Our passionate and dedicated orthodontist at Olson Orthodontics, serving Verrado/Buckeye and Litchfield Park, AZ, is here to keep your child's teeth straight, beautiful, and healthy. However, adolescent dental care extends beyond the dental office chair, requiring your involvement to ensure they're keeping up with their regular oral health routine. Our use of advanced tools like the iTero scanner in Verrado/Buckeye helps ensure accurate treatment tracking and comfortable patient experiences.
Limit Sugary and Acidic Foods and Beverages
Acid is corrosive to your child's tooth enamel, especially when they consume it regularly. Ideally, you should limit your kid's intake and encourage them to brush their teeth 30 minutes later. If that's not possible, I suggest they at least rinse them with water afterward.
The same care applies when they consume sugar-laden foods and drinks. The bacteria consume that sugar and, in return, produce an acidic waste that causes tooth decay.
Urge Regular Brushing and Flossing for Better Oral Health
Dr. Olson, an orthodontist with Olson Orthodontics, suggests parents encourage their child to brush twice daily and floss once daily. Moreover, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that your child brush for at least two minutes per session.
If your kid has braces, they should use special orthodontic flossers that effectively clean between the teeth and around the wires and brackets. Encourage a teen with Invisalign clear aligners to brush after every meal to prevent food from remaining on or between their teeth.
Encourage Proper Use of Aligners
Be diligent about proper use, no matter how responsible your teen is or how excited they are about getting clear aligners. Invisalign works best when your child uses their aligners as the manufacturer recommends, meaning they use them for 20 to 22 hours per day, only removing them to eat and perform regular oral care. Our practice utilizes the latest orthodontic technology in Litchfield Park to ensure each aligner fits perfectly and treatment progresses efficiently.
Bring Them to Regular Appointments
Your kid must visit their regular dentist every six months for routine examinations and cleanings. Generally, their dentist will recommend annual X-rays to assess for cavities and other abnormalities.
A kid with braces usually needs to see Dr. Olson once every four to six weeks, while a child with Invisalign should return every six to eight weeks. These appointments are to monitor the results and alter the treatment as needed. If the dentist believes your child might require braces or other orthodontic treatment, they may recommend a referral to an orthodontist for an evaluation. Using a 3D dental scanner, we can assess and adjust treatment plans with remarkable precision.
Advise Your Child to Stay Hydrated
Water helps wash away debris in your child's mouth between brushing sessions. Drinking enough water also promotes saliva production and aids in balancing acid levels. Though your child's weight, activity level, and the weather influence how much water your child needs, as a general rule, a teenage girl needs at least eight cups per day. A male teen, on the other hand, should drink at least 11 cups.
Your child's daily habits impact their oral health, and special care is necessary if they have braces or Invisalign. Doing your part at home will help them stay on top of their adolescent dental care, but you'll still need to bring them to see a dentist and possibly an orthodontist regularly to optimize their treatment and the health and aesthetics of their smile.
Schedule an orthodontist visit at either our Litchfield Park or Verrado/Buckeye location for your kid today.