National Orthodontic Health Month starts in October! With all those sweet treats that we all just can’t keep our hands off of, it’s the perfect time to be reminded of our oral health and why orthodontic treatment is important to all ages.
The Importance of Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic treatment does a lot more than just create a beautiful smile. Crooked teeth and/or a misaligned bite can lead to many painful and unwanted side effects. A misaligned jaw can lead to pain, issues with chewing, and problems talking. Additionally, crowded or misaligned teeth can cause damage to your oral health because it’s harder to clean everything you need to clean when your teeth aren’t straight.
Visit your Dentist and Orthodontist Regularly
It’s important to always remember that orthodontic appointments are just as important as your regular dental checkups. Dentist’s and orthodontists’ jobs are different and they look for different things in your mouth. Although orthodontists undergo the same training as dentists, they continue school further to better prepare and learn about orthodontics after graduating from dental school. The 2-3 extra years of training means that when you choose to take your child to a regular dentist and an orthodontist, you will be giving your child a well-rounded experience to ensure they have the best possible oral health and smile.
Age 7
A lot of people think of older children when they think of orthodontics appointments. The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that every child be seen by an orthodontist around the age of 7, which is when the child’s permanent teeth start to come in. Why so early? Starting the orthodontic process early will make sure that our orthodontists understand your child’s mouth and help diagnose any potential problems that may arise. While they may not get into braces immediately, it’s important to bring them in at age 7 so our team can create a custom orthodontic journey plan for you.
Halloween Candy Tips
Has your child already started their journey to a more beautiful and healthy smile? That’s wonderful! October is a great month to remember to stay away from all of the sticky and chewy candy this Halloween. Those types of candies are the hardest on our teeth and can cause some major issues, especially if your child has braces on currently. It’s still okay to let your kids have Halloween candy though! Just try to encourage them to choose the soft, “melt in your mouth”, candy instead. YUM! Don’t forget to make sure your child brushes their teeth right after digging into their Halloween basket. It’s important to keep all of those cavities away, especially during a week FULL of delicious goodies.
