The bone that supports your lower teeth happens to be the thinnest in the skull, making these teeth more likely to shift and become crowded or cooked. But are crowded teeth a problem, and how do they impact your smile?

Improper Tooth Alignment

When the teeth don’t align properly, they can cause issues with your bite. An improper bite is also referred to as a malocclusion.

While it may not seem like a big deal if your teeth don’t align properly, the truth is that having a bad bite has more of an impact than you think. Improper alignment can make it harder for you to bite and chew, which can cause issues when eating and even speaking properly [1]. Some patients may experience pain or discomfort as the result of improper alignment.

Fortunately, orthodontics provides a simple fix for most people who have crowded teeth so they can eat and speak with comfort.

Trouble with Oral Hygiene

Crowded teeth are typically more difficult to clean as a result of their position in the mouth. People who have crowded teeth are at higher risk to get tooth decay and gum disease, as plaque can hide in places that are impossible to reach at home with a toothbrush and floss [2]. Even teeth that are in their correct positions can leave room for plaque to hide, which is why regular professional cleanings with your dentist are necessary.

By correcting crowded teeth, you make it easier to keep on top of your oral care at home and reduce your risk for getting cavities and gum disease!

Issues with Self-Confidence

People who have crowded teeth are often self-conscious of their smiles whether or not people can see the affected teeth. For some people, they feel that crowded teeth can impact their entire appearance and impact their self-confidence.

Your orthodontist can develop an effective treatment plan to correct your teeth crowding for a more beautiful, functional smile. Orthodontic treatment can often improve patients’ confidence in their smiles, and allows them to not only interact more confidently with others, but to also feel good about how others perceive them [3].

Get a Consultation with Your Orthodontist!

If you have crowded or crooked teeth that have impacted your bite, your ability to care for your smile, or your self-confidence, it’s time to schedule a consultation with an orthodontist. You can ask your dentist for a referral, or look for an orthodontist in your area who has experience correcting crowded teeth.

You’re never too old to have the smile you deserve. Don’t live with the consequences of crowded teeth—you can have a healthier, more attractive smile with the right treatment from your professional orthodontist!

Sources:
1. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/teens/concerns
2. https://www.health.harvard.edu/oral-health/are-you-too-old-for-braces
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1118280/

The post What is the Impact of Crowded teeth? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Even if your orthodontist has prepared you for your child’s appointment, the following tips will
help you to create an even smoother transition for your child to adapt to life with braces after
their appointment!

Preparing for Discomfort

Your child should be informed that there will be some pain associated with getting braces.
While teeth are shifting, especially during the first few days after getting braces, your child’s
teeth will be very sore and your child may be more irritable because of this discomfort.

In order to help alleviate your child’s pain, you should have the following on hand before your
child gets their braces:

Orthodontic Wax. This dental wax will help your child’s gum tissue adjust to the braces
by softening edges that may, at least in the beginning, rub painfully on your child’s
gums.

Cold Foods or Ice. Keeping cold foods such as ice cream, popsicles, and even frozen
yogurt on hand can help reduce discomfort while providing a soft, easy-to-eat snack.
Some children may also want to suck on ice, just be sure they don’t chew it as ice can
actually fracture teeth.

OTC Pain Medication.

Your orthodontist can recommend an anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen to help manage your child’s pain.

Not every child will experience the same level of pain when getting braces, but by keeping
these items on hand and preparing your child for the discomfort to come, you both can be
better prepared for adjusting to life with braces.

At Your Appointment

During your child’s appointment to get their braces on, you should expect to be there for
approximately one to two hours. Appointment time will vary by the type of braces your child is
getting, but typically, at least one hour is to be expected. Plan to be at the office for this
amount of time and don’t fret—your child’s orthodontist is doing his or her best to ensure the
application goes smoothly.

Stock the Fridge and Pantry

Be sure to stock plenty of soft foods for your child to eat in those first few days after they get
braces. Due to the level of discomfort children can experience with their new orthodontia, soft
foods are a must during those first tender days. Some good meal options and snacks include:

 Soup
 Smoothies
 Mashed Potatoes
 Yogurt
 Ice Cream
 Pudding
 Scrambled eggs
 Applesauce
 Bread products such as muffins or pancakes
 Pasta
 Soft fruits such as bananas, watermelon, or ripe peaches
 Tofu

Keeping some of your child’s favorite soft foods on hand can help them better cope with the
discomfort of their new braces and keep them nourished during this time of transition.
Within a few days, your child’s teeth should begin to feel better. Most children adjust to their
braces after just a few weeks, so be patient while also being encouraging and prepared.

Is your child getting braces today? By being prepared with the necessary items including food,
orthodontic wax, and anti-inflammatory OTC medication, you can help your child adjust to their
new orthodontia and look forward to that straight smile when the braces finally come off!

The post Is Your Child Getting Braces Today? Here’s How to Prepare appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Veneers are essentially a very thin layer of durable porcelain that’s placed over your natural smile with minimal preparation. Although veneers are considered a permanent form of treatment, they have many benefits. What are some of the benefits of dental veneers?

Get a Whole New Smile

Instead of having numerous treatments to restore your teeth, dental veneers provide a whole new layer to your smile. Veneers can correct uneven teeth and even crooked teeth to make them smooth and uniform. Veneers can dramatically transform chipped or gapped teeth or even shorter teeth, giving them a new appearance in just one to two weeks for dramatic results.

For patients who want a new smile in a short period of time with minimal preparation work, veneers may be a good choice. You can talk with your dentist about whether or not your concerns about your smile would improve with dental veneers.

Get Rid of Stains

If teeth are deeply stained and don’t respond to a traditional cleaning or even professional whitening treatments, it may be time to consider veneers. Veneers can make yellow or stained teeth whiter and younger looking. It can make thin or translucent teeth thick and strong.

The best part about dental veneers is that the veneers themselves are very resistant to stains, so you won’t need BriteSmile, Zoom, Crest Whitening Strips, or any other chemicals to whiten your teeth after the treatment. Instead, you can just enjoy your beautiful new veneers!

Improve tooth Sensitivity

For people who have experienced enamel damage and have very sensitive teeth, dental
veneers can actually help stop tooth sensitivity from worsening and, in fact, can even improve existing tooth sensitivity by adding a new layer onto teeth and shielding your natural teeth from hot and cold temperatures.

Many patients who receive dental veneers appreciate that their teeth are less sensitive after the treatment. In fact, some dentists use a desensitizing treatment before bonding porcelain veneers to your teeth to help enhance the protection from extreme temperatures you’ll experience with dental veneers.

For patients that qualify, dental veneers make a dramatic transformation and give many
patients the smile of their dreams without whitening treatments, orthodontic work, or tooth bonding. If you have several issues you’d like addressed with your smile, you can ask your oral healthcare professional if dental veneers could be for you!

The post Are Dental Veneers the Best Option for Enhancing Your Smile? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

What are the benefits of needing orthodontic headgear? Here’s how these appliances can help
many patients have their best smile!

Exert Additional Force

Orthodontic headgear provides additional force needed to move your teeth into their correct
positions. In many cases, the back molars will provide the proper support to move these teeth,
but in others, they won’t suffice.

Headgear relies on a strap that goes behind the neck or head that helps apply extra pressure
and move the teeth faster and into more accurate positions. In some cases, headgear can also
influence facial structure, making it important in cases where a severe overbite or underbite are
affecting facial development in children.

Accelerate Orthodontics

Orthodontic headgear does not need to be worn all day every day. In many cases, it’s rare that
your orthodontist would recommend it to be worn for more than 12-14 hours a day. Wearing
headgear for a limited amount of time is still effective for moving the teeth.

One of the major benefits of headgear is that it’s not only ideal for certain orthodontic cases, it
can also speed up treatment time in cases that might otherwise be complex and time-
consuming to treat. The additional force helps to move teeth in a shorter period of time so
treatment time may be faster!

Necessary for Some Cases

Orthodontists only use headgear when it’s necessary. This might be for cases where the front
teeth need to be moved forward instead of back, or closing a large gap that would otherwise
cause the back teeth to move forward with traditional orthodontic treatment.

Headgear is often necessary in cases where severe overbites or underbites are impeding the smile. Your orthodontist might also suggest headgear for your child in cases where the jaw is not developing correctly since it can help facilitate proper facial development.

Orthodontic headgear won’t be necessary for all cases of orthodontics, but both children and
adults can benefit from headgear in certain cases. If you need headgear, don’t stress. You won’t
need to wear it all day, just when you’re at home or asleep, and your treatment will be over
before you know it. Your orthodontist will let you know if you need to consider headgear to
perfect your smile or your child’s smile!

The post What Are the Benefits of Orthodontic Headgear? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Cleaning your teeth well when you have braces will take more time, but will also be more
important. Your wires and brackets create extra areas for plaque and food particles to hide,
increasing your risk of gum disease while you’re getting your smile straightened.

How can you brush your teeth when you have braces? The following steps will lead you to a
squeaky clean smile!

First: Choose the Right Tools

Choosing the right tools to be your partners during orthodontic treatment is essential. You’ll
need the following items for a proper cleaning:

 A soft-bristled toothbrush. This helps you brush more gently and prevent enamel
damage.

 An interdental cleaner. These cleaners are a second toothbrush of sorts; they’ll help
you brush more efficiently underneath the wires and around the brackets of your
braces.

 Waxed floss. A waxed floss will make it easier to floss your teeth and allow the floss to
glide in and out.

 A floss threader. These little threaders are going to make flossing with bracesmuch
easier!

Now that you have your tools, let’s get cleaning!

Next: Rinse Your Mouth

Before you decide whether to brush or floss first (experts say it doesn’t matter which happens
first as long as you do them both), go ahead and rinse your mouth with water.

Why this step? As we discussed, braces provide lots of extra places for food particles to hide. In
order to make your job of cleaning your teeth and braces easier, it can help to loosen or
remove any food particles by vigorously swishing water around in your mouth.

Now, decide whether you want to brush or floss!

Then: Floss In-between Teeth

Flossing is going to be one of the most challenging parts of having braces, but it’s essential for
removing plaque from those hard-to-reach areas in-between your teeth.

A floss threader can make life with braces much easier. These threaders help the floss go
underneath your wire, allowing you to effectively reach the space between each of your teeth.

Once the threader is underneath the wire, you can remove it and then proceed to floss the
tooth. Pull the floss out when done, and use a clean section for each set of teeth you clean
between.

Although it doesn’t matter whether you floss before or after brushing, experts do recommend
saving flossing for the end of the day to ensure you remove all food particles before sleeping.

Last: Brushing Your Teeth

Finally, place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle down towards the gums. Gently brush your
teeth, your brackets, and your wires to remove plaque. Brush everything that you can reach
with your toothbrush.

For the places your toothbrush doesn’t quite seem to reach, grab your interdental cleaner and
gently brush around the brackets. A quick rinse of the mouth again and you’re done!

Cleaning your teeth with braces might feel like a chore at first, but you’ll get used to this
important practice. All your hard work with be worth it when the braces come off and you have
a smile that’s not only straight, but healthy too!

The post How Should I Brush My Teeth When I Have Braces? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Orthodontic treatment isn’t just for looks. Straight teeth actually encourage a healthy oral
cavity, which means a reduced risk for numerous dental health issues—but why is this?
Here are just a few reasons why straight teeth can encourage a healthy smile for life!

Proper Alignment Eliminates Jaw Issues

The temporomandibular joint, commonly referred to as TMJ, is one of the most complex joints
in your body. It joins the bottom part of your jaw to the top part. Since this joint allows us to
chew and move our mouths in a variety of ways, any issues that arise with this complex joint
can be painful.

A misaligned bite, also referred to as a malocclusion, can cause pain in the face and jaw. Many
people experience overbites, underbites, crossbites, or open bites as a result of misaligned
teeth. When left untreated, these bites can cause chronic pain when chewing or speaking.
Fortunately, orthodontic treatment can correct these problems and enable you to have a pain-
free smile with no more jaw or bite issues!

Easier to Clean and Take Care Of

Crooked teeth or crowded teeth can be nearly impossible to clean properly. The tight spaces in-
between teeth are the perfect places for bacteria, plaque, and food debris to hide. Sometimes,
even the best brushers and flossers can’t get into these tight spaces, making tooth decay and
gum disease more likely.

With orthodontic treatment, all the teeth are moved into their proper positions. This not only
gives you straight, even teeth, but also provides you with a better foundation for your oral
health, as you’ll be able to brush and floss without any issues. Straighter teeth are easier to
clean and take care of, reducing your risk for oral health problems.

Prevent Problems with Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

In addition to being easier to clean, straighter teeth help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
Misaligned teeth not only provide places for bacteria to hide, but they can also prevent people
from seeking the care they need to have a healthy smile.

People with crooked or crowded teeth may be self-conscious of their smile, leading them to
avoid the dentist despite any problems they may encounter. When a straight smile is possible,
people tend to want to take care of their smiles and will seek treatment to keep their smile
looking beautiful.

Whether or not you received orthodontic care as a child doesn’t have to impact your oral
health today. Nearly 25% of all people who have braces are adults. With many treatment
options today to get your smile in shape, in addition to many orthodontists offering payment
plans, your treatment is more achievable than ever.

Don’t let your smile prevent you from having a healthy oral cavity. With straighter teeth, your
smile is easier to care for and you won’t experience the daily pain of having an improper bite.
With a healthy smile, you’ll be ready to take on the world!

The post How Do Straighter Teeth Promote Oral Health? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Why does this happen, and what can you do about it? Here are a few things that can cause your
adult teeth to shift and what you can do to combat these unwanted changes in tooth position!

Mesial Drift Can Cause Shifting

Mesial Drift is a term used to describe the way the teeth move ever so slightly towards the
front of your mouth as you get older. Researchers aren’t sure why this happens, but suspect it
may have something to do with the shorter lifespans of our ancestors as well as tooth loss.
In other words, the remaining teeth may shift to compensate the loss of a tooth to make
chewing easier. Since our ancestors lived shorter lives, teeth shifting wouldn’t have mattered as
much. However, since people live well into their 80s and beyond today, teeth shifting can
become a problem.

Teeth That Received Orthodontics Can Shift

Did you wear braces when you were younger, or even in your adult life? If so, you’ll need to
wear your retainer as directed by your orthodontist for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, your
perfect smile won’t stay that way for long if you don’t wear your retainer.

Your retainer reminds your teeth where they belong, otherwise they’ll shift back to their
original positions and you could end up needing orthodontic care again. Teeth that received
orthodontic treatment are more susceptible to dramatic shifting because the teeth will attempt
to revert back to their old positions.

Losing a Tooth

If you lose one tooth or several teeth, shifting will happen naturally over time. You may not see
any changes right away, but eventually your mouth will move the rest of the teeth to fill the
space of the lost tooth. This could cause functional problems with your teeth as well as an
unpleasant appearance.

What Can You Do?

There’s not much you can do to stop Mesial Drift, and as long as you take care of your teeth, it’s
not likely that Mesial Drift will affect your smile too much. However, if you have had braces,
your teeth may try to move back into their original positions, making it imperative that you
wear your retainer.

If you lose a tooth, getting it replaced as soon as possible can help you avoid problems with
shifting. If you need to get braces again as an adult—or if this is your first time having
them—don’t worry. Having Invisalign or braces can help your smile look as natural and
beautiful as possible. Orthodontic treatment can also help prevent teeth from shifting with
regular wear of a retainer.

Have your teeth shifted since you’ve gotten a little older or since you had braces? Adult teeth
do shift, so don’t be surprised if you don’t necessarily notice this change over time. To prevent
shifting, wear your retainer, or if you need braces, consider orthodontics or Invisalign as an
adult. Your smile can still be beautiful for life despite adult teeth shifting!

The post Do Adult Teeth Still Shift? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Here are your options for getting that straight smile incognito!

Damon Braces

Damon braces utilize clear brackets, but there’s more to these braces that sets them apart. They’re self-ligating, which means they move with your teeth as they adjust due to memory wire and sliding brackets. They slowly align your teeth while using less force than regular braces.

Damon braces are an attractive option for adults because of their clear brackets, faster treatment time, and less maintenance. Perfect for busy adults! You have the option of using clear wire instead of metal wire to make your treatment even more invisible to others.

Lingual braces

Have you heard of lingual braces? These braces come with twist—they’re on the other side of your teeth. They’re placed on the inner side of your tooth to move your teeth into position without ever being seen from the outside. They work just like traditional braces to move your teeth.

Lingual braces will need to be custom made for your smile and your teeth will need to be big enough to accommodate the brackets. Your orthodontist can evaluate your candidacy for lingual braces based on your unique smile.

Invisalign

Invisalign is perhaps the option for invisible braces that most people have heard of. Invisalign will align your teeth but without metal brackets or wires. Instead, your orthodontist will use a set of clear trays that are custom-fitted for your smile. You’ll need to wear these trays over 20 hours a day but can take them out when you eat, an advantage braces can’t offer.

Invisalign is perfect for those who want a straight smile but want their treatment to be totally invisible to others. You can talk with your orthodontist about whether or not Invisalign would work for your smile.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are just like regular braces except they use clear brackets that allow their appearance to be minimized. Patients usually have the option of using a tooth-colored wire as well, which will help the braces blend in with your teeth even more.

Ceramic braces work as well as traditional braces to straighten teeth, so you don’t have to worry about correcting complex issues that Invisalign might not fix or not being able to qualify for lingual braces. Ask your orthodontist about ceramic braces for your treatment!

When it comes to getting a straight smile, you don’t have to get braces that everyone will see. There are options for skipping the metal braces yet still getting the smile of your dreams. Don’t wait to get straight teeth—schedule an appointment with your local orthodontist to start your journey to a better smile today!

The post What Are Less Visible Orthodontic Treatment Options for Adults? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Fortunately, Propel Orthodontics can help! Propel is a unique tool that actually cuts your orthodontic treatment time in half. This simple procedure can get your teeth perfectly aligned in no time. So how does it work?

What Propel Does

Propel is a tool that actually stimulates your alveolar bone. This is the bone that houses the sockets of your teeth. Propel makes tiny holes in this bone so that your teeth move into their designated places faster. This tool also helps your orthodontist more accurately move your teeth into their final positions.

The procedure is minimally invasive and isn’t uncomfortable for most patients. While it moves your teeth faster, it also helps your mouth to heal rapidly and you’ll experience less discomfort after an adjustment. Propel works great for people who are still growing their alveolar bone, such as teens, but will work for anyone!

Types of Orthodontic Treatment It Can Be Used With

Propel Orthodontics is a great option because it allows you to complete your treatment in considerably less time whether you have traditional braces or Invisalign. In fact, you’ll even need fewer orthodontist visits since you won’t be receiving treatment for quite as long. No matter which orthodontic treatment option you choose, Propel can work.

Both Invisalign and braces can be used with Propel Orthodontics. This type of combination treatment can result in a perfect smile in just half the time! If you want accelerated treatment with your braces, Propel could be for you.

Propel Can Correct Many Types of Problems

Invisalign can be limited in what alignment and bite issues it can treat; however, Propel allows your dentist to correct difficult cases in which Invisalign would not normally be able to be used. This means even complex problems can be fixed with Propel. Say goodbye to surgery or traditional braces!

If you opt for regular braces to correct your smile but cringe at spending years of your life with these on, consider Propel Orthodontics. Propel can get you a great smile in just 50% of the time of braces and correct just about every type of alignment or bite issue in your smile.

No Pain or Recovery Time

Although Propel will require perforations in your bone, it’s an easy procedure that’s done at your dentist’s office in just minutes. It won’t require any recovery time or special instructions for healing. You can go about your life as normal when you receive Propel treatment in addition to your orthodontics!

If you’ve been putting off orthodontic treatment because you don’t want to have braces for years, consider Propel Orthodontics. Your orthodontist or dentist can talk with you more about whether or not Propel would be useful in your treatment. When you want a perfect smile in half the time, ask about Propel!

The post Cut Orthodontic Treatment Time in Half with Propel Orthodontics appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Although people in the past have heard that they only need to wear their retainer for a year or two after treatment, many orthodontists today agree that you should wear your retainer most nights for the rest of your life. For people who didn’t wear their retainer after orthodontic treatment, the teeth can majorly shift during this period. The brackets and wires that held your straight smile in place are no longer there. Your teeth need guidance to sit in their permanent spots, which is why your retainer is so important. If you didn’t wear your retainer or rarely wore it, you might have to get braces again to repeat treatment.

Your Teeth Have Shifted

As we get older, our bite can change as our teeth shift. What once may have been a corrected overbite might now be a protruding one. Even if you wore your retainer for the year or two you were supposed to, your teeth can still shift. If your teeth have shifted into unnatural positions, you may need braces again in adulthood. When your bite is incorrect, this can cause problems with chewing, speaking, and could even cause symptoms of TMJ disorders.

You Didn’t Complete Treatment

If you need two-phase orthodontic treatment as a child but didn’t complete your treatment, you might need some additional work done. Two-phase orthodontic treatment is best for complex orthodontic issues that require two sets of braces at two different times. If your teeth looked fine after phase one treatment, you or your parents might have decided to skip that second set of braces. When you don’t complete treatment, you’re leaving room for future problems. These are issues that’ll likely need correction as you enter adulthood!

You Left Your Wisdom Teeth In

Wisdom teeth are that pesky set of third molars that come in between the ages of 17 and 21. By this time, some people have already completed their orthodontic treatment. This means their smile is straight when wisdom teeth make their appearance. Since our jaws have gotten smaller over time, wisdom teeth are often impacted. This means there’s not enough room for them to come in and they push against your other teeth. When this happens, teeth that were once straight can quickly become crooked.

If you neglect to remove your wisdom teeth, you could need a second set of braces to correct the damage the wisdom teeth have caused. Getting a second set of braces isn’t the end of the world! This treatment is well worth your time and money to have a straight smile again. Whether you neglected to wear your retainer, didn’t finish treatment, or just need to get your wisdom teeth removed, you can still get a beautiful smile the second time around!

The post I Had Braces as a Kid, Why Do I Need Them Again? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.