You know the school day’s over when you hear these seven little words: “I’m home! Is there anything to eat?” And before your child got braces, you had the answer: simple, tasty snacks that provided not only an energy boost, but nutritional elements to help build strong teeth and strong bodies. But now whole carrot sticks and unsliced apples are out. Nuts and crunchy peanut butter? Not in your pantry. Hard cheeses and crunchy whole grain crackers? Also off the shopping list. Because any foods that are crunchy, chewy, or hard to bite into can damage brackets and wires, it’s time to freshen up your go-to snack list. Luckily, Dr. Doleac can recommend many healthy and braces-friendly choices when children need something to tide them over until dinner. Fruits and Vegetables for Vitamins and Minerals Soft fruits like berries, melon, and bananas provide essential vitamins and minerals while going easy

Orthodontists like Dr. Doleac recommend a first orthodontic visit and evaluation for your child around the age of seven. We will evaluate your child’s jaw and facial development and make sure that there is enough room in the mouth for the permanent teeth when they arrive. One of the recommendations we might make for early treatment is the use of a palatal expander. If you are unfamiliar with this device, let’s take a closer look at why it’s necessary and what exactly it does. Why do we recommend the palatal expander? There are two dental arches, composed of the upper and the lower teeth, in your child’s mouth. This arch-shaped design is meant to accommodate all the permanent teeth. Further, when the upper and lower teeth meet, they should result in a healthy occlusion, or bite. Sometimes, the upper dental arch is simply too small to accommodate all of your

We all want to live our healthiest lives. We know that part of keeping ourselves healthy is regular visits to our Portland, Beaverton, or Sacappoose, OR office for checkups and necessary dental work. And that dental work might require an X-ray. Should the amount of radiation in an X-ray concern us? First, it is helpful to know that the radiation you are exposed to from a dental X-ray is very small. A set of most bitewing X-rays, for example, produces an amount of exposure about equal to the amount of background radiation we get from our normal surroundings in a typical day. We also take care to minimize your exposure even further by using specially designed equipment and protective shielding, and taking only necessary X-rays. If your child is very young, if you are pregnant, or if you have other health concerns, talk to us about the advisability of X-rays

You might be surprised to learn that Dr. Doleac and our team recommend an orthodontic appointment even before your child has had that last visit from the Tooth Fairy. In fact, orthodontic assessments at our Portland, Beaverton, or Sacappoose, OR office can be beneficial at many stages of your child’s life. Let’s look at some of the reasons why. The Right Spaces There’s a reason why we recommend that every child see an orthodontist by the age of seven. If there’s room enough in your child’s mouth to accommodate all the permanent teeth that will be arriving soon, you’re good to go. But if it looks like there won’t be enough space for those adult teeth, there are solutions we can offer to make the transition from baby teeth to adult teeth a smoother one. If your child’s mouth is small, the permanent teeth might have too little room to

In the long run, wearing braces is so worth it. Whether you’re working toward straight teeth, an improved bite, or both, you’ll end up with a beautiful smile! But sometimes, in the short run, they can be really annoying. Braces can irritate your lips, tongue, and cheeks while you are getting used to them or after an adjustment. Or a problem wire can poke the inside of your mouth and you can’t see us immediately for a repair. At times like these, Dr. Doleac will recommend orthodontic wax to make your life more comfortable. What is Orthodontic Wax? Orthodontic wax is made from non-toxic products like beeswax, carnauba wax, and paraffin wax. Some products might contain extras like vitamin E, aloe, or flavorings. The soft wax covers the bracket or wire that is bothering you with a smooth surface that won’t irritate sensitive mouth tissue and will give sore areas

When you leave on a trip, you probably double-check that everything’s ready: your clothes are packed, your ticket is handy, and your passport waits patiently on top of your bag or in a special pocket. The same level of preparedness should apply with regard to caring for your oral health when you’re about to leave home for a while. Whether you’re jumping in the car for a weekend camping trip or flying halfway across the globe for a longer stint, the tips below will help you keep your teeth healthy while you’re away. Prepare Ahead of Time The key to maintaining good oral hygiene during travel is preparation. Schedule a regular dental appointment so your teeth are freshly cleaned and ready before you leave. This can identify potential issues that might cause problems while you’re away. If you have any items on a dental “to-do” list, such as wisdom tooth