How Can I Tell If My Child Needs Braces?

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Crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw can cause various problems throughout a person’s life. They can make someone self-conscious about how they look, make chewing more difficult or painful, and even lead to speech impediments.

If your child needs braces, getting them to help from an orthodontist in Solon, OH, at an early age is important. The earlier you can get their teeth corrected, the better. Watching for the signs can help you decide whether to see an orthodontist.

Signs Your Child Needs Braces

There are many signs that your child needs braces. Below are some of the most common problems a child may experience when needing braces.

  • Crowded teeth. If your child’s jaw is too small for the number of teeth that must fit in the space, some teeth will grow on top of others.
  • Misaligned jaw. There are many ways that your child’s jaw can be misaligned. Underbites and overbites are examples of jaw misalignment problems that children can experience.
  • Frequently bites their tongue or cheek. Proper jaw alignment and tooth alignment are important for proper chewing action. If your child regularly bites the inside of their cheek, this could be a sign they need braces.
  • Difficulty pronouncing certain letters. Does your child have trouble saying certain sounds? Many things can cause speech impediments, and poor tooth alignment is one of them.
  • Crooked teeth. If your child’s teeth are crooked, braces can correct the problem.

How to Get Your Child Braces

If your child needs braces in Solon, OH, start by getting them evaluated for braces by a qualified orthodontist. Make an appointment with McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics today.

What Foods Can My Child Eat When They Have Braces?

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When your child has braces installed, their dentist in Solon, OH, will likely tell them that some foods are safe to eat and others are not. Braces comprise brackets, wires, and rubber bands attached to the teeth. They can’t be removed at mealtime or for cleaning, meaning some foods could get stuck to your child’s braces during meals. In addition, foods that are too hard can cause their braces to become bent or broken.

Foods That Are Safe for Braces

Foods that are safe for your child to eat are soft foods that won’t stick to their braces when chewing. Some examples of foods that are especially good to eat when you have braces include:

  • Oatmeal
  • Soft, cooked vegetables
  • Yogurt
  • Soft cheeses
  • Scrambled eggs
  • Seafood
  • Soft fruit
  • Most soups
  • Pasta

Foods to Avoid

For a child with braces, hard, sticky, or tough foods can cause damage. Some of these foods can also get caught in the braces and, while they may not cause damage, can still be tough to remove. Examples of foods to avoid include:

  • Breads with hard crust
  • Nuts
  • Hard candy
  • Corn on the cob
  • Hard meat
  • Crunchy fruits and vegetables
  • Popcorn
  • Hard bagels and rolls
  • Sticky candy
  • Whole apples

When your child gets braces, the dentist can give you a list of foods to avoid and which ones are safe to eat. If you have questions, talk to the dentist.

Get Started With Braces

Does your child need braces in Solon, OH? We’re happy to help you get started at McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics. Call today to make an appointment and get started with a consultation for braces installation.

Do Braces Lead to Airway Constriction?

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Many people will see an orthodontist or orthopedist because of airway issues. Whether it’s because their teeth are crowded or because their jaw is misaligned, the reality is that many people struggle with intake. If you’re wondering whether getting braces will cause these problems, effectively making things worse before they get better, we’ll look at what you should know.

Braces and Airways

For most patients, braces will not cause any type of airway constriction. However, there is a small subset of people who will need additional treatment before they get braces, and these addendums do have the potential to cause airway issues. For instance, a tooth extraction can cause the jaw, teeth, or tongue to fall back, narrowing your airway. If the orthodontist in Solon, OH, needs to retract the teeth, the retraction can again cause the jaw and tongue to shift toward the back of the mouth.

What You Can Do

The best thing that you can do is find an experienced professional with extensive experience in airway-focused orthodontics in Solon, OH. The best treatments will include contingency plans to widen the jaw or otherwise intervene before the problem has a chance to progress. The other major patient responsibility is keeping in touch after treatment. The more communication with your dental team, the less likely you’ll encounter major issues.

Braces in Solon

Braces are a major decision for anyone, no matter how old or what the dental issues are. If you want to do it right the first time, the McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics staff is here to help. No matter how your teeth are configured or how you respond after the final brackets are set, our team can find solutions to help you breathe easier.

 

Invisalign Vs Braces: What to Know

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Teeth and jaw misalignments can create a variety of problems, including oral hygiene issues, speech impediments, and pain when opening and closing your mouth. If you have these problems, your orthodontist in Solon & Shaker Heights, OH, may recommend Invisalign or braces to straighten your teeth. Deciding between these two solutions can be difficult, so it helps to know more about each. Here’s what to know when comparing braces and Invisalign.

Invisalign Can Be Removed for Day to Day Use, Braces Stay In

Invisalign can be removed for a variety of day-to-day activities. Whenever you eat and clean your teeth, you can take Invisalign off. Braces always stay in. Removability makes cleaning your teeth much easier since Invisalign will never get in the way of brushing and flossing.

Removability also makes it easier to eat the everyday foods that you enjoy. People who wear braces have to be careful about the foods they eat because hard foods and sticky foods can damage braces, fragile wires, and brackets. People who wear Invisalign can eat whatever foods they want because they can take Invisalign out before the meal begins.

Invisalign is Hard to See, Braces Are Easily Visible

Invisalign is so named because clear aligners are so hard to see. Up close, Invisalign is barely visible. From far away, you can’t tell when someone is wearing Invisalign. Braces, on the other hand, can impact the appearance of your smile while they’re on. Some people feel self-conscious when they wear braces.

Want to know more about braces and Invisalign in Solon and Shaker Heights, OH? Call McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics to learn more. Call today to make an appointment.

Can My Child Return to School the Same Day They Get Braces?

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For a kid, getting braces in Solon, OH can be an intimidating time for them. Of course, it also opens up a lot of questions for the parents too. At McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics, our staff gets a lot of questions about everything from pain response to eating habits to whether they should miss school.

Should My Child Stay Home from School the Same Day They Get Braces?

If you’re wondering whether your child should go to school the same day they received their braces, you should know that there’s typically no reason for them to miss classes. Whether they need to miss a partial day to get the treatment or not, they should be able to return directly afterward. If they need documentation to show the administration, an orthodontist in Solon, OH, can provide the official excuse.

How Long Until My Child Can Return to Their Routine?

There is something of an exception to the school rule that may be important to know. There is likely to be some discomfort at the beginning, particularly as your child gets used to the bands and brackets. Usually, this can all be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. If it’s possible to schedule when your child doesn’t have school or at the very tail-end of the day, this may provide some relief to a child who’s having a difficult time adjusting.

Braces in Solon

If you’re looking for a staff that can help your child prepare for braces, visit McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics. We work with a number of families who all react differently to the treatment, and we can help everyone transition from life without braces to life with braces. The smoother it goes, the more likely your odds of success.

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3 Ways to Stop Food From Getting Caught In Your Braces

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It’s uncomfortable when food gets caught in your braces. Food particles can make your breath smell, and can negatively impact your oral hygiene. There are many things you can do to stop food from getting caught in your teeth. Working with your dental professional in Shaker Heights and Solon OH can help.

1. Eat the Right Foods

When you get braces put on your teeth, your orthodontist will give you a set of instructions about how to care for your braces. The instructions will likely include a list of foods that you shouldn’t eat as long as the braces are on your teeth.

The list should include sticky foods like caramel and certain candies which can easily get caught in your braces. These foods should be avoided the entire time that the braces are on your teeth, to help keep your braces clean.

2. Take Good Care of Your Teeth

Brushing your teeth twice daily can help keep your teeth free of food particles. Brushing with braces can be a little more complicated than brushing teeth without braces. Be sure to angle the toothbrush in such a way that the toothbrush reaches down into the brackets to get as much food as possible.

3. Floss

Flossing is important when you have braces, because it can help get rid of food between your teeth. Thread the floss between your teeth above and below each wire, then run the floss along the space. Do this once per day and give yourself plenty of time to get the flossing done.

Have questions about taking care of your braces in Shaker Heights and Solon OH? Contact McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics to make an appointment to see the dentist.

 

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Clear Aligners Vs. Clear Braces: What You Should Know

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When it comes to the world of orthodontics, no one can ignore the world of aesthetics. Braces may be a great way to straighten your teeth, but it’s more than just a time commitment — you also need to be prepared to have a different smile. If you’ve been researching clear braces or clear aligners in Solon, OH, we’ll look at the differences and take you through how to decide.

Aligners and Braces

Clear aligners are clear plastic trays that are custom-fitted to the patient’s mouth. These trays apply gentle pressure to the teeth to push them back into place, and they can be worn without impeding the look and feel of your smile.

Clear braces in Shaker Heights, OH refer to the look of the spacers between the metal brackets. Instead of featuring your favorite color or the standard metal, the spacers will be clear. So it’s important to know that you and other people will still be able to see clear braces once they’re on, unlike clear aligners.

Orthodontists in Solon and Shaker Heights, OH

It comes down to what’s right for your teeth. While clear aligners can be worn by many patients, they are not available to everyone. If the alignment issues are severe enough, braces will be the only option. As with most things in life, the earlier you intervene, the less time you’ll likely have to spend to fix it.

From there, it comes down to lifestyle considerations and your budget, as each option will come with its own set of pros and cons. If you have questions about everything from maintenance to timeframes, the right orthodontist in Solon can help. At McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics, our staff can give you the run down from A to Z.

 

How Old is Too Old to Get Braces?

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Are you concerned that you might be too old to get braces? The good news is, age is rarely a deciding factor when it comes to orthodontic treatment. Whether you’re 8 or 80, your orthodontist in Shaker Heights, OH can develop a customized treatment plan that’s right for you.

Adult Teeth Can be Shifted

Teeth can be moved at any age, thanks to the physiological process that moves teeth through bone. Adults may have denser bone tissue than children, but this doesn’t mean that their teeth can’t be moved. Orthodontic problems can be corrected as easily for adults as they are for children and teens.

Difference Between Adults and Kids Orthodontics

The biggest difference between orthodontic treatment for adults and children/teens is that adults are no longer growing. This means that treatment may take slightly longer than it would for children/teens with a similar problem. Adults may also have other dental issues, such as fillings, missing teeth, or dental disease, that can affect the outcome of treatment. However, orthodontists often work closely with a patient’s family dentist to coordinate care.

How Adult Orthodontics Work

To move your teeth into their ideal positions, your orthodontist will use an “appliance” such as braces or aligners. Advances in adult orthodontics in Shaker Heights, OH have made treatment more comfortable and less noticeable than ever, with options like clear aligners, tooth-colored braces, and braces that go behind the teeth.

It’s important to note that not every type of appliance is suitable for every kind of orthodontic problem. This is why it’s crucial to consult with an orthodontist who can select the right appliance to correct your specific issue. Orthodontists have access to the full range of appliances and know which one is right for your care. Contact us to learn more.

What Does an Airway Orthodontist Do?

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An airway orthodontist in Solon, OH is trained to look at teeth in more the same way a general practitioner would. Instead of just focusing on individual problems with oral health, they’ll consider health as a whole. We’ll look at why they do this and how a specialist might be able to improve your smile in more ways than one.

Why Airway Orthodontics?

The basic premise is that there is no one cause for misaligned teeth or jaws. In other words, it’s almost certain that patients weren’t born with the problems. Instead, they might be caused for more adaptive reasons, such as diet or lifestyle. (If you see families who all have crooked teeth, it’s likely because they are all exposed to the same stressors.)

What to Expect from an Airway Orthodontist

You can expect a dentist in Shaker Heights, OH to touch on the following:

  • Lifestyle: Quality of sleep and posture can all have an effect on everything from the bite to teeth placement.
  • Airways: Your breathing is dependent on how the tongue, mouth, and teeth work together.

During the evaluation, the orthodontist will consider the size of each airway and whether it needs to be adjusted to allow for better flow. The ultimate goal is an integrative strategy that allows for the best development.

Find a Dentist in Solon, OH

Airway orthodontics is a popular branch in dentistry because it takes a more comprehensive approach to the exam. Instead of just determining that a person needs braces or clear aligners, the orthodontist will look at whether there are changes that could prevent misalignment in the future. If you want to learn more about this specialty and how it’s particularly helpful for kids whose faces are still growing, contact McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics for more information.

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Even Adults Can Get Braces: Signs You’re a Candidate

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Are your teeth in need of braces? Would you know if they were? Recognizing the signs that you need braces for adults in Solon and Shaker Heights, OH can help you achieve your goals for your smile.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of looking in the mirror and loving your smile. Many adults with crooked teeth feel like the opportunity to correct their problem has passed. It hasn’t! If you’re an adult that would like to have straight teeth, you can get care from an orthodontist that can help. Here’s what you need to know.

Signs You Could Benefit from Braces

Below are some of the signs that could indicate you need braces. Ultimately, it’s your orthodontist who will have to let you know whether you could use braces. If you have some or all of these symptoms, speak to your orthodontist to get an evaluation and find out next steps.

  • Your teeth look crowded, as if they can’t all fit in your smile
  • Your upper jaw and lower jaw don’t come together properly
  • You have crooked teeth or teeth that overlap each other
  • You often find yourself accidentally biting your cheek or tongue
  • Your jaw clicks and makes noises when you chew
  • You get headaches from chewing
  • You can become fatigued easily while chewing

Think You Need Braces? Talk to Your Orthodontist

Your orthodontist in Solon and Shaker Heights, OH can recommend braces or Invisalign if you need it. The first step is coming in for an appointment. Call McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics today to find out more about how you can achieve the smile you’ve always wanted.