Whether you’re a New Year’s resolution-maker or not, there is always an opportunity to do better by your braces or Invisalign every day of the year. It’s never too late to improve your orthodontic journey. Start now, start tomorrow, just start – your teeth and smile will thank you for it. Here are just some of the easiest resolutions you can adopt.
Yes, You Must Clean Your Retainer
Orthodontic patients have spent months and sometimes years in braces or Invisalign so they don’t always look forward to wearing a retainer every night, let alone take care of it. However, as every orthodontist will testify, retainers are the essential final piece of orthodontic treatment, and if you want this appliance to work correctly you must clean your retainer regularly to keep your teeth and alignment in great shape.
Believe It: Braces Are Cool at Any Age
Many kids and adults stress about the idea of sporting braces, being held captive by hardware, or feeling uncomfortable and self-conscious. These things can be true, but nearly four million people are wearing braces right now. If you flip pessimism into optimism, there are plenty of reasons that braces are cool at any age, no matter some minor drawbacks.
5 Halloween Sweets That Are Bad for Braces
It is nearly impossible to avoid Halloween sweets at the end of October. The treats are everywhere, and they are delicious. Anyone who is seeing an orthodontist and wears braces but tends to overindulged at this time of year is at risk of destroying their teeth-straightening progress, damaging orthodontic materials, and ending up with cavities and other oral health problems.
Tips to Make It Through Your First Halloween with Braces Intact
Halloween should be all about fun for everyone, even when you have braces. Anyone sporting orthodontics needs to take a few extra precautions because it is possible to be drawn in by the spooky tricks of certain festive candies and treats. Whether you wear brackets or Invisalign, your enjoyment of Halloween with braces doesn’t need to be interrupted because of brackets, wires, or aligners.
Can You Get Invisalign If You Grind Your Teeth?
Many people grind their teeth. They have a problem with their temporomandibular joint (TMJ), or unconsciously grind and clench while sleeping, or are under extreme stress and teeth suffer as a result. It makes sense to wonder if Invisalign can even work for you if you already rely on a heavy-duty nightguard to bear the pressure your teeth put on each other. While the answer won’t be the same for every patient, Invisalign could be a possibility.
4 Reasons to Say Yes to Invisalign for Adults
Orthodontics are not reserved for teenagers alone. Whether you wore braces during adolescence or you’re only just considering orthodontia now, you’re in good company. Plenty of adults decide to see an orthodontist to discuss how they can improve their smile and oral health. In fact, most grown-ups choose Invisalign for adults to get their teeth where they want them to be. Here are just some of the reasons why.
Can Braces Take Longer Than Expected?
At the start of every orthodontic journey, patients are assessed thoroughly. Various digital images, x-rays, and diagnostic tools determine what’s happening with dentition and how much teeth need to move. Your orthodontist is as accurate as possible when predicting how long treatment will take from start to finish, but there are cases where braces take longer than expected and a few more weeks or months may be necessary. Find out why.
New Braces? Get Your Child Ready for Back to School
Plenty of kids get anxious about going back to school every fall. If they have braces or a palatal expander or any sort of orthodontics, things can feel even more tricky. Here are just some of the methods you can employ to help your child adjust to their developing smile as they move around their peers, teachers, classes, and activities.
Say It Ain’t So: How to Fix Crooked Teeth After Braces
Braces straighten crooked teeth, align smiles, close gaps. However, there are various circumstances that cause teeth to go crooked again. Quite often it’s non-compliance (hello, retainer) and sometimes it’s the age and stage of life. Find out what can be done to fix crooked teeth after braces, even if it’s long after you’ve worn them.