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Caring For Your Little One’s Teeth
Once your child gets their braces put on, it’s their responsibility to keep their teeth clean, so their smile stays bright. Often when children have their braces removed, poor brushing habits lead to plaque buildup on the teeth. To protect your little one’s smile, it’s essential to enforce a healthy dental care routine.
Keep Up Their At-Home Dental Routine
With the addition of braces, caring for teeth may feel like a daunting task for your child — especially if they did not have a regular dental hygiene routine beforehand. Braces can sometimes be uncomfortable if food becomes trapped between the wires, but if left unmanaged, they can also cause dental problems.
On the first day when your child gets braces attached, our staff will go over how to take care of the braces and what foods to avoid. It is important to maintain good oral hygiene and eating habits to prevent damaging your teeth during the treatment. If your child shows signs of poor oral hygiene during orthodontic visits, the dentist may recommend frequent teeth cleaning appointments as a preventive measure.
Use these tips to help your child care for their braces:
- Cut their food into small pieces.
- Remind your child to brush and floss often.
- Avoid sticky sweet foods.
- Visit the dentist and orthodontist regularly.
Avoid Chewing on Sticky and Hard Foods
Chewing on hard candies, jerky, ice, and other tough or sticky snacks can lead to cracked enamel, which can impact your little one’s oral health as well as their braces, fillings, and crowns.
Your child should try to avoid as much sugar as possible. Sugar converts to acid that eats away the protective coating on the teeth, making them more vulnerable to cavities. Kids and teens are more susceptible to tooth decay than adults, as their enamel is not fully developed and less resistant to the acid.
Here are a few foods your child should avoid with their braces:
- Ice
- Hard candies
- Whole nuts
- Crunch biscuits
- Beer jerky
- Caramel
- Chewing gum
- Popcorn kernels
- Meat off the bone
For a full list of foods to avoid, reach out to our team or speak to us at your next appointment. If your child has Invisaligns, make sure they remove their aligners before eating!
Don’t Let Them Use Their Teeth As Tools
Many of us have probably used our teeth as scissors to open a snack or a package as children. But that bad habit can put your child’s smile at risk, especially into adulthood.
Every time your child uses their teeth to open something, they’re not only damaging their enamel, but they risk breaking their braces. If you notice this habit in your child, tell them why it’s essential to use the proper tools to get the job done.
Consider a Mouthguard
Whether your child plays a sport loves to spend time outside, investing in a mouth guard is a good way to protect your child’s smile. A mouthguard can help lessen the impact of a blow to the mouth during a game or if your child falls while playing.
Your child’s mouthguard can be custom made, just like their braces, to ensure that it fits properly.
Visit Your Orthodontist for Check-Ups
Having a good oral hygiene routine at home is the basis of a healthy and bright smile for your little one, but it’s also essential to regularly see their orthodontist for adjustments and check-ups.
At these appointments, we’ll take a look at your child’s braces to look for broken brackets or wires. We’ll also adjust the braces to tighten them, forcing your teen’s smile to straighten over time.
Pediatric Orthodontist in Anaheim
If you have any questions about your child’s braces, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Starship M Kids Dentistry. Contact our Anaheim dental team at or visit us online. With services offered in Spanish and Korean, our staff is fully committed to providing the best dental care for your child.
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