You’ve worked hard to instill in your child the importance of good oral hygiene, and you couldn’t believe he was actually excited when your Loudoun County pediatric dentist suggested he might soon need to join the 80 percent — the 80 percent of American adolescents currently undergoing orthodontic treatment, but he was! And so here you are; his braces are on for the long haul and you’re wondering if you should continue to visit Smilez Pediatric Dental Group Loudoun on a regular basis.

The answer is a resounding YES.

Keep up with visits to your pediatric dentist.

…to remove plaque and tartar. Braces do a great job of straightening and strengthening smiles, but do you know what else they’re great at? Creating additional nooks and crannies in which food particles and bacteria can hide, and from which plaque and tartar will form around brackets, bands or other appliances. Keeping up with regular visits to your Loudoun County pediatric dentist can help ensure most, if not all, plaque and tartar is removed.

…to protect your child’s teeth from decalcification. It’s equally as important to keep up with dental visits in order to prevent calcium loss. This potentially serious, but preventable condition known as decalcification causes white spots to appear on the teeth, and can ultimately lead to cavities. Avoid sweets and acidic foods; practice good oral hygiene; and continue to see your dentist to keep this from happening to your pearly, newly straightened whites.

…to prevent and protect your child’s teeth from cavities. Cavities. Nobody likes to hear they have one, but especially not children with braces. Why? Because cavities can prolong orthodontic treatment. Maintaining the habit of seeing the dentist every six months for routine cleanings will go a long way toward protecting your child’s teeth and ensuring his braces do what they’re supposed to do, in the time they’ve been allotted.

It is the primary role of your child’s orthodontist to adjust and monitor the work of his braces, but it is Dr. Bhatti and Smilez Pediatric Dental Group Loudoun who will help ensure his teeth look their best now, and once his braces come off.