Urgent, Urgent, Urgent, Urgent...Emergency!

OK...so you're home from your orthodontic adjustment appointment. Your next appointment is scheduled for six weeks from now. Your mouth is sore, you feel a wire poking your cheek, your teeth are tender. You have an emergency and need these painful issues resolved right now!

Did you know that many things we consider an emergency are really things that are simply causing us temporary discomfort and can be resolved at home? It's true. Most orthodontic concerns, like, poking wires and mouth soreness can be fixed without scheduling an emergency appointment.

Here's How...

Poking Wire - Sometimes a poking wire can be safely turned down so that it no longer causes you discomfort. Try to tuck the wire back in and out of the way with the blunt end of a toothbrush, pencil eraser or Q-Tip. Orthodontic wax can always be used to cover any archwires that might be sticking out. Also...nail clippers can be used to clip a broken archwire that may be poking out if wax doesn't ease you comfort.

Loose Wire - Use Tweezers to re-insert archwires that have slipped out of the molar bracket. Place wax over it if there is any remaining discomfort. 

Soreness - Warm salt-water rinses are helpful in relieving soreness. You may also take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Tylenol or Advil as you would for a headache or similar discomfort. Carefully chewing on a half piece of sugarless chewing gum will help alleviate the pain and help your mouth feel "back to normal" much more quickly.

Even though you are careful, you may occasionally damage your appliances. We want our patients to be informed of problems that may occur, and understand how to solve them, at least temporarily, until it is possible to return to our office.

Please Remember:  If you are involved in contact sports, a regular mouth guard can be fitted over your braces for added protection.

Be Proud of Your-Selfie

No matter what our age...I think we can all admit...we have taken a selfie or two. And with selfies and instant photo sharing being as popular as it is these days, a camera-ready smile is a great thing to have. Thankfully, you don’t need to be a celebrity or genetically blessed to flash a stunning smile. You just need practice. Sounds crazy, right? Practicing to smile like you would practice a sport or cooking a recipe may seem silly, but as they say...practice makes perfect. 

Smiling naturally may not come as easy for some people as it does for others. But just like with anything we do in life, the more we practice, the easier it gets.

Helpful Tips for a Photographic Smile

1. GET IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR - Take time to practice your smile in front of a mirror. See how it looks when you hold your shoulders back and strike a natural, unforced smile. Play around with turning your head and finding your best angle. Figure out which smile you like best, then practice, practice, practice 'til you get right. Remember how great that smile feels so that you'll be able to replicate it without looking in a mirror.

 

2. SMILE WITH YOUR EYES...or as Tyra Banks would say, Smize - A genuine smile will naturally draw in the eyes. And a natural smile is not something you can fake. The eyes are essential for a genuine, warm smile.When you are practicing your smile in the mirror, focus on your eyes and which muscles are working and how.

3. MAINTAIN GOOD ORAL HYGIENE - One thing that can cause you to fear flashing your pearly whites, is when they might not be that pearly. Be sure to brush your teeth after each meal and carry floss with you...just in case. We all know that good oral hygiene is important...but the fact is, a healthy mouth will make you feel more confident about your smile.

Now get on out there and SMILE! 

Smiling raises your spirits and makes other people happy. 

Your smile is a  very powerful expression.

 

For those of you who have been considering improving your smile, but are feeling uneasy about the thought of braces, consider this...Invisible Braces.

 

If all you need is a little cosmetic improvement for a great smile and you'd prefer not to have braces, the nearly invisible Simpli5 no-braces system or Invisalign may be the treatment for you. A quick evaluation will tell if you are a candidate for this convenient treatment and, if so, you can have a dazzling smile in just a few months.

Oh Delicious Snickerdoodle...Please Be Mine!

With Valentine's Day being tomorrow and all...a few of you might be scrambling around after work or school tonight looking for the perfect gift for your one true love.

Well look no further! The Perfect Gift is right here and you will just need to make a stop at the grocery store...that's it.

Brown Butter Salted Caramel Snickerdoodles

 Original Photos provided by Two Peas and Their Pod

Seriously...doesn't the name alone make you just want to fall in love? A friend of ours turned us on to these cookies a few months back and no joke...these cookies are, hands down, the best cookies you will ever taste in your life! You're Valentine will be yours forever after just one bite...promise.

Now...these cookies are a tiny bit labor intensive, but it is well worth it. The recipe requires you to "brown butter", which not many of us are familiar with, but it is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. All browning butter is really is just melting butter for a bit longer than usuall and getting it off the stove right before it wants to burn. 

The recipe makes 2 dozen delicious cookies, so you will have plenty to give to each of your special Valentines. The best part...they are so ooey gooey soft, even Valentines with new braces can enjoy them!

If you make these cookies and love them, leave us a comment and be sure to pass this on to your friends.

Smart Snacking Tips to Help Keep your Beautiful Smile

MAKING SURE YOU HAVE A beautiful, cavity-free smile once your braces are off  will depend entirely on you. So consider this: cleaning your teeth after you eat is important, but also practicing good eating habits and limiting sugar intake will keep your mouth in optimum health. 

Making informed choices

There are many people who choose to snack throughout the day in order to keep their metabolism steady throughout the day and stay satisfied. When you are busy running around all day, it can sometimes seem like there are long gaps in between meals and a snack can help tide you over until you can get home and make dinner. Not all snacks are created equal and it is important that you take this into consideration. You should not be sitting there eating sugars and processed foods for your snack time. Not only are these bad for your health, they can wreak havoc on your smile. Here are some tips you should keep in mind when you are trying to pick out a healthy snack in order to keep your smile looking beautiful.

Conscious snacking

The first thing that you can do is to start noticing which types of snacks that you are eating, along with the time that you are eating them. Start out by making a little journal so that you can determine if the snacks you are eating are healthy enough for your smile or if you need to make some major changes.

Keep healthy snacks at hand

One of the best ways that you can make sure that you are eating teeth approved snacks is to only keep those snacks available. Admit it, if you have a bag of cookies and a bag of apples available at your house; you are more likely to choose the bag of cookies when you get hungry. Get rid of all the unhealthy snacks and only allow the good ones to stay.

One type of snack that you can keep around includes fibrous and crunchy fruits and vegetables. An example of this would be apples. This is because these types of fruits are able to scrub off your teeth of some of the germs and bacteria that are there while also increasing your flow of saliva. Protein rich foods are also great because they will give you the nutrients and minerals that are necessary for building strong teeth. You can choose options such as edamame, eggs, soft meats, and beans. Cheese is another great source because it is high in calcium content to help your teeth grow strong.

Step away from the sugary drinks

Soda and sports drinks are bad news for your teeth, and NOT recommended while you’re wearing braces. Most fruit juices are loaded with sugar and acid as well. Consider milk or water instead. Chocolate milk may be a good option  too. It offers a healthy dose of protein and  half of your daily calcium.

Eat an apple

If you are stuck on an idea of what to eat for your snack, you can never go wrong with having a nice apple. In fact, it is almost like giving your mouth an extra brushing when you decide to eat an apple. They are full of the fiber that you need in order to keep both your teeth happy and your stomach full without all of the added sugars that come with most other snacks that you can choose. Other good snacking alternatives include celery, pears, blueberries, cheese or yogurt.

Having a hard time eating fruits & veggies that are hard to bite into with braces?  Try slicing them up into little bite-size pieces.