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Kids can be picky eaters. How many times have you seen your child try to hide the peas under a mound of mashed potatoes?

At Kubo Orthodontic Group, Dr. Robert Kubo and Dr. James Kubo and our team understand how hard it can be to get your child to eat the recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables. The task of providing fun, nutritious meals becomes even more challenging if he or she wears braces. It's an age-old saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. These five braces-friendly recipes are not only nutritious, but they will have little Jimmy flashing his “tin grin” when he sits down at the kitchen table in the morning.

1. Scrambled eggs are soft and easy to eat if you have braces. If you drown them in ketchup (which many kids love to do), eggs become even mushier. Minimal chewing is required, and that’s the key to a braces-friendly recipe.
2. A healthy breakfast provides energy and jump-starts metabolism. A smoothie is not only a good source of fruit, but it’s also gentle on braces. More importantly, smoothies are fun to create. You can toss anything in the blender (bananas, mangoes, strawberries, spinach) and create a drink that’s loaded with vitamins and antioxidants.
3. If you wear braces, eating crunchy cereals or granola for breakfast is out of the question: Bite down the wrong way and you might snap the wires or dislodge the brackets. However, you can get your grains and oats by substituting oatmeal for cereal. This mushy breakfast treat has a host of health benefits.
4. Pancakes are not the healthiest breakfast choice. Still, this Sunday morning favorite is braces-friendly. The idea is to make it healthier by hiding blueberries in the pancake batter just like your child hides peas in the mashed potatoes.
5. Toast with jam is ok, but skip slathering peanut butter on the bread. If you have braces, the general rule of thumb is to steer clear of foods that are hard or chewy. These types of foods can break wires. Of course, most kids will agree that toast isn’t the most exciting breakfast recipe. Make it a Pop-Tart instead!

For more braces-friendly recipes, please give us a call at our convenient Fresno, CA office!

Orthodontic braces have been around for more than a century and have continually evolved over that time. Today’s braces are more discreet than ever, producing excellent results without being overly obvious during the corrective phase. If you are in search of an aesthetically appealing way of straightening your teeth, Drs. Kubo and our team at Kubo Orthodontic Group provide multiple options to choose from, including lingual braces and clear aligners.

Clear Aligners

Clear aligners are progressive-phase braces designed for patients who need mild-to-moderate correction of crowded or crooked teeth. This system includes a series of custom-made trays that gradually shift the teeth into their targeted positions. Instead of frequently returning to our Fresno office to have braces tightened, you simply swap the trays out every few weeks. Clear aligners are virtually undetectable and can be removed while eating or brushing your teeth. When worn as prescribed, these metal-free trays can straighten your teeth in as little as six to 12 months.

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are similar to traditional metal braces in that they are fixed to the teeth. However, lingual braces differ in that they are attached to back of the teeth rather than the front. This type of treatment is preferred over clear aligners among patients with moderate to severe orthodontic correction needs. Lingual braces are non-removable and must be adjusted periodically during scheduled orthodontic visits. However, lingual braces are capable of producing much more controlled force during treatment, which can yield highly successful results.

If you think you may be a candidate for braces, but aren’t sure whether lingual braces or clear aligners are right for you, Drs. Kubo and our team can help you decide. Schedule a consultation today to find out more about your orthodontic options and start on the path to the beautiful, healthy smile you’ve always dreamed of.

According to Feed Our Future, "Fresno is considered the Appalachia of the West. We have about 92% of our school age kids in the west side of Fresno (that) are chronically hungry. They don't have enough food or their families don't have the ability to use the resources that Fresno count has available to them."

Kubo Orthodontic Group understands that this is a huge problem, and we are excited to be partnering with this great organization this fall and holiday season!

We will be running the food drive in our Fresno office from September 15 to December 1st, so that we can help package the bags for distribution before school is out for Christmas break!

They must be individually packaged items and items that do NOT need the use of a can opener.  These items include: granola bars, 100% juice boxes, cereal bars, applesauce, fruit cups, Cup O' Noodles, Vienna sausages, chicken salad/tuna salad kits, microwaveable Chef Boyardee entrees, peanut butter or cheese crackers, individual bowls of cereal, microwavable Mac and Cheese, Soup on the Go, etc.

For each item that you bring in, you will be entered into a drawing for a pack of 10 movie tickets AND $100 toward concessions at the movies! Help a child... and good luck winning the prize!

These days, Americans everywhere are putting greater emphasis on health and self-improvement, and more people are seeking orthodontic treatment to improve their smile. September happens to be Self-Improvement Month, and our team at Kubo Orthodontic Group knows that orthodontic treatment is an investment in self-improvement that will provide benefits for a lifetime. Recent advances in orthodontia now make treatment more comfortable for many interested in obtaining that beautiful smile.

Not only does orthodontic treatment give you a beautiful smile, it can also benefit your dental and general health. If teeth are poorly aligned, removing plaque and tartar by brushing and flossing may be difficult. A bad bite may result in fractured or excessively worn tooth surfaces, and the extra stress caused by a bad bite may even result in problems with your jaw joints.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. Robert Kubo and Dr. James Kubo would love to have you visit for an initial consultation. Please give us a call to schedule a visit! See you soon!