Kids Dental Online - Plano & Carrollton

Pediatric Kids Dentist Plano Carrollton

Plano Office
3001 N Dallas Parkway, Suite B
Plano, TX 75093
Phone: 972-378-5437
       
Carrollton Office
1912 E Hebron Parkway, Suite 104
Carrollton, TX 75007
Phone: 972-394-2140
  • Home
  • Our Team
    • What is a Pediatric Dentist?
    • Meet Our Team of Pediatric Dentists
    • Jeffrey D. Holt, DDS, MS
    • Moisa Sapozhnikov, DDS
    • Mindy Li, DDS
    • Nathan Cotten, DDS, MS – Orthodontist
    • Dental Hygienists
  • Dental Topics
    • Toothaches in Children
    • Pulp Therapy in Children
    • Bruxism is Teeth Grinding or Jaw Clenching in Children
    • Tongue Thrusting in Children
    • Baby Dental Topics
      • Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
      • Dental Hygiene For Babies And Toddlers
      • Stages of Teething and Helpful Hints
      • Thumb Sucking and Pacifiers “Non-nutritive Sucking Habits”
    • Can Oral Piercings Affect Your Teeth?
    • Oral Hygiene
      • Dental Cavities and How to Prevent Them
      • Bad Breath in Children
      • Dental Fluoride Treatments in Children
      • Dental Sealants Prevent Cavities in Children
      • Dental Treatment for Tooth Decay
      • Oral Health and Gum Disease
      • Enamel Hypoplasia/Enamel Defect
      • Eating Healthy to Promote Strong Teeth in Children
      • Foods That Stain Teeth
      • Soda Drinking and Its Effect on Teeth
      • Sports Drinks Can Be Harmful to Teeth
      • Vaping Can Affect Oral Health
        • How Can Vaping Affect My Teen’s Oral Health?
      • Permanent Tooth Eruption In Children
    • White Dental Crowns for Kids
    • Is Teeth Whitening Safe For Children?
    • Wisdom Teeth
      • Over-Retained Primary Teeth (Baby Teeth)
        • Treating Over-Retained Primary Teeth (Baby Teeth)
    • Hyperdontia Supernumerary Teeth
    • Hypodontia (Missing Teeth)
    • Canker Sores (Aphthous Ulcers)
      • Treating Canker Sores (Aphthous Ulcers)
    • Tips & Safety
      • Eating Disorders Can Affect Kid’s Teeth
      • Preventing and Treating Oral Damage from Eating Disorders
      • Xylitol Dental Benefits
      • Choosing the Best Toothpaste for Children
      • Dental Emergencies
      • Dental Health Resources
      • Dental Sedation
      • Healthy Eating
      • Motivating Your Child to Brush Their Teeth
      • Mouth Guards Prevent Dental Injury in Sports
      • Pediatric Dental X-rays (Radiography) and Safety
    • Dental Emergencies
    • Orthodontics
      • Why Young Kids Need Braces
      • Types of Braces
      • Orthodontic Daily Care
        • Caring for Braces
        • How do you care for braces
        • Helpful Tips for Braces
      • Jaw Surgery for Orthodontics (Maxilla and Mandible)
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How do you care for braces , flossing , brushing teeth
​How do you care for braces is the most important question to ask your orthodontist.
How do you care for braces is the most important question to ask your orthodontist. Caring for the teeth and braces sufficiently can be difficult for kids, so understanding oral hygiene and potential dental issues that arise from poor oral care becomes more important than ever before during the period a child undergoes orthodontic treatment. 

Taking good care of braces is imperative in evading problems while they are on and ending up with a beautiful smile when they come off. No matter how much time, money, and discomfort a person expends over braces, oral hygiene is requisite to resulting in a gorgeous and healthy smile. When a child is wearing braces, several adjustments must be made for maintaining proper oral care including, avoiding certain foods, brushing and flossing the right way and more often, wearing rubber bands according to the treatment plan, and promptly visiting the orthodontist for any wires or brackets that become loose or broken. 

Why is Oral Hygiene So Important For People With Braces?

Proper oral care is always key in preventing common dental problems like gingivitis, demineralization, and plaque build up, but it becomes exceptionally important during the period of time children undergo orthodontic treatment like braces. Oral hygiene becomes more difficult with braces, and children become especially prone to these dental problems when wearing braces. These problems are irritating and can be miserable enough to deal with on their own, but if left untreated have the potential to cause serious secondary oral health issues and consequently, even extend a child’s time in braces. In acute cases of oral health problems, an orthodontist may even have to remove braces and wait for the mouth and gum problems to resolve before being able to reapply braces. 

Brushing Teeth With Braces

Kids with braces must take extra care cleaning their teeth and may need to adjust specifically the way and how often they brush their teeth. It is extremely important for a child with braces to brush their teeth after every meal. Brushing 4 times a day, even, is a great way to keep food particles and plaque from building up in the braces and teeth. It is also recommended to brush the teeth for several minutes during every cleaning. A toothbrush should be replaced more often for kids with braces, specifically right when the bristles start to fray or wear down. 

To correctly brush teeth with braces:

1. Hold the toothbrush parallel to the floor against the side of the teeth.

2. Move the toothbrush in small circular motions, guiding the head of the brush from tooth to tooth, following the regular curve of the gums and teeth.
  
3. Brush each tooth for several seconds carefully and slowly to make sure all food particles are reached and removed along the gum line, between braces, and on the surface of each tooth. 

4. Remember to brush the tops of teeth, the insides of teeth, the back of the mouth, and behind the molars. Brush upward on the lower teeth and downward on the upper teeth. Also brush the roof of the mouth and tongue before rinsing. 

5. To properly clean brackets, angle the brush head against them and do not forget to also brush thoroughly under the wires. 

Flossing Teeth With Braces

Even though flossing can be a hassle, it is important to do this every night after brushing teeth, especially when wearing braces. Even if it seems like all food particles have been brushed away, braces are known for trapping food in places that are hard to see and reach. A person with braces will need to use “threader floss” specifically, to be able to floss properly around wires. This type of floss has a stiff end that permits flossing between brackets. Reusable plastic floss threaders in combination with regular floss can also be used to achieve the same oral care. 

To correctly floss with braces:

1. Slide a piece of floss (about 18 inches long) under the wire, above the space between the two teeth. Insert the floss half way through, and then hold both end of the floss. 

2. Carefully, slide the floss up and down a few times between the teeth. When the tooth is clean, you will hear a slight squeaking sound.

3. When flossing the gum line, curve the floss into the shape of a “C,” and remember to floss below the gum line with a soft up and down motion. 

4. Be careful when flossing around the archwire, and do not apply too much pressure to it. 

5. Gently, remove the floss, thread it under the next wire, and repeat the steps above. 

Gums may bleed when a child first starts flossing. It is normal for gums to bleed a little after flossing for about a week, but if the bleeding persists this should be addressed during the child’s next orthodontic appointment.  The whole process of flossing may take up to 15-20 minutes in the beginning, but speed increases with practice. 

Food To Avoid With Braces

Sticky and hard food must be avoided while wearing braces, because they can break or ruin wires and brackets. Also, eating really sugary foods while wearing braces highly increases the risk for cavities and tooth decay.  Kids should stop any habits like chewing on foreign objects, pencil or pen chewing, and nail biting while wearing braces, because these too can damage the brackets and wires. 

Avoid sticky foods like:

Gum (regular or sugar-free)
Toffee
Caramels
Starburst
Licorice
Jolly ranchers
Gummy bears 
Gooey chocolate bars
Sticky peanut butter
Any other chewy candy

Avoid Hard Foods Like:

Nuts
Hard taco shells 
Hard breads like bagels or baguettes 
Apples and carrots (unless cut in small pieces)
Chips
Pizza crust 
Chunky peanut butter
Ice
Corn on the cob (cut off the cob)

Reduce Sugary Foods Like:

Sodas
Ice cream 
Cookies 
Candy
Cake 
Kool-Aid
Gatorade
Sweet tea

Wearing Rubber Bands with Braces

Most kids need to wear rubber bands towards the end of their time in braces to move their upper and lower teeth together correctly. Wearing rubber bands with braces usually lessens the amount of time braces must be worn overall. When the teeth are straight (due to the brackets and wires) and fit together (due to wearing the rubber bands), braces can be completely removed. Rubber bands should be worn 24 hours a day, and should be taken out and changed every time a child eats. Remove them only while brushing the teeth, and then replace them right after. 

Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, and Mouthwash 

For brushing teeth with braces, a toothbrush with soft bristles is best. Brushing with a manual toothbrush, however, does increase the risk for leaving food particles and plaque behind. Using a power toothbrush is highly encouraged. 

No specific toothpaste is needed necessarily for brushing teeth with braces, but fluoride toothpaste is encouraged. Selecting a type of toothpaste with comprehensive protection helps maintain optimal oral health. 

It is also recommended for kids to use mouthwash twice daily for about a minute each time to rinse around brackets. Using mouthwash helps clean the tiny spaces between teeth, where food particles may still be trapped after brushing and flossing. 

Please contact Kids Dental Plano Office or Kids Dental Carrollton Office to schedule a visit with one of our pediatric dentists or orthodontist. 

Kids Dental Plano Carrollton Dr. Jeff Holt Pediatric Dentists and Orthodontist

kids dental topics pediatric dentist dr jeff holtInfant Dental Topics

  • Why Baby Teeth Are Important
  • Five Stages of Teething and Helpful Hints 
  • Dental Hygiene for Babies and Toddlers
  • Baby Bottle (Nursing) Tooth Decay
  • Thumb Sucking and Pacifiers “Non-nutritive Sucking Habits”

Infant Dental Topics

  • Why Baby Teeth Are Important
  • Five Stages of Teething and Helpful Hints 
  • Dental Hygiene for Babies and Toddlers
  • Baby Bottle (Nursing) Tooth Decay
  • Thumb Sucking and Pacifiers “Non-nutritive Sucking Habits”
detnal topics

Children Dental Topics

  • Permanent Tooth Eruption in Children
  • Dental Cavities and How to Prevent Cavities
  • Dental Fillings, Stainless-steel Crowns-Treatment for Tooth Decay
  • Zirconia White Dental Crowns for Kids
  • Oral Health and Gum Disease
  • Motivating Your Child to Brush Their Teeth
  • When Should I Change My Toothbrush?
  • Choosing the Best Toothpaste for Children
  • Eating Healthy to Promote Strong Teeth in Children
  • Dental Sealants Prevent Cavities in Children
  • Dental Fluoride Treatments in Children
  • Mouth Guards Prevent Dental Injury in Sports
  • Enamel Hypoplasia/Enamel Defect
  • Bad Breath in Children – Halitosis
  • The Top Drinks and Foods That Stain Teeth
  • Sports Drinks Can Be Harmful to Teeth
  • Xylitol Dental Benefits

Pediatric Dental Emergencies

  • Read about pediatric dental emergencies and what to do when they occur.

Safety in Pediatric Dentistry

  • Pediatric Dental X-rays (Radiography) and Safety
  • Dental Sedation and Safety
  • Product Recalls and Health Alerts

Dental Health Resources

  • Web resources on pediatric dental care.

orthodontic braces

Pediatric Orthodontic Topics

  • Why Young Kids Need Braces
  • Types of Braces
  • Caring for Braces
  • Helpful Tips for Braces
  • Jaw Surgery for Orthodontics (Maxilla and Mandible)
    At Kids Dental, your child’s health and safety are a top priority. If you have questions about your child’s teeth, please schedule a consultation with one of our pediatric dentists or orthodontist by completing an Online Appointment Request or calling either office.    

Plano Office Online Appointment Request Phone: 972-394-2140

 

Carrollton Office Online Appointment Request Phone:972-378-5437

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Kids Dental

Plano and Carrollton, Texas

Pediatric Dentists

  • Dr. Jeffrey Holt
  • Dr. Moisa Sapozhnikov
  • Dr. Mindy Li

Orthodontist

Dr. Nathan Cotten

Plano Office

Kids Dental Plano
3001 N Dallas Parkway, Suite B
Plano, Texas 75093

Phone: 972-378-5437

Carrollton Office

Kids Dental Carrollton
1912 E Hebron Parkway, Suite 104

Carrollton, Texas 75007

Phone: 972-394-2140

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