now... I don't wear it anymore but I had found it from a move, and a re move..and a re re move...

If you can- when you get your braces tightened and your head hurts... lay down with a cold wet cloth on your forehead. hmm... or maybe some gel packs covered in washcloths would be good outside of your cheeks. But milkshakes do the same thing but taste better.
=)