Oral hygiene is essential during braces treatment, especially for children. Here are some practical tips from the team at Richards & Associates Orthodontics that will make oral hygiene more attainable.

1. Go Electric

Electric toothbrushes are more effective at reaching around braces, especially in younger patients who may not be good at maneuvering around the brackets in their mouths. The vibration of the electric toothbrush allows it to reach into crevices your child may miss. Electric toothbrushes still need to be used regularly and properly to effectively clean the teeth, but they help.

2. Get a Water Pick

A water pick is a tool that shoots strong streams of water into the teeth to perform a similar function to flossing, but without dental floss. Because flossing with braces is difficult for most people, especially kids, this can do the same job and help limit tartar buildup between the teeth during braces treatment. Your child may need help adjusting to the use of the water pick, but it can be a good option.

3. Keep Up with Dental Cleanings

Seeing your child’s dentist regularly for cleanings is vital during braces treatment. As your orthodontist in Fort Myers and Cape Coral, FL, Richards & Associates Orthodontics will partner with your child’s dentist to ensure good oral hygiene is in place. That said, even with the best at-home care, professional cleanings at least twice a month are essential.

4. Consider Invisalign

If your child struggles with oral hygiene, talk to our team about Invisalign as an option instead of braces. While oral hygiene will still be important, cleaning the teeth is easier without the presence of brackets, and many kids are excellent candidates for Invisalign.

Keeping your child’s teeth clean is essential as you start the process with an orthodontist in Fort Myers or Cape Coral, FL. We’re here to help however we can. Reach out to Richards & Associates Orthodontics for more tips on oral hygiene with braces.

If you visit your orthodontist in Cape Coral, FL with your youngster, you may hear that they should wait a couple of years to get braces. While you may at first feel a little disappointed that you have to wait to get your child’s teeth alignment issues addressed, consider that it’s also good to have the extra time to prepare for the eventual treatment. Still, it’s helpful to understand why the teen years are considered ideal for braces.

Rapid Growth Enhances Treatment

During the teenage years, the body is still growing, including the jaw and facial bones. This natural growth makes it easier to guide teeth into their proper positions, resulting in more efficient orthodontic treatment. Working with this growth spurt often leads to faster and more effective outcomes.

Increased Sense of Responsibility

Teens are generally more likely to follow orthodontic instructions than younger children. Whether it’s wearing elastics, maintaining oral hygiene or avoiding certain foods, their ability to understand and follow guidelines really improves treatment success.

The Growing Period

Natural growth during the teen years makes it easier to guide teeth into their proper positions, resulting in more efficient orthodontic treatment. Working with this growth spurt often leads to faster and more effective outcomes.

Monitoring for Optimal Timing

Orthodontists often monitor younger children and recommend braces in Cape Coral, FL during the teenage years for optimal results. At this stage, most adult teeth have erupted, providing the ideal foundation for treatment. This timing ensures braces are both effective and necessary.

Preventing Long-Term Problems

Addressing alignment issues during adolescence prevents complications like uneven wear, jaw pain, or gum disease in adulthood. Investing in orthodontic care during the teen years sets the stage for lifelong oral health.

The teenage years provide the perfect combination of factors for effective orthodontic care. Contact us to learn more.

Teeth alignment issues can be inherited, and Richards & Associates Orthodontics is here to correct them. But not everyone who ends up needing braces inherited the condition. In some cases, certain habits can make it more likely that a person may end up needingbraces in Coral Gables, FL later in life. If you avoid these listed habits, it’s possible that, even if the person did inherent a propensity for alignment issues, they may not materialize. Here are four common habits that lead to braces that you should be aware of:

1. Use of Pacifiers

We understand that some children need to use a pacifier. It can be a very soothing habit. But using pacifiers after baby teeth have started to come in can push the teeth in a way that may mean your child needs braces later.

2. Thumb-sucking

If your child sucks their thumb, you should try to discourage the habit. This is another habit that can make the teeth move in unnatural positions, and it could mean braces later on. Talk to your child’s pediatrician to learn gentle ways of breaking this habit.

3. Tummy Sleeping

Sure, everyone tosses and turns at night, shifting into more comfortable positions. But chronic tummy sleeping puts unnatural pressure on teeth, especially children’s teeth. Consider using a pillow to prevent the body from rolling onto the tummy.

4. Extended Bottle Use

Work with your child’s doctor to wean them off of bottle feeding as soon as possible. Extended bottle use is another habit that can cause misalignment of the teeth.

YourCoral Gables, FL orthodontistat Richards & Associates Orthodontics is ready to help with adolescent and adult braces. But we also like to help people to avoid needing braces as much as possible.

Some children need braces to straighten their teeth and ensure proper alignment of their jaw and bite. Not all kids need this kind of treatment, but those who do usually benefit from early evaluation and braces installation. Knowing when to bring your child in for evaluation can help ensure that your child gets the treatment they need as soon as they need it. Your dentist in Cape Coral & Fort Myers, FL, can help.

When to Get a Braces Evaluation

For many kids, the best time to get a braces evaluation is when they’re about seven years old. This is the age recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists.

If your child is younger than seven but showing signs they could benefit from orthodontic treatments, the orthodontist may want to see your child even earlier than seven. Contact your child’s orthodontist at Richards & Associates Orthodontics to find out if this is necessary for your child.

Signs Your Child Needs Braces

Sometimes it’s easy to tell when a child may need braces. Here’s what to look for:

• Your child’s jaw doesn’t properly align when biting down or closed
• Your child frequently bites the inside of their mouth
• Your child’s teeth are crowded and difficult to clean properly
• Your child has a speech impediment

Why It’s Important to Get a Braces Evaluation Early

Most of the time, orthodontic problems only get worse. Getting early evaluation and treatment can help ensure that your child gets the treatment they need before their problem grows more severe.

To sign up for a pediatric braces evaluation in Cape Coral & Fort Myers, FL, contact the professionals at Richards & Associates Orthodontics.