The Cone, an iconic West Chester Ice cream staple, usually opens for the season sometime in April, marking the beginning of the summer season and excitement all around. Of course, parents of kids with braces are apprehensive about summer snacks and sweet treats, fearing a broken bracket or similar orthodontic complications.
In this guide, we share the safest sweets and treats for the summer that won’t compromise orthodontic treatment, including The Cone’s best indulgences for summertime fun.
Of course, as a dentist, I never recommend indulging in too many sweet treats, but the occasional snack can be harmless if you take care of your smile and orthodontics.
In this blog, I explore:
- Orthodontics in West Chester: What to Expect
- Your Food Ordering Guide for Braces
- The Cone’s Best Indulgences for Summertime Fun
- Caring for Braces During the Summer Season
- How to Contact My Dental Office
Orthodontics in West Chester: What to Expect
We offer traditional orthodontics for kids and SureSmile® clear aligners for adults.
The first step to orthodontic treatment with either is a comprehensive consultation in my dental office. At this visit, I assess your teeth and gums and discuss your smile goals. For children, I assess how braces will benefit them aesthetically and functionally.
At this initial appointment, my team and I cover:
- Treatment Costs
- Treatment Timeline
- What to Expect
We also answer any questions that you might have.
If you or your child is a candidate for treatment, I will begin planning your care.
SureSmile
I take digital impressions of your teeth so that the lab can create your custom aligners. You wear each aligner for a few weeks before moving to the next set. You continue this way until you reach the end of treatment. As time passes, you’ll notice your teeth moving into straighter positions.
Traditional Children’s Braces
Children’s braces consist of wires and brackets. I place the brackets on the teeth and thread them with guidewires. I adjust these wires periodically to move your child’s teeth into straighter positions.
Retention Phase
No matter the orthodontic option, the last step is always the retention phase. This means I create a custom retainer to help prevent your teeth from lapsing into pre-orthodontic positions. It’s important to wear the retainer as directed by my dental office.
Your Food Ordering Guide for Braces
With SureSmile and other clear aligner systems, there are no eating restrictions because the aligners are removable. However, children tend to do better with braces because there is less to think about and nothing to remove, which could be lost or misplaced.
Here are the best options for ordering meals and snacks this summer for kids with braces:
Avoid sticky, hard, or complex foods. For example, if your child is having chicken, it should be cooked soft, not crispy.
Foods to eat with braces include, but are not limited to:
- Soft Chicken, Fish, or Beans
- Steamed Veggies
- Pasta, Rice, and Tofu
- Soft Meatballs
- Cheese Puffs
Of course, kids can still have some of their favorites, but try cutting things like pizza and nuggets into bite-sized pieces.
Avoid foods like:
- Popcorn
- Nuts
- Corn on the Cob
- Taffy
- Sticky Candy
- Hard Candy
The Cone’s Best Indulgences for Summertime Fun
There is nothing quite like ice cream in the summer. The Cone, fortunately, offers a wide range of ice cream flavors, pies, cakes, and even hot dogs.
When ordering ice cream, my team and I recommend soft serve, ice cream sandwiches, and similar sweet types. Avoid crunchy toppings and caramel to prevent bracket or wire breakage.
Cut up hot dogs into bite-sized pieces for the best results.
Caring for Braces During the Summer Season
Summer is a time of indulgence, and sweets are consumed more often than during the school year, so it’s important to be vigilant.
For kids, I recommend the following:
- Brush and floss at least twice daily or after every meal.
- Never go to bed with debris or food on the teeth.
- Visit my dental office every six months for checkups.
- Eat foods that are safe for orthodontic brackets and wires.
- Let me know if you have concerns about your child’s progress with braces.
Caring for braces is essentially about caring for your teeth and gums! You don’t want an oral infection or related complication to derail your orthodontic treatment. By keeping your smile healthy, you promote successful orthodontic treatment.
How to Contact My Dental Office
To learn more about traditional braces for kids in West Chester or SureSmile for adults, contact a member of my dental team today to get started. They can also book you a comprehensive consultation with me.
I accept most insurance plans and work with financing through CareCredit. For those without dental insurance, ask us about our Smile Membership Plan.
My team and I look forward to caring for your smile!