Celebrating National Smile Month: The Wonders of Braces

With the weather getting warm and the school year wrapping up, this is the perfect time of year to celebrate National Smile Month. You devote so much time and effort to giving your children reasons to smile that you want to make sure that their smiles are as healthy as possible. A beautiful smile makes a huge difference in the way a person looks and feels!

You can make that kind of difference in your child’s smile with the wonders of braces. If you want to improve your child’s confidence, giving them the gift of a straight, beautiful smile will do the trick. At Little Heroes Pediatric Dentistry, our team can evaluate your child’s teeth and help you decide if braces are an option.

Make this year’s National Smile Month a time for putting your child’s oral health at the top of your to-do list.

Starting in the UK #NationalSmileMonth has made its way to the USA! #SmileBig #LittleHeroes Click To Tweet

A Little History About National Smile Month

Started in the United Kingdom, National Smile Month has grown into an international campaign that runs from mid-May to Mid-June and promotes good oral health. Its purpose is to increase awareness on the importance of oral health in our quality of life. Strong, beautiful teeth are essential for eating, speaking, and smiling with confidence. It’s easy to overlook the importance of our teeth, so the campaign focuses on three specific ways that everyone can improve their oral health:

• Brushing teeth at night before bed and at least one other time during the day.
• Cutting down on foods and drinks that are high in sugar.
• Visiting the dentist on a regular basis.

These simple steps can go a long way in protecting teeth and improving smiles. With fun activities and promotions, National Smile Month emphasizes getting children excited about taking good care of their teeth. The sooner they start these good habits, the easier it will be to maintain good oral health throughout their lives.

One of the most important decisions you will make about your child’s oral health is whether to get braces. The following are a few frequently asked questions that the family dentists at Little Heroes Pediatric Dentistry have put together to help you in making that decision:

What are the benefits of braces?

Many people think of braces as simply a cosmetic solution to crooked teeth. Braces are actually an important tool for improving not just the look of your teeth, but also the overall health of your child. If your child has an uneven bite, they may have trouble chewing and eating the healthy, unprocessed foods that are essential to good nutrition.

An uneven bite may also place undue wear and tear on certain teeth that receive more pressure than they should. By correcting the bite, braces can ensure that chewing and eating are painless efforts.

Braces are probably best known for their ability to straighten teeth. When your child’s teeth are straight, they will have greater confidence in themselves and be more eager to show that confidence with a big smile. Straight teeth are not just beautiful, though. They also promote good oral health by eliminating gaps or crowded teeth that can make brushing and flossing difficult. The more even and straight that your child’s teeth are, the easier it is to brush and floss them on a regular basis.

How do I know if braces are right for my child?

Taking your child to your trusted family dentist is the best way to determine if braces the best option. The dentists should discuss with you the many factors that affect the decision of whether to use braces, such as the following:

• The integrity of your child’s bite and whether it needs adjustment.
• The number of baby teeth your child still has and whether to wait for them to come out or to have them pulled out professionally.
• The size of your child’s jaw and whether there is room for the adult teeth coming in.
• The direction and angle at which the adult teeth are emerging.

Contact Little Heroes Pediatric Dentistry today to learn more about our orthodontic services.

Advances in dental technology have made braces more affordable, effective, and easier to wear than ever before. There has never been a better time to consider getting braces for your child. Don’t let National Smile Month slip by without contacting Little Heroes Pediatric Dentistry to set up an appointment—we have offices all across South Texas.

Let our experienced family dentists help you decide if braces are right for your child. Our award-winning team is always ready to answer any questions you may have about the wonders of braces. Help make sure your child smiles with confidence.