2 Holiday Tips For Your Hardware

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone and we are in the middle of the holiday season. This time of year is special to many of us. We spend time with family and friends, attend parties, and participate in the festivities. While we encourage our patients to enjoy the holiday season to the fullest, it’s important to remember to care for your orthodontic hardware to avoid damage or a delay in your treatment plan. Read on to learn more about navigating the holiday season while receiving orthodontic care.

Caring For Your Braces Over The Holidays

We cannot believe that December has arrived. Many of our patients are busy preparing for the holiday season. While this is a time to visit and celebrate with loved ones, remember to be mindful of your orthodontic hardware. We’ve talked before about which foods to avoid while wearing braces and other hardware. However, there is so much food during this time of year that it can be tempting to indulge, even when you know better. This can be especially difficult for our younger patients, who may not have much restraint.

Use It, But Please Don’t Lose It

Do you have a child who is receiving orthodontic care and are concerned because they are not as responsible as you would like with their oral care and orthodontic hardware? Wearing orthodontics, especially removable hardware, comes with a certain level of responsibility for our patients of all ages. Many parents are concerned with their children losing certain hardware, and to be fair, we have the same concern with our adult patients as well. We want to share some tips to help our youth patients develop good habits in keeping track of orthodontic hardware. Continue reading to learn these tips.

Ideas For School Lunch While Wearing Braces

Now that we are in October, hopefully you and your family are in a routine to get the kids out the door bright and early for school. During those first few weeks, everyone is feeling a certain level of excitement, and it’s a little easier to get everybody ready. As the year moves along, it typically gets harder and harder to find that same motivation from the beginning of the school year. This is especially true if you pack lunch for your child. It can be even more difficult if your child has braces and you are trying to follow the guidelines of their food restrictions. We know it can also be challenging for your child to make wise decisions when ordering school lunch from the cafeteria. It can be tempting to choose restricted food items. We would hate for your child to experience an orthodontic emergency during school due to making an incorrect food choice and damaging their hardware.

Do You Always Follow The Rules?

When patients are ready to start their orthodontic care journey, we are very specific with instructions on how to properly clean your teeth, what foods you should and should not eat, as well as how to properly wear any hardware you might have to add and remove from your mouth. Following our directions not only keeps your mouth safe from harm, but it also allows your teeth to move properly so you can finish your orthodontic journey on schedule. Continue reading to learn about the consequences of not following your orthodontic care instructions.

It’s Time For Some Spring Cleaning

We don’t know about you, but we couldn’t be more thrilled that spring has arrived! The winter always seems very long, and the change of season is much appreciated. Many people use the start of a new season to clear out the winter cobwebs. This is one of the reasons the term “spring cleaning” is so popular. Similar to the cleaning you may do in your home, now is the perfect time to do some spring cleaning to your orthodontic hardware. Continue reading to learn more.

How Do I Take Care Of My Teeth With Braces?

Are you or a loved one currently receiving orthodontic care from our office? Are you brushing and cleaning your teeth as often and as well as you should? Before you started your treatment, we should have reviewed the importance of properly caring for your teeth during treatment. When patients are receiving orthodontic care, they have to change the way they clean and care for their teeth. At times, they may need to use special tools to ensure that their teeth are receiving the proper care. Continue reading to learn some of the best cleaning tools to have on hand when wearing braces, retainers, aligners, or other orthodontic hardware.

Common Orthodontic Terms You Should Know

Do you or a loved one visit our office for treatment and you are confused with the terminology that you hear? We know that it can be a little tricky to understand not only the different treatments we offer, but the vocabulary and terms used for each one. It is important to have some idea what the more popular terms mean especially if you or a loved one experience an emergency and have to explain over the phone what is broken. We have created a glossary of ten popular orthodontic terms to help guide you. Read on to see how many terms you are familiar with.

Three Things To Know Before Starting Orthodontic Treatment

Are you or a loved one planning on starting orthodontic treatment in the near future? Whether you are starting treatment with traditional braces or clear aligners, it can be an exciting time to imagine what your teeth will look like in the future. It can also be a little nerve-racking to begin, especially if you are a new patient with no prior experience with orthodontics. We wanted to share some important information that is important to know before starting treatment.

True Or False?

True or False? Teeth require the same care with or without braces. The answer to that is false! Teeth with braces require much more care and cleaning time than teeth without braces. Braces create many tiny spaces that are perfect places to trap food, creating tooth decay. Continue reading to learn the necessary steps to keep teeth clean and healthy while wearing braces.