4 Ways Your Child Should Care for Their Braces

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Your child’s braces can straighten their teeth and give them a beautiful smile. Braces need special care to last for the duration of their time on your child’s teeth. Knowing how to care for your child’s braces can prevent them from becoming damaged and needing repair.

The pediatric dentist in South Plainfield, NJ, can help you by providing you and your child with advice. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Brush After Every Meal

Braces create spaces where food can become trapped in your child’s teeth. Brushing after every meal helps keep bacteria and food debris off your child’s braces and tooth enamel. Have your child carry a toothbrush in their backpack and on trips, so they can brush their teeth after every meal.

2. Floss

Flossing helps keep food debris out of the spaces between your child’s teeth. Flossing is more difficult with braces. Have your child use a floss threader to floss their teeth. The dentist can show your child how to use the floss threader.

3. Avoid Crunchy, Hard Foods

Crunchy, hard food can damage your child’s braces. Make your child aware of the foods that can cause damage to their braces, and ask them to avoid eating those foods for the duration of the time they are wearing braces. Some examples of the types of foods your child should avoid include hard bread, nuts, and hard candy.

4. Contact the Dentist if Something Breaks

If your child’s braces break, contact the dentist as soon as possible. Wires that are out of place can cause injuries to your child.

Do you have more questions about how to take care of braces in South Plainfield, NJ? Call today to speak with one of our dental professionals.

How Can I Tell If My Child Needs Braces? 

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Kids who need braces usually show signs of dental trouble. Knowing the signs and watching for them can help you decide when to get your child evaluated. Your child’s dentist in Plainfield NJ can help you determine when your child needs braces. Below, we’ll discuss the signs that your child needs braces and what to do if your child needs braces.

Signs Your Child Needs Braces

Some of the signs that your child needs braces might be kind of subtle. Here’s what to watch for:

  • Your child has difficulty pronouncing certain sounds
  • Your child frequently bites the inside of their mouth (without meaning to)
  • Your child’s teeth are crooked or crowded
  • Your child’s bite is not aligned
  • You can hear a clicking noise when your child chews their food or when they talk

Why Get Braces?

Braces can straighten your child’s teeth and improve their confidence in their smile. Braces can also improve your child’s oral health. Crooked teeth are harder to maintain, and can develop cavities more easily than straight teeth.

What to Do If You Think Your Child Needs Braces

If you think your child needs braces, the best thing you can do is have them evaluated by a dental professional. Only a dentist can say for sure whether your child needs braces.

If you think your child might need braces in Plainfield, NJ, make an appointment with the experts at Pediatrics on Park. At Pediatrics on Park, our experts can recognize the signs that your child needs braces. Call today to get started.

How to Modify Restricted Foods So They Can Be Eaten When You Have Metal Braces 

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When you have metal braces, there are certain foods you can’t eat until your braces in South Plainfield, NJ, are removed. In most cases, you just have to wait until you’ve completed your treatment before you can enjoy those foods again.

The good news is that there are some of those restricted foods that can be modified so you can eat them.

The Foods You Can’t Eat When You Have Metal Braces

Your dentist in South Plainfield, NJ, will go over exactly what you can and can’t eat while wearing your braces and why. But until then, here is a quick overview of the foods you definitely can’t eat if you have braces.

  • Popcorn
  • Nuts
  • Chewing gum
  • Hard, chewy, or sticky foods and candies
  • Corn on the cob
  • Ice

Your dentist will also tell you not to eat meat and hard, raw fruits and vegetables. However, in some cases, you can still eat them. But first, you have to modify them.

So, let’s talk about that.

How to Modify Restricted Foods So You Can Eat Them

Certain fruits and vegetables, like apples, carrots, and peaches, can be cut up into small pieces so they can be eaten. Another option is cooking them so they are soft enough to eat.

Meats are also restricted when you have braces because they are fibrous and hard to chew. However, you can remove some of them from the bone, cook them until they are tender, and then cut them into small pieces so you can eat them.

Contact a Reputable Dentist in South Plainfield, NY

If you are considering getting braces or need help with your existing braces, please Contact Pediatrics on Park to schedule an exam and consultation. We love making and shaping happy, healthy smiles!

General Dentistry

Lingual Braces Explained

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If your pediatric dentist in South Plainfield, NJ, has recommended braces for your child, you have some decisions to make. There are several types of braces available. One of those options is called lingual braces. But what are lingual braces?

Let’s find out.

Lingual Braces Explained

Your child might be resistant to getting braces because of the way they look and the social awkwardness they can create. That’s where lingual braces come in. They are basically hidden braces.

Lingual braces are similar to other metal braces, except they are placed behind your child’s teeth rather than on the fronts. That’s what makes them hidden.

Lingual braces are fixed by cementing the brackets to the backs of your child’s teeth. Then, the archwires are adjusted when the teeth are ready to be moved.

Opting for lingual braces in South Plainfield, NJ, means you are less likely to receive as much pushback from your child because they know their braces won’t be seen.

The Pros and Cons of Lingual Braces

Of course, just like anything else, there are pros and cons that come with getting lingual braces versus other types of braces.

Pros:

  • They are virtually invisible.
  • They are great at correcting almost all bite issues.
  • They are customized to ensure maximum effectiveness and comfortability.
  • They provide a better cosmetic appearance for your child.
  • They are fixed to your child’s teeth. So, there’s no risk of losing them (unlike other types of teeth straightening options).

Cons:

  • They sometimes take longer than conventional metal braces.
  • They can be a bit uncomfortable until your child gets used to them.
  • They sometimes cause a temporary lisp.
  • They are slightly more expensive than other types of braces.

Contact a Reputable Dentist in South Plainfield, NY

Please Contact Pediatrics on Park today to schedule a braces exam and consultation for your child. We love creating healthy smiles that will last a lifetime.

How Can I Tell If My Child Needs Braces? 

/0 Comments/in /by

Kids who need braces usually show signs of dental trouble. Knowing the signs and watching for them can help you decide when to get your child evaluated. Your child’s dentist in Plainfield NJ can help you determine when your child needs braces. Below, we’ll discuss the signs that your child needs braces and what to do if your child needs braces.

Signs Your Child Needs Braces

Some of the signs that your child needs braces might be kind of subtle. Here’s what to watch for:

  • Your child has difficulty pronouncing certain sounds
  • Your child frequently bites the inside of their mouth (without meaning to)
  • Your child’s teeth are crooked or crowded
  • Your child’s bite is not aligned
  • You can hear a clicking noise when your child chews their food or when they talk

Why Get Braces?

Braces can straighten your child’s teeth and improve their confidence in their smile. Braces can also improve your child’s oral health. Crooked teeth are harder to maintain, and can develop cavities more easily than straight teeth.

What to Do If You Think Your Child Needs Braces

If you think your child needs braces, the best thing you can do is have them evaluated by a dental professional. Only a dentist can say for sure whether your child needs braces.

If you think your child might need braces in Plainfield, NJ, make an appointment with the experts at Pediatrics on Park. At Pediatrics on Park, our experts can recognize the signs that your child needs braces. Call today to get started.