4 Things You Can Do to Help Your Little One Avoid Braces

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Braces can be expensive, but you can help your child avoid braces through these best practices! Working with your child’s orthodontist in Franklin, TN, and following the recommendations below, you can help your child have healthy straight teeth that don’t require braces.

1. Stop Pacifier Use When It’s Recommended

Prolonged use of a pacifier can affect your child’s bite, leading to a need for braces later. Pacifiers have been shown to reduce instances of SIDS, so the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the use of pacifiers starting from about one month old. Experts recommend stopping use of a pacifier by the time the baby is about 2 or 3 years old, to avoid problems with your child’s bite.

2. Stop Thumb Sucking Before Permanent Teeth Come In

Thumb sucking, just like use of a pacifier, can lead to problems with your child’s bite. Experts disagree on when it’s best to stop thumb sucking, although it may depend partially on how often and how hard your child sucks their thumb.

Many say that you should stop your child from sucking their thumb by the time their permanent teeth come in, while some experts say that your child should stop thumb sucking by the time they’re three years old.

3. Don’t Leave Loose Baby Teeth In For Too Long

Loose baby teeth that stay in too long can lead permanent teeth coming in to grow sideways. If your child’s tooth is so loose that it’s barely hanging there, it’s time to take the tooth out. Avoid taking the tooth out early, as this can cause bleeding or discomfort.

4. Take Your Child to the Orthodontist for Early Treatment

Children can be evaluated by an orthodontist as early as 7 years old. To find out if your child needs braces in Franklin, TN, contact Cool Springs Orthodontics today.

Can You Eat While Wearing Invisalign? And Other Frequently Asked Questions

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Invisalign clear aligners are the orthodontic tool of choice for patients who need to straighten their teeth. Invisalign helps patients straighten their teeth and correct problems with their bite, all with help from transparent aligners that are designed to be subtle. As your orthodontist in Franklin, TN, our patients commonly ask questions about Invisalign. If you too have questions and would like to know more, we can help.

1. Can you eat while wearing Invisalign?

No, don’t eat while wearing Invisalign. Invisalign is easy to remove for meals and snacks. While you’re eating, put your Invisalign aligners somewhere safe, like your case, where you won’t lose them. Once the meal is over, brush your teeth, rinse your aligners, and put them back in.

2. Should you leave Invisalign In While Sleeping?

Leave Invisalign in while you sleep unless your dentist directs you to do otherwise. Most patients wear Invisalign all the time except when eating. Most people need to wear Invisalign as often as 20 to 22 hours each day.

3. How long does Invisalign take to work?

Invisalign can work in 12 to 18 months. Some patients need to wear a retainer after they’ve finished with Invisalign in Franklin, TN. Every case is different, so your orthodontist will have to tell you how long you’ll need to wear Invisalign and whether you’ll need a retainer when the treatment is over.

Are you interested in Invisalign? If so, contact Cool Spring Orthodontics to make an appointment for an evaluation. Once we’ve determined whether Invisalign is a good product for your needs, we can help you get started with treatment.

3 Things You Can Do to Take Care Of Your Braces

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Your braces are important tools for straightening your teeth and correcting problems with your bite. You can help straighten your teeth faster by caring for your braces.

Your orthodontist in Franklin, TN, can help by providing you with good advice about braces maintenance and care. Below, we’ve listed three things you can do to take care of your braces and avoid problems with your teeth or the braces themselves.

1. Eat the Right Foods

Hard, crusty foods can cause your braces to break. Sticky, tacky candies like caramel can stick to your braces, making your braces difficult to clean. You can avoid these problems by eating foods that are soft and unlikely to damage your braces (or stick to them). Yogurt, oatmeal, and soups are all good examples of the types of food that can help you take care of your braces.

Some foods to avoid include:

  • Hard, crusty bread
  • Hard nuts like almonds
  • Hard candies
  • Sticky candies

2. Floss

It’s tempting to stop flossing once braces are put on your teeth. Braces can make flossing difficult because the wires get in the way of floss. It’s important to keep flossing even after braces have been installed.

Your dentist can show you how to floss. Your dentist may also recommend tools for flossing that can get around braces, like water floss or orthodontic floss. Either way, keep up your flossing habit, even after braces are installed.

3. Visit Your Orthodontist Regularly

Your orthodontist can help catch problems with your braces before they become serious. Visit your orthodontist if you’re noticing a problem with your braces in Franklin, TN, and keep up with your regular appointments to adjust your braces.