How your dentists in Amherst, New Hampshire can help your child have a great smile

If you are thinking about orthodontic treatment for your child, it’s good to be prepared because your child will need to practice excellent oral hygiene habits.

The dentists at Children’s Dental Center of New Hampshire in Amherst, New Hampshire offer a wide range of preventive dental care services for children to help your child have a beautiful smile before, during, and after orthodontic treatment.

Plaque is the enemy, especially during orthodontic treatment. Plaque contains millions of bacteria which produce toxins. These toxins can destroy the health of your child’s teeth and gums.

When your child is having orthodontic treatment, there are lots of areas around the brackets which can harbor plaque bacteria. The good news is, there are effective ways to keep one’s smile healthy, even during orthodontic treatment.

Your child needs to:

• Brush after meals and before bed. Children often do better with a sonic or electric toothbrush because it pulses and flushes away plaque and food debris. Make sure your child brushes around the brackets and along the gumline in addition to cleaning the tooth surfaces.
• Floss every day. Flossing presents challenges, but there are handy floss threading tools to help your child floss under the wires and between teeth. Floss picks work well also.
• Use a fluoride rinse after brushing and flossing to help keep tooth enamel strong and decay resistant. Make sure your child doesn’t eat, drink, or rinse after using the fluoride. It’s best to keep the fluoride on the tooth surface as long as possible.

It’s best to avoid some foods during orthodontic treatment to prevent breaking a bracket. Have your child avoid sticky foods like caramels and hard foods like hard bread.

Your dentist can help your child enjoy a healthy smile so make sure your child has a dental examination and x-rays at least every twelve months and a professional dental cleaning every six months.

A straight smile is a great investment for your child, and great oral hygiene can help you and your child reap the benefits. To find out more about oral care during orthodontic treatment and orthodontic options, call the dentists of Children’s Dental Center of New Hampshire in Amherst, New Hampshire at (603) 673-1000. Call today!