Care Package for Teen with Braces??

Things I like to use with braces:

Fresh and Go Toothbrush
braces floss sticks (usually have to order on amazon - can't find them in stores, but they are so much better than having to thread floss through braces)
Gift certificate to ice cream place

As the parent of a teen who is near getting his off, I am curious why you think this person needs a care package for this. Will this person's parents not provide what he/she needs? If not... that's wonderful that you want to do this. If so, it could be overkill.

In the event you are concerned they will not have what they need, here are what have been helpful for my son:

1) Soft foods for a few days after the first few visits: Yogurt, soft pasta, jello, shakes, smoothies. (Fairly difficult to do this unless you are in the home with the person).
2) Advil: (please don't dose someone else's kid with medicine, you may not be aware of a drug interaction, and if it were MY kid, I'd be ticked that medications were made available to my kid without my knowledge).
3) Dental Wax: This is supplied by the orthodontist and offered at every visit, so no need to buy their own really. Unless they just like having spare packs all around everywhere. My kid has only used it a handful of times, total, in 20 months of braces.
4) Wisps (the little disposable toothbrushes): He likes these for school, or other times he isn't at home to brush after eating. It keeps his brackets free of visually obvious debris-- a big deal to hormone laden teens.
5) A little sympathy. THIS you can supply in hugs, smiles, and a good ear to listen without saying "it isn't that bad...."

Also, avoid things---like eating things in front of him/her that they aren't supposed to eat: sticky candy, chewing gum, popcorn, nuts, corn on the cobb, meat on the bone,

If you really want to go big: get her a waterpik for cleaning her teeth. :)

A Water-Pik. Best money I ever spent on my daughter.

The first few days will be painful and aggravating. If she's used to going out with friends, maybe to lunch or to the mall after school, it'll be even more annoying, because she won't be able to chew anything. No pizza or nachos or anything even remotely solid will be comfortable for days or even weeks. I'd recommend gift certificates to juice or smoothie places, or for frozen yogurt. That way, she can go out and feel "normal." OTC painkillers (like Tylenol) will help, too. :)

Get her an Oral-B electric toothbrush and give her several of these to go with it:

http://www.oralb.com/products/power-tip-brush-head/

This tiny brush head is perfect for getting in between braces and under the wires.
Our son loved it when he had braces for 2 years.
He swapped back and forth between regular and the tiny toothbrush heads as needed every time he brushed.
It worked out great!

I think it is a great idea. My girls will be getting braces soon. They want them but then again they don't. They have heard that the braces hurt, especially when they first get them and then when they are adjusted. A favorite book or game or movie might also be a good thing to include, something to maybe take her mind off the braces--nothing to do with the mouth area, ya know?

I am definitely going to keep the waterpik in mind.

Wax. You can get it on the tooth paste aisle at Walmart, along side the dental floss. It is in strips and you pinch off a bit. Roll it between your fingers then stick it on the sharp bits on the braces. It stays for quite a while if applied to dry teeth/metal.

It makes the pain go away.

As a parent of a young teen with braces -- I want you to know that I think your idea is very thoughtful and kind.

Do ask the parents first whether they have or plan to get the items you send, since the orthodontist is likely to tell them to get a Water-Pik, will give them dental wax, etc.

But yes, a Water-Pik is terrific! I highly recommend you (or the parents) get the newer kind that is hand-held and not the kind that uses a container of water that has to sit on the bathroom counter--that type takes up a heap of space and is clunkier to use than the hand held "water flosser" that Water-Pik now offers; my kid was less likely to use the type that sat on the counter than her hand-held version (and we just don't have counter space for the other kind).

I second the idea of a fun distraction such as a movie or iTunes gift card or whatever this teen enjoys, too. The initial days can be painful and frustrating.

If the girl is into this kind of thing, consider adding some things like hair accessories, a cute nail care kit and polish, etc. My daughter felt at first like braces made her feel ugly so it could help this girl to give her some cute and useful things to care for the rest of her self.

There are also tiny disposable brushes (they look a bit like miniature bottle brushes to me) on the toothbrush aisle of every drugstore. You can use them to brush around the posts that are fixed to the teeth. A pack of those would be good too.

You made my day with your thoughtfulness toward this teen.

We found "The Braces Cookbook" to be helpful too. Check it out here or order on Amazon:
http://metalmouthmedia.net/

Definitely the water-pik, some wax and some advil. You could also include some softer food items, like yogurt and perhaps a gift card/certificate to an ice cream parlour.