The best age for orthodontic treatment…

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist by age 7 or earlier if a problem is detected by parents, the family dentist, or the child’s physician.

Your child’s orthodontic exam starts at 7

At age 7, your child will have a mixture of adult and baby teeth to make a determination about whether any problems are present. Typically the first molars have come in by the time your child turns seven, giving us an opportunity to check for a “bad bite.”

Also, by the time your child reaches the age of seven, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites, and open bites can be detected.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma.  Aside from spurring years of harmful teasing, malaligned teeth are also prone to injury and are detrimental to good oral hygiene.  Still have questions?  You know where to reach us, GLOBALSMILES.us

5 Step Guide to Preventing Tooth Decay While Wearing Braces

If you’re wearing braces, then you know we are working hard to straighten your teeth. However, your braces are also preventing you from easily cleaning your teeth. It is essential that you put some extra attention into preventing tooth decay while wearing your braces. When your braces are finally removed, you want a beautiful, white smile, not decayed or stained teeth. Here, we’ve listed the five best ways to help you have the smile you’ve always dreamed of once your braces are gone.

1.  Use a Special Toothbrush

5 steps to clean teeth

A regular toothbrush just doesn’t cut it when you are wearing braces. You also need to use an interdental toothbrush so that you can effectively clean behind the braces. This type of brush has bristles that are shaped like a Christmas tree that can remove food residue in the braces and on the teeth.

2.  Brush after Every Meal

Since braces block food from naturally escaping your teeth after eating, it’s important that you take the time to brush and floss after every meal. The less time food has to sit on your teeth, the less likely it is to cause decay. This may seem like an inconvenience, but trust us, when you get your braces off, you will be very glad you brushed after every meal.

3.  Don’t Forget the Mouth Rinse

Even after properly brushing and flossing, there are probably some food particles in your braces. A fluoride mouth rinse is the best way to ensure that every bit of food is removed after meals. If you do not have a mouth rinse available, we suggest using water — it’s better than nothing.

4.  Avoid Sweets

Prevention is definitely the best medicine when it comes to avoiding tooth decay. If you can nix decay-causing sugary foods from the outset, we promise you’ll spend less time trying to treat problems in the future.

5.  Get Regular Checkups

Visit your dentist regularly while you are wearing braces. Our office recommends a thorough cleaning every three to six months.

– our entire team at Global Smiles Orthodontics is here to make sure your teeth are as beautifully straight as they are healthy!