- Brush your child’s teeth twice daily with a soft toothbrush. If you have an infant, you still need to brush their gums or teeth with a soft toothbrush or wipe with a soft cloth twice daily. Don’t forget to floss once daily.
- Water is the best beverage in between meals. Milk should be given at meals or snack times only. Gatorade is NOT considered a substitute for water!
- Start a designated “snack time” tradition with your family. Snacking, or grazing, throughout the day allows the cavity-causing bacteria to be active all day. Mom and Dad- take care of your own teeth too! Cavity-causing bacteria can be easily passed from parents to children and babies.
- It is recommended that children have an orthodontic screening no later than age seven. Even though most kids won’t need braces until they are older, early treatment is sometimes necessary to prevent more serious problems from developing.
- Braces today are very different from the braces you may have worn as a child. Traditional braces are now much smaller and more comfortable and there’s even the option for clear braces or aligners!
Visiting the dentist isn’t what is used to be! With all of the advances in technology and new curriculums in dental school that focus on patient comfort, it makes going to the dentist or orthodontist a breeze and believe it or not- a pleasant experience! Regular dental visits allows the dentist to assess you and your child’s oral health and make any necessary recommendations. These check-ups can help prevent any future, and likely costly, dental issues.
If you have any concerns about your child’s teeth being too crowded, having too much space, or having issues with their bite then you should visit an orthodontic specialist. You may be surprised to know that the perks of having properly aligned teeth extend far beyond a confident smile.
Dr. Christine Stang - is the owner of Stang Family Orthodontics in Reston. She is a lifelong native of Virginia and grew up in the Shenandoah Valley. After graduating from James Madison University, she received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, summa cum laude, from the Medical College of Virginia (MCV). Following dental school, Dr. Stang completed an additional two years of specialized post-graduate training in Orthodontics and earned her Master of Science in Dentistry degree from MCV (read more)
