Tip #1: Brush and Floss Frequently

You might be surprised at how easily food can get caught around the brackets and wires of your braces, so brushing after every meal is key. And, be sure to floss at least once a day using floss threaders, orthodontic floss, or a water flosser to clean between your teeth and under the wires where your toothbrush can’t reach. Also, be sure to use fluoride toothpaste (and mouthwash) to strengthen tooth enamel, prevent cavities, and reduce white spots or gum irritation.

Tip #2: Brush Efficiently

Did you know HOW you brush makes a difference? For best results, angle your toothbrush 45 degrees toward your gumline and move it gently in small circles. Brush meticulously around each bracket and along your gumline to remove plaque. Pro tip: an electric toothbrush with a specially designed orthodontic head can make the process even easier. 

Tip #3: Avoid Sugary and Acidic Food and Drinks 

Your orthodontist likely advised you to avoid sticky foods to protect your brackets. However, you should also avoid sticky foods (as well as sweet and acidic foods and drinks), as remnants can cling to your braces and erode your tooth enamel. Limit soda, candy, and fruit juices, and if a craving hits, rinse your mouth with water afterward to reduce acid exposure.

Tip #4: See Your Dentist for Regular Checkups

While you have braces, you’ll be spending plenty of time in a dental office getting adjustments. However, don’t forget that routine dental appointments are just as important as orthodontic visits. Professional cleanings are extra effective at removing plaque and tartar that brushing can’t, and your dentist and hygienist will thoroughly check your mouth to ensure your gums are healthy and your teeth are in excellent shape while you’ve got braces.

Explore Orthodontic Treatment at Potomac Family Dental

By following the above tips, it’s easier to ensure you’re taking optimal care of your teeth while your orthodontics work their magic. Schedule your dental cleaning today to help keep your teeth and gums in top condition.

The post Tips for Caring for Your Teeth and Gums During Orthodontic Braces Treatment 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.

How Propel Works

Propel works by making micro-osteoperforations in your alveolar bone, which is a specific type of bone that supports the sockets that contain your teeth. What this means is that your orthodontist will use the Propel patented device to make tiny holes in your bone to help your teeth shift into place faster and more accurately than traditional orthodontic treatment.

When these small holes are made in your alveolar bone, it creates a cytokine response in the body, which produces inflammation. This inflammatory response makes it easier for your body to shift your teeth into position, therefore reducing your amount of orthodontic treatment time.

Faster Than Traditional Treatment

In order to correct your teeth with orthodontic treatment, your teeth must move through the alveolar bone that supports them. This process—which is essentially bone remodeling—takes time, which explains why the average time for orthodontic treatment is about 18-24 months. For years, this was the only way to move teeth and correct structural, bite, and spacing problems for teeth.

With Propel, orthodontists are now able to cut your treatment time by up to 50% simply by making micro-osteoperforations with this unique tool during your visit. These tiny holes and the inflammatory response they create allow your teeth to shift into their correct positions much faster than traditional orthodontic treatment. After the micro-osteoperforations are made, your orthodontic devices work to move your teeth. The result is very effective, fast, and efficient bone remodeling in less treatment time than traditional orthodontics!

Is Propel an Option for You?

Propel Orthodontics does require that some type of local anesthesia be used, but there is little to no pain or discomfort after the procedure and no recovery time! Your trained orthodontist is able to make the micro-osteoperforations during your visit and then you’ll enjoy a shorter treatment time with no discomfort afterwards.

Propel Orthodontics can be used with traditional braces as well as Invisalign, so no matter which orthodontic treatment you use, Propel can help you to correct your smile faster than ever before. You may be a candidate for Propel if you have braces or Invisalign and your teeth and gums are healthy and free of gum disease and tooth decay.

Find an orthodontist who’s trained in Propel Orthodontics and offers this treatment along with your orthodontic treatment to help you get the smile of your dreams in half the time. This procedure is quick, easy, and painless, yet helps your orthodontist achieve your desired results in a much shorter time period. Ask your orthodontist about Propel Orthodontics today!

The post Accelerate Your Orthodontic Treatment with Propel appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

If Problems Need to Be Treated Before Braces—Phase One

Braces aren’t always used during Phase One. Phase One is typically the time to correct bites, make room for your child’s permanent teeth, and set up a healthy environment for the adult teeth to come in. Phase One treatment is used when your child still has most of his or her baby teeth. Phase One allows your orthodontist to maximize success for your child’s orthodontic treatment! This phase usually happens while your child is still young (around age 8 or 9) and will be followed by a “resting” period in which your child’s adult teeth will be allowed to come in.

Completing Treatment with Phase Two

Phase Two completes the treatment that was started in Phase One of your child’s orthodontic care. This treatment tends to be faster because much of the work will have already been completed in Phase One. Phase Two is usually competed using traditional braces on the top and bottom rows of teeth which help to guide the permanent adult teeth into their respected spaces and finish your child’s gorgeous smile. Treatment will vary for each child, but the average time is around two years to complete Phase Two.

Your Child May Need Two Phase Treatment

Each child is different and not every child will need Two Phase orthodontic treatment. It’s recommended that your child visit an orthodontist by age 7. This will allow your orthodontist to determine if Two Phase treatment is necessary. Two Phase treatment may be right for your child if you notice the following symptoms or signs:

– Complex bite issues, especially crossbite or a deep overbite

– Crowded teeth at an early age

– Protruding teeth

Depending on your child and their special smile, they may or may not need Two Phase orthodontic treatment. Phase One is intended to build a strong and successful foundation for your child’s adult teeth to come in, while Phase Two will provide the finishing touches and guide your child’s adult teeth into their permanent positions.

Two Phase orthodontic treatment won’t be necessary for every patient, however, it does have many advantages for patients for whom it is necessary. Your orthodontist can effectively prevent many problems from occurring, help boost your child’s self esteem, and complete Phase Two in a timely manner all by properly planning your child’s care. Seek a consultation for your child’s orthodontic treatment today!

The post Is Two Phase Orthodontic Treatment Right for My Child? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

The Benefits of Damon Braces

Damon uses a revolutionary approach in the orthodontic scene. This is because they have done away with the elastics that plague wearers of traditional braces. These elastics have been replaced with a sliding mechanism. What benefits are achieved with this method?

– Tie-less braces do not require tightening throughout treatment. This is one of the most uncomfortable parts of standard orthodontics. Damon saves you the pain.

– Technologically advanced wires mean that it takes fewer adjustments to get your teeth back in line.

– Without being tied to each bracket, your teeth can move more freely. This also decreases the amount of time it takes to complete your orthodontic work.

– Traditional braces are often accompanied by palatal expanders or pulled teeth. This is rare with Damon braces.

– Damon braces are easier to keep clean and do not attract the plaque that elastic ties result in. Of course, your primary concern as an adult may be the stigma of having people see your braces. After all, the mouth and teeth are one of the first things a person notices about someone else. That is probably part of what you want your teeth fixed in the first place. Don’t worry. Damon has a solution for this concern as well.

Clear Damon Brackets Provide a Discreet Solution

Clear brackets provide you with the same great orthodontic treatment, simply without the stigma. What sets Damon apart from other clear orthodontic providers?

– Since there are no elastics, you do not have to worry about elastics that yellow and become visible.

– The brackets are specially designed to resist discoloration, so your braces remain discreet throughout your treatment.

– These work for individuals who may not qualify for treatment with invisible aligners. Plus, you don’t have to worry about losing an aligner or forgetting to put it in.

– The Damon System does not create speech issues that are caused by some invisible aligners. These are for people who believe that braces should be neither seen nor heard.

Comfort and Results: A Win-Win

The Damon System is designed to provide high-quality orthodontic treatment in the shortest amount of
time. All the while, the system keeps the patient as comfortable as possible. Plus, the clear option provides a discreet solution. This is the ultimate choice in orthodontics for adults.

The post Orthodontics for Adults: Spotlight on Damon Braces appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.