FAQs & Blog

Level the playing field by avoiding costly dental injuries and surgery

As a parent, your concern about preventing concussions during sports is totally understandable — but a blow to the head can also be a blow to your child’s smile.

Every year, an estimated $500 million is spent repairing teeth caused by some five million sports injuries. Both the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association recommend mouthguards be worn during organized athletic activities.

Whether it’s team sports or unorganized games, you can help keep your son or daughter from becoming another statistic — with a custom-made plastic mouthguard that protects the teeth, head and joints from dental trauma and, yes, concussions.

Sports-related dental injuries:

a numbers game

If professional athletes face as much as a 56%* chance of receiving an orofacial injury during their career, consider your child’s own chances. Kids between ages 7 and 10 are known to have the highest number of orofacial injuries from playing sports — even the “safer” ones like soccer.

Basketball leads the pack, but many other activities aren’t far behind. — whether organized team sports or unorganized games.

Older kids and youth are at significant risk, too. Research has shown as many as 75 percent of junior and senior high school athletes sustain a dental injury when not wearing a mouthguard.

Play it safe with a custom-made mouthguard that fits your child perfectly and precisely

With good reason, no two custom mouthguards are the same. Unlike off-the-shelf mouthguards, a customized one is made from stronger, more durable thermoplastic that outperforms the pre-fitting kind in four critical ways:

• Withstands impact much better
• Retains its shape and fit
• Thickness of material can be adjusted for grinding and clenching
• Lasts much longer

The end result is optimal safety and comfort — something that pre-made mouthguards aren’t made to provide.

Make a small financial investment in your child’s smile
that offers a high return on future dental health

Board-certified in orthodontic medicine, Dr. Karin Grinbaum has many years of experience in New York City working with adults, youth and children. Read her bio. To learn more about Grinbaum Orthodontics, please explore our website.

For a free consultation with Dr. Grinbaum, call 212-777-6177, email us or complete our contact form. We can create a custom-made mouthguard that’s designed to preserve your child’s teeth, smile, confidence and well-being for years to come.

* According to research cited on www.dentalcare.com.

Don’t worry, eating a steady diet of applesauce, yogurt and mashed potatoes is NOT necessary

You can eat real food with braces – lots of it! But there are snacks and foods to avoid. Braces are precision appliances that could be damaged by eating hard foods. Sticky, crunchy or certain soft foods can loosen or dislodge the brackets from teeth and promote tooth decay. If it’s hard, especially chewy or likely to get stuck in your teeth, then it’s something to skip. If you still go trick-or-treating on Halloween, then you might make a new friend because you’ll be giving away loads of candy.

• Doritos, popcorn, caramel and nuts are all bad choices with braces.
• Gum is out. That big fresh bagel? Pass.
• Corn on the cob? Next year.

The good news is tons of great food can be eaten safely with braces

Some examples:

• Proteins – hamburgers, boneless poultry, seafood, cooked beans, hummus
• Fruits and vegetables – most soft fruits and roasted or steamed veggies
• Breads and grains – waffles, muffins, sandwich bread, soft tortillas, cake, cookies, rice, pasta, cooked cereals, quinoa, cake
• Dairy – cheeses, ice cream (no nuts!)

If you’re using a retainer to keep teeth in their desired position, it’s generally recommended you remove the retainer and place it in its dedicated case immediately before eating. Eating with the retainer in your mouth can trap food and potentially alter the shape and effectiveness of the appliance. If you do eat with your retainer, be careful and rinse the retainer immediately after eating.

Bottom line: Eating safely with braces is a piece of cake and more. You’ll find plenty on the menu.

Food you can eat right here in East Midtown Manhattan!

We’ve got tons of restaurants sure to satisfy every tastebud within walking distance of our office. Here are some of our favorites:

Le Pain Quotidien
With a variety of seasonal soups, salads and sandwiches, there are lots of things on the menu you can eat, but be sure to avoid the harder crusted breads.

Best Pizza On First
Pizza is A-OK, although you may want to ask for a knife and fork to get it down to bite sized pieces.

Jimbo’s Hamburger Place
You’re pretty safe with anything on the breakfast & lunch menu. You could even sneak in a few wings if you pull the meat off the bones first.

Pho Saigon NYC
Pho Saigon’s signature rice noodle soup is not only braces friendly, but comes in a wide selection of meats and vegetables to suite any tastebuds!

Rosa Mexicana
There are tons of soft & delicious options at Rosa Mexicana. We all know you’ll end up eating chips if you go, but be careful, and try to go slow!