How To Enjoy Easter With Braces

 

If the Easter Bunny is headed to your house and your child has braces, you don’t have to turn him away. Just make sure he leaves treats that can be enjoyed without any damage to their brackets or wires.

What Not to Eat if You Have Braces

On Easter, it’s best to avoid any sugary treats on Easter if you have braces. However, part of the fun of the holiday is getting candy. Since it’s likely you won’t be able to avoid candy altogether, it’s best to leave out the candy that can do the most damage to braces. This includes:

• Anything with caramel or nuts
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Peeps
• Candy-coated chocolate or malt eggs

Candy You Can Eat if You Have Braces

Luckily, there are many types of treats that are safe to enjoy with braces. Chocolate without nuts is soft and won’t get as stuck in braces as taffy, caramel, or jelly beans. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Nestle Crunch and Three Musketeers are good chocolate options, in addition to plain chocolate bunnies and eggs. Plain M&Ms are a good option because their candy coating is thinner than candy-coated eggs. Just be sure to brush and floss thoroughly after you eat any candy. This will help remove any bits of chocolate lingering in your braces.

Homemade goodies, like brownies or cupcakes, are also good options. They are soft, and it’s possible to reduce some of the sugar in them by replacing it with a different type of sweetener.

Easter Gifts for Kids With Braces

Easter baskets don’t have to be filled with only candy. We don’t know many pre-teens or teens who would turn up their noses at an Amazon or iTunes gift card, a new case for their cell phone, makeup, a video game, or the next book in the series they are reading.

You can also encourage your child’s favorite hobby with gifts in their Easter basket. If you have a budding artist in your family, include paintbrushes, paints, a new sketchbook or pencils in their Easter basket. For a dog lover, you could include a book about teaching your pet tricks, a dog-themed t-shirt, or a gift card to the pet store or for animal training classes.

Another option is to fill a few plastic eggs with dollar bills (five-dollar bills if you’re feeling generous) instead of jelly beans.

Including Easter treats that are safe for kids braces ensures everyone will enjoy the holiday, rather than worrying what to do with a loose bracket or broken wire.

5 Daily Habits to Boost Your Dental Health

 

If you’re looking for ways to boost your dental health, look no further! Here are some daily habits that you can work into your routine to maintain the healthiest mouth possible.

1. Proper Brushing

Brushing is something everyone does, some better than others. It’s important to make sure you are brushing properly and efficiently and for the right amount of time. Here are some tips on how to properly brush your teeth:

·         Brush twice a day for 2 minutes (brush to your favorite song!)

·         Brush in a circular motion with medium pressure to avoid damaging gum tissue.

·         Brush your tongue. Did you know plaque also builds up on the surface of your tongue? In most cases, it looks like a white film and discolors the muscle. Not only will brushing your tongue on a daily basis better your overall dental health, it will also improve halitosis (bad breath).

2. Floss

In order to floss correctly, make sure you are flossing thoroughly on both sides of the tooth. Work the floss in a “C” motion around each tooth to ensure you are cleaning the interproximal areas that are hard to reach with a toothbrush.

3. Use Products that Contain Fluoride

Using fluoride is a great/easy way to boost your dental health! Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by slowing down the process of enamel breaking down and increasing the rate of remineralization process. The enamel of your tooth is hard yet porous. Because of this, plaque that sits on the surface of your teeth can produce acids that go into the pores of the enamel causing it to break down its structure from the inside. If left untreated a weak spot can form resulting in a cavity.

Here are some examples of how you can introduce fluoride into your dental health routine:

·         Fluoride Mouthwash- https://www.colgateprofessional.com/products/products-list/rinse-specialty/colgate-phos-flur-rinse

·         Fluoride Toothpaste- Most toothpastes contain fluoride! Make sure to check the label before purchasing.

·         Visit your general dentist– At your routine dental check up’s, your dental hygienists uses fluoride to deep clean your teeth.

·         Drink tap water- Tap water contains fluoride which will naturally help strengthen your teeth. In fact, studies show that drinking tap water can decrease your chances of getting a cavity by up to 50%! 

4. Drink Plenty of Water

Drinking water is essential, but some may not realize the positive benefits it may have on your smile. By simply drinking plain water while eating, you are helping clean away excess food particles that may be sitting on your teeth. However, drinks such as coffee, tea, or flavored water may contain added sugars or acidity that can cause cavities.

Water does not stain or damage teeth, making it the healthiest beverage choice when choosing to boost your dental health!

5. Eat Healthy

You’ve heard it from your doctor time and time again, and now you’re hearing it from your orthodontist! The foods you choose to consume will ultimately have an effect on your teeth one way or the other. Here are some healthy food options that you can add into your daily routine:

·         Hard/Solid Foods- These are necessary to maintain a strong mouth and jaw.

·         Crisp Fruits & Raw Vegetables- Chewing a crispy apple, or munching on some carrots or celery can do a lot of benefit for your oral health! Not only will they help clean plaque off of your teeth, but they can also naturally freshen your breath. The nutrients from fresh fruits and vegetables are also healthy for your gums and protect against cell damage.

For more information on boosting your dental health, visit the Spannhake Orthodontics website: https://www.spannhakeorthodontics.com/oral-hygiene.php