Having braces isn’t always fun, especially when it comes to food intake. Most orthodontists tell their patients to avoid sticky snacks or hard candy because these food items can damage brackets and wires. Although there are some limitations on your diet, you still have lots of choices for healthy eating during orthodontic treatment.
Fruits and vegetables are alright. An important part of eating right, most people several servings of both categories each day. Hard fruits and vegetables, such as apples, carrots, and broccoli, can be tough to bite into, so cutting these foods into bite-size pieces so that back teeth can chew them will prevent any issues. Choosing soft options, like bananas or cooked squash, is another good option.
Go with whole grains. Since most grain products are soft, having braces shouldn’t impact your ability to eat regular breads or cereals. You may want to avoid unground whole grains because the seeds can get stuck in between your brackets.
Get your dairy on. Calcium helps keep your teeth strong, and dairy products are a great source of this mineral. Low fat milk, yogurt, and cheese are soft on your braces too.
Eat more chicken (or beef too). Certain cuts of meat can be tough and difficult to chew when you wear braces. Don’t eat meat straight off the bone, and select lean cuts of fish, beef, and chicken for easier chewing.
Sweet treats you can still enjoy. Although taffy, lifesavers, and gummy bears are temporarily off the menu, feel free to indulge in chocolate or a bowl of ice cream every once in a while.
It’s time to schedule a visit to our Sherman Oaks, CA orthodontic office – Mehdi Fotovat, DDS.
Cosmetic dentistry is a well-known field that focuses on improving your smile. Often people think this only means correcting tooth problems like stains, chips, cracks, or other unsightly flaws. However, cosmetic dentistry is not limited to only visible tooth problems, but also takes into consideration issues involving the jaw. This is where orthodontics can come to the rescue.
Misaligned jaws can cause a variety of oral health concerns. Facial features may be affected, as well as speech, eating, and breathing. Pain is a common side effect of jaw misalignment. Teeth can also be impacted eventually by jaws that are not in place, because they begin to compensate by moving into incorrect positions. Teeth grinding, decay, damage, and loss may occur without jaw correction.
Jaw malocclusion may be a genetic trait, or can result from things like trauma or disease. The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, connects the lower jaw to the base of the skull. When the TMJ is strained for any reason, the consequences like pain can extend toward the head and face. Other issues like stress are also known to affect the TMJ, and lead to further discomfort and jaw problems.
An orthodontist can diagnose and treat any of these jaw-related problems. X-rays will help determine exactly what is causing the symptoms, and treatment will be recommended. This may involve braces to move the jaw into proper alignment, therefore improving your appearance as well as your comfort level. A cosmetic dentist can tell you if orthodontics might be helpful to your condition, and refer you to an orthodontist who can put you on the road to a winning smile.
Cosmetic orthodontist Dr. Fotovat treats patients from Sherman Oaks, CA and the surrounding area.
Affecting one of every 700 babies annually, a cleft palate is a common birth defect that results in facial or oral malformations. With a cleft palate, a split or opening occurs in the roof of the mouth and can impact the hard and/or soft palate. A cleft lip is a split or separation of the two sides of the upper lip. These defects can occur on one or both sides of the mouth. In fact, patients can have a cleft palate without a cleft lip, a cleft lip without a cleft palate, or both a cleft lip and cleft palate.
Most of the causes of a cleft defect are unknown. These issues typically occur very early in pregnancy. A cleft palate or cleft lip develops when not enough tissue is present or the tissue does not join together properly.
Because cleft defects create an obvious physical manifestation, diagnosing these deformities is usually easy. Sometimes, an ultrasound will pick up a cleft palate or cleft lip. If that doesn’t happen, the physical signs are often identified and confirmed at birth.
Cleft palates and cleft lips can cause difficulties such as eating problems, hearing concerns, speech delays, and dental issues. Children with cleft palates or cleft lips often have an increased risk of cavities as well as extra, missing, or malformed teeth. Part of treatment involves addressing oral health concerns.
Treatment for cleft palate issues begins in infancy and can continue into adulthood. Usually, children diagnosed with cleft palate deformities will have a team of doctors and specialists, including:
• A plastic surgeon to address the physical appearance
• An ear, nose, and throat doctor to evaluate and treat hearing issues
• An oral surgeon to reposition the upper jaw as needed and repair a cleft impacting the gum area
• An orthodontist to straighten the bite and teeth
• A dentist for routine dental care
• A speech pathologist to identify speech and feeding problems
• A speech therapist to work on language development
We care about your smile at Mehdi Fotovat Sherman Oaks Orthodontist
Modern orthodontic treatment can address a variety of issues, including overbites and underbites. When the front teeth cover the lower teeth in a distinct manner, it is called an overbite. Many people have some degree of overbite, but in lots of cases, no treatment is required.
With an underbite, the lower front teeth protrude out in front of the top teeth, and the lower jaw may be much more prominent. In some cases, an underbite will resolve itself. If the underbite is severe and it is not treated, temperomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, poor bite, an uneven tooth wear can occur.
Usually, you inherit the tendency toward an overbite or underbite, just like eye color or height. Sometimes, a bite becomes misaligned because of other factors such as early tooth loss, improper restorations, habits such as thumb sucking, or facial trauma. Misalignments can create additional oral health problems such as pain, increased risk of cavities, and strain on the whole chewing system.
To determine the best treatment, your orthodontist will first take X-rays and perform a complete examination. Then, the doctor will make recommendations to correct the overbite or underbite. Depending on the situation, a removable retainer may address the problem. Most of the time, braces will be needed to move the teeth into the proper position. Rarely, with an extreme overbite or underbites, surgery may be the suggested treatment course.
Our patients are number one at our Sherman Oaks, CA orthodontic office – Mehdi Fotovat, DDS.
