Beat the Heat with Kid-Friendly Summer Drinks

 

South Charlotte Family Dentistry last  talked about how to fill our children’s plates with healthy, balanced foods, but what about what we pour into their sippy cups and glasses?

Children are rapidly growing and have high metabolic rates, meaning that they experience greater water loss through the skin and excrete more urine than adults. All of this adds up to children losing more water than they intake, meaning children are much more susceptible to dehydration! Drinking water is also super important to our oral health, preventing dry mouth, bad breath, and tooth decay. So how can we make sure children they’re getting the right amount of water, especially on these hot summer days?

 

“I’m SO thirsty! Can I have a drink?”

Our best advice? Whenever your child tells you they are thirsty, offer water first! Children will learn to associate water with quenching their thirst if it’s always what’s being offered to them.

Children don’t always tell us when they’re thirsty. Young children especially can experience more difficulty communicating their need for water, and so it’s up to their caregivers to recognize, supply, and ensure sufficient water intake throughout the day.

Daily water intake can vary from child to child depending on a variety of factors, such as age, weight, sex, air temperature and humidity, and activity levels. Water intake based on age range provides an average recommendation for a healthy kid living in a temperate climate; you should consult your pediatrician for what’s right for your kid or teen.

 

Age Range	Sex	Total Water (Cups/Day)
2 to 4 years old	Male and Female	2 to 4 cups
4 to 8 years old	Male and Female	7
9 to 13 years old	Male	9
	Female	10
14 to 18 years old	Male	14
	Female	10

 

If you’re reading the cups per day and freaking out, hold on! It’s important to keep in mind that the recommendations are for total water intake per day. This means that we’re including water from drinking water and consuming other beverages and food. Fruit and vegetables have a lot higher water content than other solid food, which makes the calorie content low and the nutrient level high, giving your children a balanced meal and providing sufficient water intake.

 

Make a splash by getting creative with H20!

Plain water doesn’t float everyone’s boat all the time, but don’t be afraid to jazz it up!

Here are some quick ideas to make hydrating throughout the day more fun for your child:

• Make sipping fun by using a cute, themed cup based on their interests (e.g. Disney, Paw Patrol, glitter)
• Use a silly straw!
• Freeze ice cubes together in animal-shaped trays
• Freeze fruit together and let your child add as wanted to their drink
• Make water more visually enticing with a fruit infuser bottle
• Have balanced fruit and veggie smoothie!

 

Sparkling waters flavored naturally with lime, lemon, other fruity flavors are a fine stand-in for kids who want the carbonation that reminds them of soda. Sparkling water is 100% water, meaning it’s just as hydrating as plain water is. Because they’re unsweetened with zero sugar, they are a better choice than fruit punches, soda, sports drinks, or other sugary drinks. 

 

But, is sparkling water bad for your child’s teeth?

The jury is still out on this one. The American Dental Association cites sugary drinks as the leading cause of tooth decay in kids and teens, as over time, the drinks erode tooth enamel. Any drinks that have a pH less than 4 are potentially damaging to the teeth. Sparkling water has a low pH between 2.74-3.34. Sparkling water may have the potential to erode tooth enamel and since they’re typically flavored with citric acid, should be considered “acidic fruit drinks” and not just flavored water.

 

For comparison, here are other leading children’s drinks pH levels:

 

Beverage	pH
Plain water	7
Milk	6.6-6.8
Juicy Juice	3.6
Tropicana 100% Apple Juice	3.5
Orange Juice	3.3.
Gatorade Lemon-Lime	2.97
Capri Sun	2.6
Coca-Cola	2.5

 

The best way to flavor water is by adding fruit like blueberries, pineapples, and strawberries, or vegetables like cucumber or mint to water. Watch out for flavored water containing artificial sweeteners like Sucralose or Aspartame – when in doubt, don’t assume flavored water is naturally flavored, and read the label thoroughly!

 

Reach for tap water over bottled water.

Tap water contains fluoride, which is a natural mineral that’s absorbed into tooth enamel and resists tooth decay. Without fluoride, we’re more susceptible to cavities. The American Dental Association notes that if you primarily drink bottled water, your family may be missing out on the benefits of fluoride! If your tap water doesn’t have fluoride, you can add it to your children’s diet by choosing foods that naturally contain fluoride like grapes, potatoes, and hot cereals. Your pediatric dentist at South Charlotte Dentistry can also apply a fluoride varnish for added protection.

 

Limit juices and save sports drinks for game days.

Juice is loaded with sugar! Most juice drinks like Capri Sun or Hi-C have a fraction of real juice. 100% fruit juice is good for kids sometimes, but children should have no more than 6 ounces a day for kids ages 1 to 6, and no more than 12 ounces for kids over 7.

 

Always provide appropriate hydration during and after exercise or physical activity.

Here’s where quality over quantity of fluid intake comes in. If your kid is playing on sports teams or just running around the neighborhood for hours playing, they’re going to need more water! Before and after play, give them two to three cups of water. During any breaks of activity, encourage them to take anywhere from 6 to eight big gulps of water.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s water intake, fluoride, or oral health, give South Charlotte Dentistry a call today!

How Sugary Foods and Drinks Affect Your Child’s Teeth (and Healthy Summer Alternatives)

 

This year has been like no other, and one result of the pandemic is that kids have been home for much longer than in a normal year. Even with the new academic year approaching, many households will be learning to navigate online school, which means that children will be spending at least the first month of the school year at home. And that leaves a lot of time for snacking!

While snacking is an essential part of health and development, eating too many of the wrong kinds of foods can do serious harm to a child’s dental health. It’s important to understand how certain foods and beverages affect your child's teeth so that you can put in place some healthy guidelines for the remainder of the summer and beyond. Below, we will discuss the impact that sugar has on teeth, which foods and drinks are good and bad for teeth, ideas for healthy summer treats, and more. 

 

THE SUGAR EFFECT 

Yes, kids love sugary snacks. And they love them for the same reasons adults love them—sugary snacks are yummy. But they don’t do anything to promote healthy teeth, and many sugary foods have a high fat content as well. Plus, most children who eat a lot of sugary foods consume several types of sugar each day, including table sugar, corn sweeteners, and starches that turn into sugar in the mouth. 

Each of us has bacteria in our mouths, which aren’t bad in and of themselves. Some of these bacteria live on the surface of our teeth, creating a sticky film called plaque. However, when we consume too many sugary foods and beverages, the bacteria mixes with the sugar to form acid. Too much of this acid will cause the enamel of our teeth to erode, which will eventually lead to cavities. 

Since kids are even more susceptible to tooth decay and cavities than adults are, it’s important to limit the sugary foods your child eats. By doing so, the bacteria in your child’s mouth will not be able to produce as much of the harmful acid. 

 

THE GOOD FOODS 

While there’s no getting around the fact that many unhealthy foods are delicious, there are also plenty of tasty options that promote dental and overall health. Here are some examples of teeth-friendly foods to consider adding to your child’s diet:

 

Celery and carrots. The hard, crunchy texture of celery and carrots has a way of scrubbing your child’s teeth clean. And because these vegetables take longer to chew than some other foods, that’s more time that their teeth are being cleaned! Plus, celery and carrots are high in water and fiber content, both of which are effective cleaning qualities. Moreover, the fibrous strands of celery naturally floss teeth.

 

Apples. As with celery and carrots, apples have a crunchy texture and are high in water and fiber content. By having your child chew at least one apple a day, you can know that their teeth are getting a natural scrubbing! And let’s not forget—apples are delicious and they contain tons of vitamins and minerals that benefit overall health.

 

Green leafy vegetables and broccoli. These vegetables also have a bunch of fiber, along with various vitamins and minerals. Kale, spinach, and other leafy greens are high in folic acid, which also benefits your child’s teeth and gums. And the crunchy texture of broccoli adds scrubbing power to the mix. These factors make green leafy vegetables and broccoli some of the best foods for promoting dental and overall health. 

 

Eggs. Eggs are loaded with protein, calcium, and vitamin D, all of which are critical minerals for dental health. As with bones, calcium is needed for the development of healthy, strong teeth. And in order for your child's teeth to absorb calcium, vitamin D must be present. Plus, there are many other health benefits to protein, calcium, and vitamin D, which makes eggs an essential food for any diet (barring an allergy).

 

Dairy products. Calcium, phosphorus, and casein abound in foods like milk, yogurt, and cheese. All of these minerals can help to protect your child’s tooth enamel. What’s more, many nutrients found in dairy products can help to neutralize the acid produced by the bacteria in plaque. When possible, opt for low or nonfat dairy products. 

 

Nuts. Nuts are also high in calcium and phosphorus. This means that peanuts, almonds, and cashews are more than just delicious snacks—they can help to replenish essential minerals in your child's tooth enamel that are eaten by acid. 

 

Water. Water is life, and it’s essential for overall health, including dental health. Make sure your child drinks plenty of water with fluoride each day. While most drinking water contains fluoride, you still want to check the bottled water your household uses. 

Later, we’ll discuss some fun snack ideas that incorporate many of these foods. Don’t be surprised if your child discovers some new teeth-friendly snacks and meals that they love!

 

THE BAD FOODS 

No one needs to tell you how many unhealthy foods are out there, but there are certain ones that have particularly negative consequences for teeth. Below are some examples of foods that are best avoided—or at least limited—in children’s diets.

 

Chewy candy. Perhaps the worst type of food children can eat for their teeth is chewy candy. Not only is it loaded with sugar, but it can also get stuck in between the teeth and remain there for long periods of time. Caramels and taffy, for example, can hide in crevices and cause enamel to erode. 

Even worse, sour gummy candies are acidic on top of being chewy and sugary. This makes them the single worst food for teeth. Moreover, dried fruits with added sugar can also be harmful to your child’s dental health. 

 

White flour starches. Any starch made with white flour is considered a simple carbohydrate. This means that the carbohydrates break down into simple sugars in the body, which not only turn into fat but can also combine with plaque bacteria to form the acid that causes tooth decay. Because of this, things like potato chips are not an ideal snack for children to eat on a regular basis, not to mention they offer no nutritional value. Furthermore, choosing pasta and bread made with whole wheat instead of white flour can benefit your child’s dental health. 

 

Citrus. Yes, citrus fruits and juices come with many health benefits, particularly vitamin C. However, there’s a trade-off when it comes to teeth. Fruits like lemon and grapefruit are very high in acidity, which can cause decay in tooth enamel. As mentioned, these fruits offer a lot of nutrients, so avoiding them altogether might not be the answer. Instead, just be conscious of how often your child eats them, and try to brush their teeth (or have them do it) about 30 minutes after consuming citrus fruits and juices. 

On another note, many fruit juices that are supposedly 100% fruit juice have loads of sugar. This means that frequent consumption of these juices can lead to tooth decay and cavities, which is something else to be conscious of. 

 

Sugary beverages. Other beverages that contain a lot of sugar include sodas and sports drinks. Both regular and sugar-free sodas have a high acid content, which can cause serious damage to teeth when paired with the sugar. And even non-carbonated sports drinks are high in acid and sugar. Be mindful of these kinds of beverages when you’re evaluating your child’s diet.

 

HEALTHY SUMMER TREAT IDEAS

There are plenty of healthy summer treats that won’t harm your child’s teeth. Apples and pears provide a crunch that helps scrub teeth with each chew. Softer fruits like berries, bananas, and watermelon are delicious and packed with vitamins and minerals. Yogurt is also great in summer, and adding fruit to Greek yogurt will provide your child with naturally sweet nutrition. 

For savory treats, opt for cheese, which is rich in calcium. Hummus is another healthy snack that satisfies a savory tooth. Pita chips and whole grain crackers are healthier alternatives to potato chips, and they go great with cheese or hummus. Moreover, your child might enjoy cream cheese with carrots and/or celery, which will provide them with calcium and teeth-scrubbing power. 

 

THE SMART WAY TO SNACK 

Choosing healthy alternatives to sugary foods is ideal, but that doesn’t mean that you want to completely ban sweets. However, it is important to be mindful of when and how often your child snacks on sugar-heavy foods. 

Remember that when they eat sugary snacks, harmful acids develop in your child’s mouth, and it takes at least 20 minutes for those acids to neutralize. Therefore, if your child eats sugary snacks a bunch of times throughout the day, there is a higher chance of tooth decay and cavities. If possible, limit sweets to dessert after main meals, and have your child brush their teeth about 30 minutes afterward. 

Also, be conscious of how often your child drinks juice and soda. Similar to sugary foods, consuming these beverages means that your child is feeding the bacteria that cause tooth decay and cavities. So, if they sip on juice or soda all day, their mouth is in constant battle with these bacteria. To avoid this, limit sugary drinks to mealtimes or in one sitting at another time of day.

 

MAINTAINING HEALTHY DENTAL HABITS 

Along with eating a teeth-friendly diet, it’s essential that your child develops and maintains other healthy habits that will help preserve their dental health. Here are a few basic practices that will do the trick:

 

Going to Regular Checkups 

Untreated cavities are all too common among children, and they can be prevented by going to regular checkups at the dentist. Beginning at one year old or six months after the first tooth comes in, children should be visiting a pediatric dentist every six months. During these visits, the dentist or oral hygienist will examine your child’s mouth, clean their teeth, and apply a fluoride treatment. 

 

Brushing 

There’s no getting around the importance of brushing teeth. To remove plaque and maintain good oral health, your child should be brushing their teeth twice a day for two minutes. If your child is under the age of six, a low-fluoride toothpaste is generally recommended. But you will need to ask your child’s dentist to make sure. 

 

Flossing 

This is a tricky one. Most adults don’t like to floss, much less children. But the fact is that it’s a critical part of any healthy oral care routine. Flossing enables your child to remove plaque from areas between their teeth that are missed by a toothbrush. If possible, help your child form the habit of flossing once a day. 

 

Conclusion 

Don’t let this summer result in tooth decay and cavities for your child! Be conscious of the impact that sugary foods and drinks have on your child’s teeth, and find healthier alternatives that will both satisfy their taste buds and foster their health. And of course, make sure they are maintaining basic dental care practices like brushing, flossing, and visiting their dentist. If you need to schedule an appointment with South Charlotte Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, give us a call and we will make it happen!

How to Talk to Your Kids About PPE

At South Charlotte Dentistry, our top priority is keeping our patients and their loved ones safe, healthy, and informed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have had to postpone or cancel your child’s dental appointments. Based on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), American Dental Association (ADA), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as guidance from local and NC state governments, we have been limiting pediatric dental appointments to emergency procedures and urgent visits. As we begin accepting our patients back into the office, we want to ensure that you feel informed and safe about your children’s oral healthcare, but also that you know how to talk to your child about an upcoming appointment.

Going to the dentist can already be scary for a child, and visiting the dentist during the COVID-19 outbreak means that a dentist visit will almost certainly be different than what your child’s experienced before.  

A New Look at the Dentist to Keep Everyone Safe and Healthy

• Tell kids what to expect and why. You might say to an older child, “Your dentists and hygienists will be wearing their masks today, just like we wear masks at a grocery store. They also might have on more protective equipment like face shields, gowns, or goggles. You might think they look a little silly or maybe scary, but it’s a new thing they’re doing to stop germs.”
• Focus on the positive, and not on the bad things a virus can do. This might sound like, “Because of the virus going around, we’re all doing extra things to stop it from spreading. We get to help by wearing a mask when we walk into your appointment!”
• Let your kid show what they can do. You may invite your child to prompt you how are capable of stopping the spread of germs, by asking, “Can you show me how you put on and take off your mask? Great job!”
• Practice forehead temperature checks with your child, and offer rewards or encouragement for cooperation. Your visit may require a temperature check before entering. 
• Make sure your child understands what will be the same and different about the dentist visit. This sounds like, “When we go to the dentist tomorrow, we won’t get to play in the waiting room this time. Everyone there will be wearing a mask, and we’ll get to wear masks inside too. You’ll get to show your hygienist how good your teeth look and how you’ve been flossing! Dr. Wells will be there too. He’ll be wearing a mask and face shield. You’ll still get to choose a sticker when you’re done getting your teeth cleaned!”

Talking with your child about PPE
How kids react to seeing or wearing a mask may depend on their age; older kids may not react at all, whereas toddlers and young kids may feel cautious and unsure. Young children rely on faces to read signals and feel safe; when a child sees a smile or familiar face, it can put them at ease. Masks can hide those important signals. Here are our tips for talking to your child about masks:

• If your child hasn't witnessed mask-wearing at home or in public, you may want to set aside a time and safe place for them to look, watch, react, and be comforted by a parent. A child feeling upset or afraid may just need the security of a parent’s lap and a soothing “It’s ok” to calm them.
• Give kids time to practice wearing their masks before they may need to wear one outside of the home. Practice putting them on, spending a few minutes walking around, playing in a mask, and properly storing or disposing of the mask.
• Encourage kids to decorate their masks or choose a pattern for their masks. This gives kids a feeling of control over the situation, and a personal touch may make them more encouraged to want to wear their masks.
• Create no-sew masks together. Older kids may enjoy creating a mask, and you can create them with materials you probably already have around the house!
• Make wearing a mask fun! Younger kids react positively when a situation involves a sense of play. Encourage your child to wear their mask and pretend to be a doctor, nurse, or dentist! Have them put a mask on a stuffed animal, and then ask follow-up questions to the child on why the animal is wearing a mask. You’ll be able to clear up confusion and assess any anxieties your child might have about wearing a mask through this type of role-play.

Keep having those open, honest, and factual conversations with your children about COVID-19.
The CDC has great resources on how to talk to children about COVID-19, with age-appropriate tips on what to focus on and what facts to share with your child. We’re committed to the health and safety of our patients at South Charlotte Dentistry, and we encourage you to give us a call anytime. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have about our safety protocols or what to expect at your child’s appointment.

Custom Fitted Mouth Guards

The Importance of Scheduling Your Child a Back-to-School Check-Up (And What to Expect)

Regular dental checkups are a critical part of ensuring your child’s health and well-being. By taking a close look at your child’s teeth, a dentist is able to detect potential problems early on, which is when problems are easiest to treat. During a visit, you can expect the dentist (or oral hygienist) to thoroughly clean your child’s teeth and take an overall assessment of their oral health. This will help the dentist determine your child’s risk of tooth decay and other common issues.

Along with the cleaning process, the dentist may want to apply fluoride or a sealant to fight tooth decay, as well as perform an x-ray and/or other types of diagnostic procedures. Moreover, you can expect the dentist to discuss oral hygiene habits and diet, along with going over how to brush and floss their teeth effectively.

If your child is due for a checkup, now is the time to schedule an appointment with South Charlotte Dentistry. Below, we will discuss what the process might look like in more detail, as well as potential orthodontic procedures that could improve your child’s dental health.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A BACK-TO-SCHOOL CHECKUP
While regular dental checkups, which are typically every six months, are essential to oral health, getting one right before the school year starts is the best time for children. This is primarily because it helps to combat cavities—the most common chronic oral health disease found in school-age children. On the whole, more than 51 million hours of school are missed by children in the United States every year because of dental disease.

Along with reducing the likelihood of school absenteeism, the early detection and prevention of back-to-school checkups can help to keep your child from experiencing eating issues, speaking issues, pain, and many other difficulties throughout the year. So, be sure to plan ahead and schedule an appointment as soon as possible to make sure your child gets in!

YES, IT IS SAFE 
With everything going on with the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be wondering if now is a good time to send your child to the dentist. After all, it wasn’t long ago when dental offices across the country were shuttered, seeing only patients with serious cases like tooth pain and infections. However, now that restrictions have been loosened, dental offices are allowed to open for regular checkups.

And yes, it’s safe. In fact, both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed that not a single case of COVID-19 has been transmitted in a dental office. Additionally, dental offices (including ours) are taking extra precautions recommended by the CDC to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

GETTING TEETH CLEANED 
Let’s talk more about what you can expect when your child comes in for a teeth cleaning:

There will be a physical exam.
The first stage of your child’s dental checkup will most likely be the exam. This is where a dental hygienist will take a close look at the entire mouth. By using a small mirror, the hygienist will examine the teeth and gums for any potential issues, such as gingivitis. If they come across any concerns, the hygienist may call in the dentist to evaluate your child’s teeth and gums. Then, they will determine whether to proceed with the cleaning or take other action.

The hygienist will tackle plaque and tartar. 
If the cleaning proceeds, the next step will be to address any plaque and tartar buildup. The hygienist will use the mirror along with a scaler to remove plaque and tartar in between the teeth and around the gum line. This scraping can be a little scary for school-age children, so it’s important to prepare them for this part of the process beforehand. And if there is an excess amount of tartar in the mouth, it may take a little longer for the hygienist to remove it.

Besides telling your child what to expect during the scraping process, be sure to enforce proper brushing and flossing habits at home, as this is the only way to prevent plaque from hardening into tartar. And when your child has tartar on their teeth, it must be removed by a professional. Thus, make sure your child understands the importance of brushing and flossing.

The hygienist will brush your child’s teeth.
Once all the tartar is removed from your child’s teeth, the hygienist will then brush them with an electric toothbrush. Unlike conventional electric brushes used at home, however, the electric brush your child’s hygienist will use is high-powered, which means that it does an excellent job of deep cleaning teeth, albeit the grinding noise can be loud and startling to children. This is another thing you will want to discuss with your child before the visit.

Along with the high-powered electric brush, your child’s hygienist will use a professional-grade toothpaste for the cleaning. Kids usually don’t mind this part, because the toothpaste tastes and smells like normal toothpaste. However, the texture is gritty, which helps to remove stains from teeth while also polishing them. This heavy-duty kind of cleaning is good to have done twice a year, but it’s important that your child knows not to brush too hard at home because it can erode the enamel of their teeth.

The hygienist will floss between your child’s teeth.
After the deep cleaning, your child’s hygienist will floss between your child’s teeth and gums. Not only does this step help the hygienist to spot any potential places where your child’s gums may bleed, but it also helps to remove any plaque, toothpaste, and other debris that was missed during the cleaning.

Your child will rinse. 
Then, your child will rinse their mouth. This helps to rid their mouth of any leftover debris, and the liquid fluoride that your child’s hygienist will likely give them to rinse with will add another element of protection for your child’s teeth.

The hygienist will apply fluoride. 
The final step of a basic teeth cleaning involves the dental hygienist applying a fluoride treatment to your child’s teeth, which is meant to protect them from cavities for three to four months. Most likely, your child will choose a flavor of treatment, and then the hygienist will place a mouthpiece filled with a foamy gel or sticky paste over your child’s teeth and let it sit for about a minute. Finally, the hygienist will use a small brush to apply a fluoride varnish on your child’s teeth, which will dry immediately. 


GETTING BRACES 
Part of a checkup is evaluating the need for any orthodontic corrections. Braces are still one of the most popular such improvements, particularly among children. 

The Benefits of Braces
Getting traditional braces can do wonders for your child’s smile and, more importantly, oral health. If your child has overcrowded teeth, crooked teeth, gaps between teeth, and/or poor alignment of the upper and lower jaws, braces are worth considering because of their proven history to work. Here are some of the long-term benefits that braces can yield for a child who needs orthodontic correction:

• They can help you chew food more easily.
• They can help you speak more clearly.
• They can make it easier to brush, floss, and clean teeth.
• They can reduce the frequency of grinding and chipping teeth.
• They can help prevent protruding teeth (and the injuries they can cause).
• They can reduce cavities and the likelihood of periodontal disease.

Along with these benefits, braces can also boost your child’s self-esteem and confidence. While these reasons may not be as dire as your child’s health, they do play an undeniable role in your child’s mental and emotional health and wellbeing.

The Best Ages for Braces
Your dentist should be able to evaluate your child and determine the best course of action as far as orthodontic corrections go. That is, they should be able to tell you whether braces or another type of correction will work best, and if it’s braces, then when to do it.

Generally speaking, it’s best for children to get braces while their head and mouth are still growing. However, it’s also essential that the child can shoulder the responsibility of maintaining their oral health through brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and knowing what foods and drinks to avoid.

Furthermore, the child needs to be able to identify and communicate any pain they may be experiencing. This leaves the middle school years (roughly ages 11-14) as the ideal period in which to get braces. Nonetheless, it’s never too late to get braces, as they can prove helpful for teens and adults as well.


GETTING INVISALIGN
Another common product for orthodontic correction is Invisalign. Rather than using metal or plastic brackets and rubber bands/wires to reposition teeth (as braces do), Invisalign (“invisible aligners”) treatment serves the same purpose by using clear guides that fit over the teeth. Therefore, they are far less noticeable than traditional braces.

But there are many more benefits to using Invisalign than mere aesthetics. Here are some ways that Invisalign can be a better choice over traditional braces:

They are easier to clean.
While traditional braces can prove very effective long-term, they are a hassle when you’re wearing them, and this is especially the case for children. With Invisalign, you don’t have to worry about the impossible task of keeping your brackets clean; instead, you simply remove the aligner trays and brush them with toothpaste and warm water whenever they need cleaning.

They are lower-maintenance. 
When you have traditional braces, you have to take periodic trips to a dental office to get the rubber bands or wires tightened. This is unnecessary with the Invisalign treatment, as you will be given aligner trays for every phase of the process. Therefore, when it’s time, your child can just move onto the next aligner tray without having to visit the dentist.

They are more comfortable.
Braces are not known for being comfortable. And it’s not hard to understand why: The tension caused by the constant tightening of brackets, rubber bands, and/or wires hurts. Also, brackets can easily slip off or reposition to where they cut into your gums, tongue, or cheek. All of these issues are eliminated when you use Invisalign.

They don’t require adjustments for eating. 
Eating and drinking are much easier with Invisalign because all you have to do is remove your aligner trays beforehand. Then, you can brush and floss your teeth like you normally would before reinstalling the trays.

They work.
Last but not least: Invisalign treatment is effective. It can lead to major improvements if your child has crowded teeth, gaps in teeth, crossbite, overbite, underbite, and other misalignment issues. This in turn can significantly reduce the rate and risk of your child getting cavities and gum disease.

Conclusion
Now is the perfect time to schedule a back-to-school dental checkup for your child at South Charlotte Dentistry. Remember what you’ve read about the cleaning process so that you can help your child prepare for the big day. Also, look into the differences between traditional braces and Invisalign, along with factoring in the opinion of your child’s dentist, so that you can make a sound decision if your child needs orthodontic correction. Most importantly, remember that it’s safe to pay us a visit!