Many children develop crooked teeth and other orthodontic issues at a young age. But how early is too early for orthodontic treatment? In some cases, early orthodontic treatment is recommended, but in other cases it is wisest to wait until the child has developed all of his or her permanent teeth.

Certain orthodontic problems require early intervention. For example, if a child has a crossbite, it can lead to uneven jaw growth and problems with chewing. In cases like this, a retainer can help widen the dental arch, correcting the crossbite. Likewise, a very narrow dental arch may not leave a child’s teeth enough room to emerge and should be corrected at a young age. In many cases, young children may need to have one or more teeth removed to make room for adult teeth to grow in, or a tooth may erupt in the wrong direction and need to be corrected.

While early orthodontic intervention is recommended in rare cases, the majority of children need to wait until their adult teeth have come in before undergoing orthodontic treatment. During a routine dental examination, your child’s dentist will evaluate his or her bite, facial growth, tooth spacing, and any extra or crooked teeth. Your child will also be examined for signs of tongue thrusting or thumb-sucking, which can inhibit normal dental development and change facial appearance, in rare cases. Most likely, these problems (if they exist at all) won’t be severe enough to require early orthodontic treatment. Your dentist will simply monitor any issues while your child’s mouth grows and develops.

Braces and other orthodontic treatment can help your child achieve a beautiful smile, but if they are used too soon, they can just be a waste of your money. Be sure to work closely with your dentist and orthodontist to determine when the time is right for your child’s orthodontic treatment.

You have decided to straighten your smile with braces, and now you need to know how to care for them. While modern braces have come a long way, there are still certain foods that are not a good idea to eat while undergoing orthodontic treatment with braces. Some foods can loosen or break braces, while others can get caught in them and be particularly difficult to remove with regular cleaning tools. Many of the foods on the list are a given, but others (like bagels) may surprise you. Here is a basic list of the foods to avoid while wearing braces.

Ice: If you need ice in your drink, that’s just fine. Just don’t bite it!

Nuts: Most nuts are hard enough to break braces.

Bubble gum: This may seem like a no-brainer, but there are many patients who give gum a try. Bad idea.

Candy canes and lollipops: While sucking on hard candies like these isn’t so bad (sugar aside), many people can bite down on them without meaning to. This can easily break your braces.

Apples: Apples are great for you, and you don’t need to completely stop eating them while you have braces. Just make sure to cut them up first.

Corn on the cob: If you just love the taste of fresh corn, cut it off the cob once it’s cooked. Corn is murder on braces!

Popcorn: Actually, popcorn is pretty brutal on teeth in general. It’s too easy to crunch down on a kernel without meaning to, so braces wearers need to avoid this treat altogether.

Ribs and chicken wings: These foods are fine to eat if you cut them off the bone. Otherwise, there is a chance that the bones can knick your braces.

Bagels, hard rolls, and pizza crust: These chewy breads are notorious for bending the wires between braces.

Chewy candies like caramel: Another no-brainer. Not only can they break your braces, but have you ever tried to get taffy out of brackets?

Corn chips: Potato chips are o.k., but corn chips are hard enough to break braces.

Remember, your braces are fragile. They are doing their part to make your smile straight and beautiful, but you need to keep up your end of the bargain, too. Avoid the foods on this list and any other foods that are particularly hard, sticky, or chewy. This way, you can keep your braces intact and let them do the job they are meant to do: creating your dream smile.

So, it’s finally time for you to bite the bullet and get braces to straighten or correct your smile. Your orthodontist says it won’t be that bad, but you are looking for some reassurance. Here is exactly what a patient can expect when getting fitted for braces for the first time.

First, you need to expect a long stay in the orthodontist’s chair. It can take up to a few hours to get braces on. The orthodontist will put a bracket on each tooth with some dental cement. This part won’t feel like anything at all. Next, he or she will use tight rubber bands or small wires to attach an arch wire to the brackets. This wire is what makes your teeth move. It will be tightened a bit every time you see your orthodontist until the braces are ready to come off.

The tightening is the uncomfortable part. When you first get your braces, you will most likely feel an uncomfortable pressure for up to a few days. You will also feel some tightness each time the wire is tightened. Over-the-counter pain killers are usually enough to relieve this discomfort.

Another discomfort associated with braces is the sores on the inner cheeks and lips that can be caused by rubbing against the brackets. A simple solution is to apply wax to the offending braces. Again, an over-the-counter pain medication or oral anesthetic can help with the discomfort.

Braces can be uncomfortable, but the discomfort usually only lasts for a few days. If you experience severe pain or discomfort that lasts for more than one week, it’s a good idea to call your orthodontist. Be sure to stay vigilant about oral hygiene while you wear braces to prevent any cavities or discoloration of the teeth. Most patients wear braces from 1 to 3 years, and nearly all say the resulting dazzling smile was well worth the hassle.

There are so many options available to today’s orthodontic patients: how do you know which one is right for you? The type of orthodontic fixture that is best for a particular patient depends on a number of factors, such as the extent of treatment needed, the amount of time that patient wishes to dedicate to orthodontic treatment, and finances.

Many people get braces or undergo orthodontic treatment because they wish to improve the appearance of their smiles. However, orthodontics is not merely cosmetic. Of course, orthodontics can correct crowded or crooked teeth to enhance the appearance of a smile, but it can also correct such functionality issues as overbite, underbite, incorrect jaw position and even some jaw disorders. Malocclusion, or the condition that exists when the upper and lower teeth do not meet correctly, can also be corrected with orthodontic intervention. So, what are the major types of orthodontic correction, and what can they correct? Here is a brief run-down on what the common forms of orthodontics can, and can’t, correct.

Braces
Braces are what come to mind when most people think of orthodontics. Braces are a series of brackets that are cemented to the teeth in order to hold wires into place. It is the wires, not the braces, that do the orthodontic work.Braces are often the strongest and most efficient way to achieve repositioning of the teeth.

Aligners
The most popular form of dental aligners is the Invisalign® system, which consists of a series of clear plastic trays that gradually move teeth into a more pleasing position. While many patients achieve results similar to those achieved with traditional braces with aligners, they are not the right solution for patients who need extensive repositioning or who have seriously crooked teeth.

Spacers
Space maintainers are often used when a patient loses a baby tooth too early. They hold the place the tooth once filled, preventing surrounding teeth from shifting position so that the permanent teeth underneath have a chance to emerge in the proper place. Without spacers, the permanent teeth could erupt in a crooked fashion or in such a manner as to cause overcrowding. If this occurs, more extensive orthodontic care (like braces) may be needed.

Expanders
Made from hard plastic and metal wires, the palatal expander is designed to widen the upper arch of the mouth, making more space for teeth to grow into. Expanders are commonly used for children who have not lost all of their baby teeth, between the ages of 8 and 10.

Retainers
Similar in makeup to expanders, retainers are designed to be worn after braces or other orthodontic treatment to keep teeth in the proper positions. In many cases, retainers only need to be worn at night.

The cost, duration, and extent of orthodontic treatment is different for every patient, and one patient may need to use one or many of the above-listed orthodontic solutions to achieve the desired result. To know which orthodontic treatments are right for you or your child, speak with your dentist or orthodontist.