San Francisco, Marin, and Oakland, CA
Children wearing braces should take care to avoid dental damage throughout treatment. With careful food consumption, healthy habits, good cleaning practices, and visiting our family dental practice in San Francisco at Glen Park Dental for repairs and checkups, you can optimize your child’s orthodontic care. Therefore, on the blog today, we share tips on how to care for your braces braces to encourage a healthy mouth and keep your child on track for the best results.
Why do braces need special care?
Traditional braces increase areas where bacteria can easily hide. Therefore, it’s vital to take time to clean them properly when brushing and flossing. Avoiding proper oral care can increase the risk of cavities and possibly prolong your child’s braces treatment. Our dentists in the Bay Area that offer braces caution parents that neglecting oral health recommendations could result in multiple trips to our office for expensive repairs. In addition, your child’s actions could delay the treatment process.
What should a child eat, or not eat, to protect their braces?
Our Oakland family dentists agree that what your child consumes directly affects their teeth and braces. Therefore, we recommend following the below diet guidelines.
Do:
- Eat easily chewable foods.
- Maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
- Cut fruits and vegetables into bite-sized pieces.
Avoid:
- Using teeth to open packages or bottles
- Hard foods – ice, nuts, and hard candy
- Chewing on non-edible items, such as plastic, pencils, or metal
- Sticky or chewy foods – caramel, chewy candy, and gum
- Eat crunchy foods, such as crusty bread, hard granola bars, or popcorn.
Our list is not the definitive guide of everything your child can or cannot eat while wearing braces. Although it’s a general guideline, we encourage our patients and their parents to contact our San Francisco family dental practice with questions about specific dietary restrictions. Together, we can ensure the treatment plan stays on track and doesn’t cost you more time or money with unnecessary repairs.
What are the most effective brace care and cleaning practices?
Proper brace care and cleaning are vital to your child’s orthodontic treatment success. Our Marin dentists strongly encourage regular at-home oral care with a soft-bristled brush to help clean hard-to-reach areas. While brushing, move in a slow and gentle circular motion to remove food debris, plaque, and harmful bacteria, while focusing on the gum line. The American Dental Association (ADA) and our Glen Park dentists recommend brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily. However, your child’s oral health would benefit more when their teeth get cleaned after every meal. Specially designed floss threaders and interproximal brushes are available to clean around brackets and wires easily. Lastly, immediately contact our office for needed repairs or brackets or wires replacements to remain on the treatment path.
Family Dentists in Marin, Oakland, and San Francisco, California
Your child deserves the best oral care for a healthy, perfect smile. By following the above care tips during your child’s orthodontic treatment, they can enjoy treatment benefits for years to come. Our Oakland family dental practice that offers braces enjoys working with children and helping them achieve their perfect smiles. To find out more about our practice or schedule an appointment for your child, feel free to call Glen Park Dental at (415) 585-1500 or request a consultation online.
