Tell us your story! Why do you choose Hallman Orthodontics?

At Hallman Orthodontics our goal is balancing nature and technology to create the optimal smile for you. We look at every patient as a whole to ensure you get all the personalized attention you deserve. Dr. Linda Hallman is a specialist in anatomy, dentistry, and orthodontics, allowing us to provide comprehensive care for your overall health.

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our convenient Chevy Chase office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. You can write a review on our Facebook page or on our Google listing!

Ask Dr. Hallman: Which foods should I avoid during treatment?

Good question. There are a variety of foods Dr. Linda Hallman wants you to avoid while you're wearing braces. Some foods can occasionally damage braces, but certain foods can bend the wires or even break the brackets on your braces. If you’re wearing braces, you should avoid starch, sugar and gummy foods, as these foods can be difficult to remove during brushing. Foods that are high in sugar and starch tend to cause plaque, cavities and even tooth decay.

Avoid tough meats, hard breads and raw vegetables such as carrots and celery. Before long, you'll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.

Foods you should avoid include:
• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
• Hard foods: nuts, candy
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
• Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.

If you have any questions on which foods you should be avoiding and why, we invite you to give us a call at 301.654.7910 or ask one of our team members during your next visit at our convenient Chevy Chase office! We also definitely encourage you to check out this helpful article about eating with braces, courtesy of Parenthood.com.

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

When should your child visit Hallman Orthodontics?

Chevy Chase orthodontist Dr. Linda Hallman will tell you that braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists suggest it could be a good idea to start early.

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.

Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for Dr. Hallman to assess what the best age for treatment is.

Hope this helps! Give us a call at 301.654.7910 if you have any questions about your child’s treatment! Remember, our staff at Hallman Orthodontics serve Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Somerset, Silver Spring, Kensington, Rockville, Washington DC & surrounding communities.

We hope you had an amazing Labor Day weekend!