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Located in Menlo Park and San Carlos, California, our practice's top priority is to provide you the highest quality orthodontic care in a friendly, comfortable environment. Dr. Kathleen Tavarez and our professional staff recognize that every patient has different needs, and we pride ourselves in the courteous service we deliver to each person who walks through our doors. Whether you're an adult, adolescent or child, Dr. Tavarez and staff are committed to helping you achieve the smile you deserve - a healthy, beautiful one!

Today, we thought we'd ask: What made you choose Tavarez Orthodontics for your (or your child's) orthodontic treatment?

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

You may write your review for our Menlo Park office here, or here for our San Carlos location.

Did you know National Orthodontic Health Month? Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have created a helpful website that provides important information on protecting your braces, including tips for trick-or-treaters, braces-friendly recipes, facts about braces and treats you should avoid while wearing braces.

Dr. Kathleen Tavarez and our staff recommend you check out the AAO's website as well for helpful tips on keeping your braces in tip-top shape. If you have any follow-up questions, please feel free to give us a call, ask us on Facebook or ask Dr. Tavarez during your next visit!

Great question! Dr. Kathleen Tavarez will tell you that braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teenagers. But these days, we know that kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our pals at the American Association of Orthodontists suggest it could be a good idea to start early.

Experts, on the other hand, 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 typically begins between ages nine and 14, and our friends at the 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. Tavarez to assess what the best age for treatment is.

We hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions about your child’s treatment! Happy Monday!

There are a variety of foods Dr. Kathleen Tavarez 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 definitely avoid:
• 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 or ask our staff during your next visit! We also encourage you to check out this helpful article on eating with braces, courtesy of Parenthood.com.

Enjoy the weekend :)