Brace Yourself: Braces-Friendly Recipe Ideas

It happened, your child got braces, and now their life is ruined -- their usual words, not ours, of course. 

When your child gets braces, they may feel as if their food choices are limited. And while yes, some snacks should be avoided you can rest assured that there are still plenty of braces-friendly options:

Breakfast Pancakes

A huge breakfast favorite and luckily kids with braces can still eat them! Change up the recipe for a more healthy alternative. TIP: Replace syrup with applesauce. Syrup is high in sodium, sugar, and carbohydrates -- yuck!

Smoothies

A great breakfast for brace-filled mouths on-the-go! Check out these delicious smoothie recipes and keep these tips in mind to keep your smoothie healthy.

Cold Pasta Salad

This can be prepared in a variety of ways with many different ingredients. Your child can enjoy this dish for lunch and/or dinner! Don’t forget: stay clear of hard vegetables that may hurt your child’s mouth. 

Acai Bowls

Acai bowls look good and taste even better! These delicious small berries are packed with antioxidants, amino acids, and essential fatty acids you didn’t know your child needed in their life! Be sure to try one of these recipes.

Lasagna

A delicious dinner dish for kids and they will love to make it with you too! Keep this dish on the light side with whole wheat noodles and lean ground beef.

Frozen Banana “Ice Cream”
This is a healthy alternative to actual ice cream -- dairy, fat, and sugar-free! 

Foods to AVOID:

• Hard nuts, candies, fruits (apples and pears)
• Hard vegetables (carrots and corn on the cob)
• Chips
• Pretzels
• Taco shells
• Pizza crust
• Sticky stuff like taffy, gum, or caramels
• Foods that are high in acidity that could cause discoloration (lemons, limes, or sodas)

For more braces-friendly recipes and orthodontic tips, check out our Pinterest page! 

Talking to Your Children About Braces

Let’s talk braces.

Braces are common among many children, teens, and adults in the US. But while some children view getting braces as a rite of passage, others may feel like their world is ending. This hesitation may come from seeing a friend with braces get teased or the fact that they are going through a major life change — like the transition from middle school to high school.

However your child is feeling, it’s important to start a conversation about their impending orthodontic treatment. See below for some things to keep in mind!

Be supportive: Remember, not all kids like the thought of braces, but showing your support and offering advice can work wonders. Did you or your spouse have braces growing up? Dig out some photos and show your child how you looked pre-treatment! This can help them see the big picture — that after this treatment, they’ll have a truly stunning smile!

Explain the benefits: Having a great smile isn't the only benefit of braces. With straight teeth, your child will be able to brush and floss easier, helping prevent cavities and other dental problems! Also, when teeth are aligned properly, you are able to speak, bite, and chew properly.

Give them choices: Metal braces aren’t your child’s only options. Speak with one of our orthodontists about some of the other orthodontic options we offer! For instance, Radiance Clear Braces are exactly that, clear — which is a great choice for any aesthetic concerns. We also offer Invisalign® treatment which straightens teeth with a custom-made series of aligner trays, a virtually invisible piece of plastic that is worn over teeth.

Choose the right orthodontist: When it comes to the health of your child, you wouldn’t pick just anyone to go to for care. At Adelberg Montalvan, we treat our patients as if they were our own children — so you can rest assured that they are in great hands. Just look at what some of our patients have been saying!

And, as an added courtesy, we'd love to offer any NEW patients $500 OFF braces:

Adelberg Montalvan specializes in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and welcoming environment, in three different Long Island locations: Massapequa Park, Nesconset and West Islip. If you are in need of a local orthodontist, look no further! Contact us today to learn more.

Candy Alternatives for Kids with Braces

T-minus 2 days until Halloween! And what better time than now to remind our orthodontic patients which candies they should steer clear of. 

While candy in moderation won’t do too much damage, children with braces should always do their best to avoid hard, sticky sweets. So in honor of National Orthodontic Health Month, keep the below in mind:

Candies To Stay Away From
Broken bracket? Bent wires? Candy is the biggest culprit! Stay clear of an orthodontic emergency on Halloween by avoiding these sweets:

• Gummies
• Taffy
• Sugary bubblegum
• Hard candies
• Candied/Caramel apples

Alternative Halloween Snacks

Boonanas and Pumpkintines: Transform everyday fruits into spooky treats for your little ones. Make a ghost out of a banana by cutting it in half and adding chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth. Peel a clementine and use celery or cucumber pieces for the pumpkin stem!

Spiders on a log: Add a creepy crawly twist to a classic treat. Fill celery sticks with peanut butter and decorate with plastic spiders. Just make sure your kids remove the spiders before digging in!

Black apples: Instead of candied and caramel apples, cut some thin apple slices and allow your kids to dip in a creamy chocolate sauce for a sweet treat!

Jack o’ Lantern hummus plate: First you were carving pumpkins and now you’re making one! Grab red pepper hummus (for the orange color) and black beans to create the pumpkins face. Add whole wheat crackers and let your children dip and enjoy!

From all of us at Adelberg Montalvan - we hope your family has a fun and safe Halloween! And remember, there’s only a few days left to receive a complimentary consultation with our of our orthodontists in honor of National Orthodontic Health Month: Dr. Jenny is in our Nesconset location (631) 360-7337 and Dr. Jon in our Massapequa location (516) 798-1111!

What Foods to Avoid When Wearing Braces

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

When kids or teens first get traditional braces, they may not realize how quickly their diet has to change. As strong and sturdy as these orthodontic appliances are, they still need to be treated with care. That means eating foods that are brace safe, and steering clear of ones that can cause trouble!

During orthodontic treatment, help your child avoid:

• Sticky Foods - Like gum, chewy candies, etc as they can easily get stuck in brackets and wires - not only causing a mess but tooth decay if not properly removed!
• Hard Foods - Such as nuts, hard rolls, hard candies, etc as they can break or harm the wires and brackets.
• Food on Bones - For instance ribs or chicken wings because these too can damage or knock off wires and brackets.

But don’t get discouraged! There are plenty of foods out there your child CAN eat!

• Fruits and Vegetables - Mashed potatoes, spinach, bananas, etc are all soft and easy to chew. For the harder fruits and veggies (like carrots or apples) just be sure to cut them into smaller pieces instead of biting directly into them.
• Treats - Ice cream, shakes, and smoothies are also great options! The coldness actually helps soothe the soreness caused by the braces as well as reduce any swelling of soft tissue!
• Meats and Poultry - Items like soft-cooked chicken and deli meat are soft enough to not cause problems when your child bites into them.
• Gains - Noodles, pasta, soft-cooked rice, etc are all gentle on the mouth which is key for sensitive teeth.

If you're seeking orthodontic treatment for your child, consult with one of our orthodontists here at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental & Orthodontics. Let us help you identify and reduce problems early on to make sure your child’s orthodontic experience is easier in the long run. Call (516) 798-1111 or visit our website to schedule an appointment.

Start The Summer Off With a Great Smile!

Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics

www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 
Orthodontic treatment is simple, convenient, and affordable for patients of all ages. Not only will orthodontics visually improve your appearance, but it will also give you better oral health and proper oral function.

 
Although orthodontists can enhance a smile at any age, the optimal time period to begin treatment is age 7. During this time, the first adult molars erupt, establishing the back bite; with this in place, an orthodontist can evaluate front-to-back and side-to-side tooth relationships. 

 
So what happens when braces are needed? Thanks to today's technology, patients now have more options when it comes to wearing braces. While regular metal braces are still widely used, clear braces are becoming increasingly popular. 

 

See below for the braces we offer here at Adelberg and Montalvan:

 

Metal:

 

Invisalign:

 
If braces are needed for your child contact us today to learn more about what we have to offer, including our SUMMER SPECIAL of $500 off Invisalign Braces. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!