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3 Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment

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Experts recommend bringing your child to the orthodontist for an evaluation and checkup by the time they turn seven. Getting orthodontic care as soon as possible can help your child develop straight, healthy teeth. If you have a young child who is old enough to see the orthodontist in Laurel, MD, and Bethesda, MD, here’s what you need to know.

What Is Early Orthodontic Treatment?

Early orthodontic treatment begins when your child is at a young age. Ideally, this treatment will start with evaluations when your child turns seven. Early orthodontic treatment allows orthodontists to catch orthodontic problems as soon as they can be treated.

What Are the Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment?

There are many benefits of early orthodontic treatment. Here are some examples:

  1. Early orthodontic care is proactive. When your child is seven years old, their jaw will have grown sufficiently that the orthodontist will be able to see future growth and development. This allows orthodontists to identify proactive things they can do to help your child avoid orthodontic problems.
  2. Catch problems as soon as they can be treated. Early orthodontic care also allows the orthodontist to catch problems as soon as they can be treated.
  3. Can save you money and time. Early orthodontic care may save you money and time if the orthodontist can take proactive steps to help your child avoid orthodontic problems.

Do you have a grade-school-age child? It may be time for them to get early orthodontic treatment in Laurel, MD, and Bethesda, MD. If so, we can help. Call today to make an appointment and learn more about early orthodontic care.

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Protect Your Oral Health During Braces Treatment

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If you wear braces, you probably dream of the day when you have your orthodontic appointment to have the braces removed. Finally, you’ll have beautiful teeth that will make you feel great about smiling! Orthodontic treatment can take up to two years—and sometimes more! That’s a long time to wait for a reveal! But what if your teeth aren’t in as good a condition as you had assumed when your braces come off? There have been instances when poor oral health habits have led to one or more teeth being in bad shape under thosebraces in Bethesda, MD. To make sure your teeth are well taken care of during braces treatment, follow these tips.

1. Be Careful What You Eat

You won’t be able to eat everything you used to. Avoid things that can get stuck in braces. Chewing gum is off limits, too. Bread gets stuck in braces, so it’s probably best to avoid sandwiches. Any food debris that gets stuck is liable to lead to tooth decay.

2. Brush Well

A quick, gentle tooth brushing may not be sufficient when you wear braces. Make sure you use a firm touch, and inspect your mouth afterward to make sure you got everything off your teeth from your meal. And whatever you do, never skip brushing!

3. Use a Water Flosser

A water flosser does a great job of reaching those nooks and crannies in braces. It’s worth the investment to ensure you’re getting rid of all the food debris trapped in your mouth.

As yourBethesda, MD orthodontist, we work hard for you. With your help, together we can ensure your teeth look fantastic after braces treatment.

Special Appliances to Maintain Oral Health During Braces

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If you’re getting braces, or you already have them, you need to learn some new skills for taking care of your teeth while you have braces. The horror stories of people’s teeth rotting while they have braces are very much exaggerated, but it is possible to experience tooth decay if you aren’t vigilant about taking care of your teeth while undergoing orthodontic treatment in Laurel, MD. The day you get your braces off, you want to be happily surprised at how awesome your teeth look, not worried about whether they’re still healthy. But don’t worry. Special appliances designed for cleaning around braces make it easier to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Water Flossers for Hard-to-Reach Areas

A water flosser is an excellent tool for patients with braces. This device uses a pressurized stream of water to remove food particles and plaque from between teeth and around brackets and wires. It’s especially helpful for areas that traditional flossing may not reach easily. Regular use of a water flosser helps prevent plaque buildup, making it a must-have for orthodontic care.

Electric Toothbrushes

Electric toothbrushes can be fun to use, especially if you have braces. These handy gadgets can make quick work of leftover food debris, ensuring you get every little crumb out of the tiny little crevices that braces create.

Interdental Brushes

For tight spaces that are tricky to clean, interdental brushes are highly effective. These teensy, cone-shaped brushes fit pretty well in between wires and brackets, reaching spots where plaque is most likely to form. They’re definitely a convenient addition to your daily oral hygiene routine.

Your Laurel, MD orthodontist at Heller Orthodontics can guide you on the best appliances for your specific needs. Contact us today to learn more.