What do you think of when you hear “Novocain”? Most people are not aware of what it actually is. You know when you get a shot in your mouth right before a filling, or before the dentist grinds your teeth? The dentist is injecting Novocain into your mouth. Novocain is a local anesthetic that is used most commonly in dentistry. It lasts for a couple hours depending on how many injections you get. Sometimes, depending on what is being done to your teeth, you will get several injections of Novocain (don’t worry after the first one, the other ones don’t hurt!). Here is what to expect.
First before you get the injection, your dentist will usually apply a numbing gel to the area that they are going to inject. This usually minimizes the pain, although you will still feel it. Next they will load a syringe with the Novocain and give you the injection. Usually it is given in the back of your mouth near your back molars it takes about 10 seconds because they have to squeeze the syringe slowly to make sure it all goes in. For most people the only pain is when the needle enters your gum. Then they will take it out, wait for a few seconds and ask you which part of your mouth is numb. If your whole lower lip, chin and cheek are numb that is usually enough. So they will give you as many injections until that happens. It all depends on the person. After they are done administering whatever procedure they were going to do, they will let you leave.
Here is some advice we found useful:
1. Do not eat afterwards! Because your mouth and cheek are numb you can accidentally bite your lip or cheek and that will hurt a lot after the Novocain wears off.
2. Be prepared that even though your mouth might not hurt when it’s still numb doesn’t mean it won’t be sore. So take some ibuprofen or painkiller while the Novocain is still in effect.
3. Just because your mouth is numb, doesn't mean you won’t be able to feel the vibrations or prodding of your mouth/teeth during the operation. Just be prepared.
Hopefully this helps you be more prepared for your next dentist appointment!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Clear Braces
One option instead of getting traditional braces are to get clear ones. The most popular brands are Invisilign and ClearCorrect. There are advantages and disadvantages to this.
Pros: With clear braces you can take them on and off similar to the clear plastic retainers you can get. This means that while you have braces you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want! Obviously since they are clear you do not have to deal with all the teasing and so on that goes along with getting metal braces. This makes clear braces an especially attractive option for adults. Since the pressure is even on all areas of your teeth there is less pain to it. And the fact that they are smooth and fitted to your teeth means, no ripped up gums and cheeks!
Cons: Now although being able to take them off means you can eat whenever, that also means you need to brush before you put them back on each time which can be a hassle. Like with retainers you need to be super careful not to lose them after you took them off to eat. Plus since you can take them off, it means less time sitting in your mouth straightening your teeth where as metal braces are working constantly. It all relies on how strict you are with them. They also cost anywhere from 3000 to 9000 dollars depending on how many sets of braces you need. Each time you “tighten” them, you get a new pair of clear braces, making it more expensive then normal metal braces. Keep in mind that although they are clear, people will still be able to tell you are wearing braces because the plastic will reflect light. Although rare, some people have had allergic reactions to the plastic so if you have previously had reactions you should probably reconsider this option.
Well we hope to have answered some questions you might have had regarding clear braces. Personally we both have gone through the metal braces route, and it has worked very well for us. It is tried and true, where as the clear braces are a relatively new procedure, along with being less expensive. Its all a matter of preference!
-Amanda and Erik
Pros: With clear braces you can take them on and off similar to the clear plastic retainers you can get. This means that while you have braces you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want! Obviously since they are clear you do not have to deal with all the teasing and so on that goes along with getting metal braces. This makes clear braces an especially attractive option for adults. Since the pressure is even on all areas of your teeth there is less pain to it. And the fact that they are smooth and fitted to your teeth means, no ripped up gums and cheeks!
Cons: Now although being able to take them off means you can eat whenever, that also means you need to brush before you put them back on each time which can be a hassle. Like with retainers you need to be super careful not to lose them after you took them off to eat. Plus since you can take them off, it means less time sitting in your mouth straightening your teeth where as metal braces are working constantly. It all relies on how strict you are with them. They also cost anywhere from 3000 to 9000 dollars depending on how many sets of braces you need. Each time you “tighten” them, you get a new pair of clear braces, making it more expensive then normal metal braces. Keep in mind that although they are clear, people will still be able to tell you are wearing braces because the plastic will reflect light. Although rare, some people have had allergic reactions to the plastic so if you have previously had reactions you should probably reconsider this option.
Well we hope to have answered some questions you might have had regarding clear braces. Personally we both have gone through the metal braces route, and it has worked very well for us. It is tried and true, where as the clear braces are a relatively new procedure, along with being less expensive. Its all a matter of preference!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Fiberotomy 2
Here is some more updated information about the new procedure called fiberotomy.
Cost: There is not much information about this procedure on the internet but we have had from good sources from our orthodontist an estimate of the approximate cost. The whole procedure costs from around 1000 to 1500 dollars. Now keep in mind that after you have had your braces, that is a lot of extra money to be paying on top of your expensive braces.
The anesthesia: When you get the operation done you will first be given some normal over the counter painkillers. Then you will get a numbing gel in your mouth similar to when you get a filling. Next comes the local anesthesia. This is part of the cost of the procedure.
See these links for some more information.
http://healthmad.com/medicine/fiberotomy/
http://www.toothiq.com/dental-glossary/dental-definition-supracrestal-fiberotomy.html
Our opinion on the necessity of getting a fiberotomy is the same. It is a lot of money to pay when you could get the 90 dollar retainers. And there is more of a risk of infection or something going wrong. We recommend keeping these things in mind when making your decision.
-Amanda and Erik
Cost: There is not much information about this procedure on the internet but we have had from good sources from our orthodontist an estimate of the approximate cost. The whole procedure costs from around 1000 to 1500 dollars. Now keep in mind that after you have had your braces, that is a lot of extra money to be paying on top of your expensive braces.
The anesthesia: When you get the operation done you will first be given some normal over the counter painkillers. Then you will get a numbing gel in your mouth similar to when you get a filling. Next comes the local anesthesia. This is part of the cost of the procedure.
See these links for some more information.
http://healthmad.com/medicine/fiberotomy/
http://www.toothiq.com/dental-glossary/dental-definition-supracrestal-fiberotomy.html
Our opinion on the necessity of getting a fiberotomy is the same. It is a lot of money to pay when you could get the 90 dollar retainers. And there is more of a risk of infection or something going wrong. We recommend keeping these things in mind when making your decision.
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Reatiners Part 2: Maintenance
You will have to wear your retainers for a good year or two after you get your braces off so obviously you want to keep them in as good of condition as possible. Retainers are just small pieces of plastic and are very fragile, so they will be very easy to break. Here are some tips on keeping your retainer working and fitting properly:
1. Try not to play with it too much. It may be tempting to mess and move it around with your tongue but this will eventually render your retainer ineffective. When you first get your retainer it is specifically fit to your teeth. The act of taking it on and off with your tongue will wear at the metal fittings and before long it may not even fit your teeth anymore and will not do its job!
2. Be aware of when you are wearing it. This can be a problem when you are exercising or just out and about. You might forget you have them in and bite down hard like you had nothing in your mouth. Doing this can crack or damage the retainer because your teeth smash against the top of the plastic so just always be aware when it’s in your mouth.
3. If you do accidentally break it there are a couple things you can do in response. The first is to just wear it still and know it won’t be keeping your teeth as straight as it could but this is very dependent on what kind of damage has been done. You can replace it, but this will be pretty expensive. You can TRY gluing it back together (again it depends on the extent of the break) or something similar but we highly recommend talking with your orthodontist before trying this.
If you follow these tips and ultimately just be cautious and careful when you are out and about, your retainers should serve you well for the time you need to wear them and will help keep your teeth looking as straight and beautiful as they do when you first get your braces off!
-Amanda and Erik
1. Try not to play with it too much. It may be tempting to mess and move it around with your tongue but this will eventually render your retainer ineffective. When you first get your retainer it is specifically fit to your teeth. The act of taking it on and off with your tongue will wear at the metal fittings and before long it may not even fit your teeth anymore and will not do its job!
2. Be aware of when you are wearing it. This can be a problem when you are exercising or just out and about. You might forget you have them in and bite down hard like you had nothing in your mouth. Doing this can crack or damage the retainer because your teeth smash against the top of the plastic so just always be aware when it’s in your mouth.
3. If you do accidentally break it there are a couple things you can do in response. The first is to just wear it still and know it won’t be keeping your teeth as straight as it could but this is very dependent on what kind of damage has been done. You can replace it, but this will be pretty expensive. You can TRY gluing it back together (again it depends on the extent of the break) or something similar but we highly recommend talking with your orthodontist before trying this.
If you follow these tips and ultimately just be cautious and careful when you are out and about, your retainers should serve you well for the time you need to wear them and will help keep your teeth looking as straight and beautiful as they do when you first get your braces off!
-Amanda and Erik
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Damaging Delectables – Thanksgiving Edition
Let us start off by saying Happy Thanksgiving! Now, Thanksgiving is a time for family, fun, and a lot of different foods! But as you know, when you have braces you are going to have to watch out for the foods that will break your wires, unglue your brackets, or damage your braces in any other way.
Here we will list some of the common Thanksgiving foods and if they are SAFE or UNSAFE with an explanation.
1. Turkey: SAFE! Turkey is relatively soft and of course a Thanksgiving classic. The only thing you have to worry about is getting it stuck in your braces. Be extremely careful when chewing on drumsticks!
2. Mashed Potatoes: SAFE! Mashed Potatoes are one of the softest foods out there. Definitely not an issue.
3. Pies: SAFE! Be careful with pecan pie or other pies with nuts because if you bite hard on one you can dislodge your brackets.
4. Corn on the cob: UNSAFE! As in our other post Damaging Delectables, corn on the cob is not safe at all. What you can do is cut the corn off the cob.
5. Bread Rolls: SAFE! Bread is very soft and definitely fine.
6. Stuffing: SAFE or UNSAFE. It all depends on what it is made with. If it has nuts or other hard things you need to be careful.
Well those are the basic foods for a Thanksgiving dinner. Remember this is just a guideline. Just be careful eating the hard foods or sticky desserts such as caramel. Have a good Thanksgiving!
-Amanda and Erik
Here we will list some of the common Thanksgiving foods and if they are SAFE or UNSAFE with an explanation.
1. Turkey: SAFE! Turkey is relatively soft and of course a Thanksgiving classic. The only thing you have to worry about is getting it stuck in your braces. Be extremely careful when chewing on drumsticks!
2. Mashed Potatoes: SAFE! Mashed Potatoes are one of the softest foods out there. Definitely not an issue.
3. Pies: SAFE! Be careful with pecan pie or other pies with nuts because if you bite hard on one you can dislodge your brackets.
4. Corn on the cob: UNSAFE! As in our other post Damaging Delectables, corn on the cob is not safe at all. What you can do is cut the corn off the cob.
5. Bread Rolls: SAFE! Bread is very soft and definitely fine.
6. Stuffing: SAFE or UNSAFE. It all depends on what it is made with. If it has nuts or other hard things you need to be careful.
Well those are the basic foods for a Thanksgiving dinner. Remember this is just a guideline. Just be careful eating the hard foods or sticky desserts such as caramel. Have a good Thanksgiving!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Gingivitis Part 2
The fact that we are having a second post on gingivitis just goes to show you how big of an issue it is and how important it is to avoid/treat it. (See our previous post Gingivitis.)
Some things that are important to realize are the consequences of it. If it goes unnoticed your gums will become excruciatingly painful to the touch, your whole mouth/gums can become severely infected, and in the very, very worst case you can loose teeth! Imagine after all that work with braces or headgear loosing some of your teeth just because you didn’t keep up on cleaning your mouth regularly. Remember, they don’t grow back!
There are also different ways you can get gingivitis. There is one form that is caused by plaque build up. There are also ways to get it that has nothing to do with plaque build up. Some examples are through genetics, foreign bodies or viruses, and by fungus.
If you are interested here are some other links to learn more about gingivitis and its effects and treatments.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gingivitis
http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/gingivitis/overview.html
http://gingivitistreatment.org/
Makes you just want to go brush your teeth, doesn’t it! The main cause of gingivitis is not cleaning your mouth properly. But keep in mind that it can also be caused by unclean orthodontist appliances so if you have braces and headgear brush those too.
-Amanda and Erik
Some things that are important to realize are the consequences of it. If it goes unnoticed your gums will become excruciatingly painful to the touch, your whole mouth/gums can become severely infected, and in the very, very worst case you can loose teeth! Imagine after all that work with braces or headgear loosing some of your teeth just because you didn’t keep up on cleaning your mouth regularly. Remember, they don’t grow back!
There are also different ways you can get gingivitis. There is one form that is caused by plaque build up. There are also ways to get it that has nothing to do with plaque build up. Some examples are through genetics, foreign bodies or viruses, and by fungus.
If you are interested here are some other links to learn more about gingivitis and its effects and treatments.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gingivitis
http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/gingivitis/overview.html
http://gingivitistreatment.org/
Makes you just want to go brush your teeth, doesn’t it! The main cause of gingivitis is not cleaning your mouth properly. But keep in mind that it can also be caused by unclean orthodontist appliances so if you have braces and headgear brush those too.
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Old Orthodontics
Chances are when your parents were your age, they had braces or headgear. But their orthodontics were much different then yours. Here’s a little blast from the past to make you appreciate your gear now!
Braces: Back in the day of our parents, instead of gluing brackets onto your teeth, they would wrap a metal wire all the way around each individual tooth! Apparently this was an extremely process. And your teeth hurt for weeks and weeks after you got the braces on. These braces also dug into your gums way more than modern braces do. Every time you had them tightened it was like the first day all over again! They were bulky and there wasn’t any such thing as colored braces.
Headgear: Peoples view on this orthodontic equipment has come a long way. Around 40 years ago, head gear was one of the worst things you could get as a teenager. You got teased horribly even though it looks the same as it does today. Luckily for all of you nowadays it isn’t a big deal at all.
Other than that most of the things you have now (bands, retainers, brackets, bite planes) are the same as now. The main change is that since most of these were new, not that many kids had them because they were expensive. So anyone who had them were treated as pariahs. Be glad that today your braces just sit on your teeth and that orthodontics aren’t that big of a deal!
-Amanda and Erik
Braces: Back in the day of our parents, instead of gluing brackets onto your teeth, they would wrap a metal wire all the way around each individual tooth! Apparently this was an extremely process. And your teeth hurt for weeks and weeks after you got the braces on. These braces also dug into your gums way more than modern braces do. Every time you had them tightened it was like the first day all over again! They were bulky and there wasn’t any such thing as colored braces.
Headgear: Peoples view on this orthodontic equipment has come a long way. Around 40 years ago, head gear was one of the worst things you could get as a teenager. You got teased horribly even though it looks the same as it does today. Luckily for all of you nowadays it isn’t a big deal at all.
Other than that most of the things you have now (bands, retainers, brackets, bite planes) are the same as now. The main change is that since most of these were new, not that many kids had them because they were expensive. So anyone who had them were treated as pariahs. Be glad that today your braces just sit on your teeth and that orthodontics aren’t that big of a deal!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Checking Retainer
After you have had your retainers about six months or so, your orthodontist will probably tell you to wear them only at night. This is because your teeth are setting in and so they don’t need to be held in place 24/7.
Now the next time you have a checkup they will check your teeth to make sure they are not shifting back. They will check this by fitting on your retainers and seeing if they are tight. If they are you will probably have to go back to wearing them all day long. Do not stress if this is the case you will soon be able to be metal free! It just means you are still growing and your teeth haven’t settled yet.
-Amanda and Erik
Now the next time you have a checkup they will check your teeth to make sure they are not shifting back. They will check this by fitting on your retainers and seeing if they are tight. If they are you will probably have to go back to wearing them all day long. Do not stress if this is the case you will soon be able to be metal free! It just means you are still growing and your teeth haven’t settled yet.
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Head Gear, All Day Long
Although most people who have an overbite and get head gear will only have to wear it for 12 to 16 hours a day, there are some who will need to wear it all day long. This might come as “earth shattering” news for those of you in junior high through high school because this means you will have to wear it at school! But don’t despair, there are ways to limit the impact this will have on your social life:
1. You can talk to your orthodontist and parents and see if it is possible to shorten the amount of time you have to wear it a day. Keep in mind that if you decide not to wear it 24/7 you will lengthen the overall time you have to wear headgear. Also, keep in mind that although we are posting this as a suggestion sometimes it is nonnegotiable. For example if you are going to stop growing soon, and you want to get rid of your overbite, you will need to wear it all the time to get the desired results. (Just think - you will thank yourself when you are an adult with a perfectly aligned jaw if you stick it out now!)
2. On your lunch period, you will obviously have to take it off so you can eat so that is one period you will have without it on.
3. There are two styles of headgear: full head brace and neck strap. The head gear with the neck strap is much less bulky and noticeable, but the full head brace is much more comfortable (see our other post The Handy Head Gear Guide). The only issue is that they do different things so chances are if you have a full head brace it is not reasonable to ask to switch to the neck strap, although you can ask your orthodontist.
Assuming you do decide to wear it all day, school is probably the biggest issue for most of you. To be blunt, the first few days you have to wear it, you will probably have your friends making comments or people staring. What you can do to counteract this is to be upfront about the whole thing explain to your friends what the situation is. If you do this, chances are they will be more supportive/sympathetic. The good thing is that after the first week people will be used to it and it won’t be such a big deal anymore. So stick with it!
-Amanda and Erik
1. You can talk to your orthodontist and parents and see if it is possible to shorten the amount of time you have to wear it a day. Keep in mind that if you decide not to wear it 24/7 you will lengthen the overall time you have to wear headgear. Also, keep in mind that although we are posting this as a suggestion sometimes it is nonnegotiable. For example if you are going to stop growing soon, and you want to get rid of your overbite, you will need to wear it all the time to get the desired results. (Just think - you will thank yourself when you are an adult with a perfectly aligned jaw if you stick it out now!)
2. On your lunch period, you will obviously have to take it off so you can eat so that is one period you will have without it on.
3. There are two styles of headgear: full head brace and neck strap. The head gear with the neck strap is much less bulky and noticeable, but the full head brace is much more comfortable (see our other post The Handy Head Gear Guide). The only issue is that they do different things so chances are if you have a full head brace it is not reasonable to ask to switch to the neck strap, although you can ask your orthodontist.
Assuming you do decide to wear it all day, school is probably the biggest issue for most of you. To be blunt, the first few days you have to wear it, you will probably have your friends making comments or people staring. What you can do to counteract this is to be upfront about the whole thing explain to your friends what the situation is. If you do this, chances are they will be more supportive/sympathetic. The good thing is that after the first week people will be used to it and it won’t be such a big deal anymore. So stick with it!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Coping Series Part 6: Traveling
When you are traveling to new places or taking a vacation, you will need to bring your orthodontic equipment! Similar tips will be applied for when you are bringing your gear to other places but here are some things to keep in mind when in other places or countries etc.
1. Different places means different minerals in the water. This can cause a build up on your headgear/ retainers if the place has hard water (high mineral content). So you will need to brush and clean your equipment more to get rid of that.
2. Be aware of what you are eating! When you have braces keep in mind that you might be eating exotic foods that will get stuck!
3. Always carry a kit with cleaning material so you can clean up after eating.
4. Since you will probably be staying somewhere you should bring all of your gear and at least try to wear your retainers at night. Remember to check when packing to leave that you have all of your stuff because it will be impossible to track it if you forget to bring it back.
-Amanda and Erik
1. Different places means different minerals in the water. This can cause a build up on your headgear/ retainers if the place has hard water (high mineral content). So you will need to brush and clean your equipment more to get rid of that.
2. Be aware of what you are eating! When you have braces keep in mind that you might be eating exotic foods that will get stuck!
3. Always carry a kit with cleaning material so you can clean up after eating.
4. Since you will probably be staying somewhere you should bring all of your gear and at least try to wear your retainers at night. Remember to check when packing to leave that you have all of your stuff because it will be impossible to track it if you forget to bring it back.
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Coping Series Part 5: Camping
When you are on your journey to straight teeth, you will probably at some point go camping. Here are a couple tips for maintaining your orthodontic schedule:
1. Even though it is easy to forget to and to put off, brush your teeth! If there aren’t any bathrooms you can still use a water bottle or something. Find a way! Also don't forget to floss.
2. For things like headgear and retainers and bite planes one option is to just wear them at night so that way there is no danger of losing them. This is especially a danger if you are hiking or swimming.
3. If you bring those appliances, make sure to bring hard plastic cases for each of them. Make sure to keep those cases inside your backpack or suitcase and also make sure to put them back inside it when you take off your equipment to eat etc.
4. We recommend bringing your retainers if you just got your braces off because, depending on how long you are camping, not wearing them can potentially give time for your teeth to go back to the way they were before braces.
As we have expressed in previous posts, do not let your braces or headgear etc get in the way of you having fun! If you really feel like your gear with be in the way or you might lose it, don’t bring it! A couple of days without them is better then losing hundreds of dollars worth of orthodontic equipment!
-Amanda and Erik
1. Even though it is easy to forget to and to put off, brush your teeth! If there aren’t any bathrooms you can still use a water bottle or something. Find a way! Also don't forget to floss.
2. For things like headgear and retainers and bite planes one option is to just wear them at night so that way there is no danger of losing them. This is especially a danger if you are hiking or swimming.
3. If you bring those appliances, make sure to bring hard plastic cases for each of them. Make sure to keep those cases inside your backpack or suitcase and also make sure to put them back inside it when you take off your equipment to eat etc.
4. We recommend bringing your retainers if you just got your braces off because, depending on how long you are camping, not wearing them can potentially give time for your teeth to go back to the way they were before braces.
As we have expressed in previous posts, do not let your braces or headgear etc get in the way of you having fun! If you really feel like your gear with be in the way or you might lose it, don’t bring it! A couple of days without them is better then losing hundreds of dollars worth of orthodontic equipment!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Kissing with Braces
Now since this blog is targeted at teens, chances are you might be wondering if braces get in the way when kissing. There are a lot of rumors of kids getting their braces stuck together after making out and although some might be true we will try to clarify.
We decided to ask our friends for their opinions and stories about kissing with braces. Most of them said that it wasn’t an issue since there aren’t any loose parts that could get caught their braces. But here are a couple of things that they said.
“I was wearing the bands one time and one of them snapped in his mouth! He said it really hurt!”
“If you have braces, don’t, like, press too hard because it will cut the inside of their mouth and yours.”
So here basically,
1. Do not wear your bands! Or obviously any other orthodontic gears.
2. Be sensitive, their mouths aren’t used to braces like yours are.
3. Brush your teeth! If you happened to have food in them, it might get dislodged while you are kissing. That would be embarrassing!
Everyone’s experiences will be different but maybe this will give you an idea of what to expect.
-Amanda and Erik
We decided to ask our friends for their opinions and stories about kissing with braces. Most of them said that it wasn’t an issue since there aren’t any loose parts that could get caught their braces. But here are a couple of things that they said.
“I was wearing the bands one time and one of them snapped in his mouth! He said it really hurt!”
“If you have braces, don’t, like, press too hard because it will cut the inside of their mouth and yours.”
So here basically,
1. Do not wear your bands! Or obviously any other orthodontic gears.
2. Be sensitive, their mouths aren’t used to braces like yours are.
3. Brush your teeth! If you happened to have food in them, it might get dislodged while you are kissing. That would be embarrassing!
Everyone’s experiences will be different but maybe this will give you an idea of what to expect.
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Pictures with Braces
Now something you will encounter that is an issue for some teens is when they have pictures taken with braces. Most teenagers are embarrassed and don’t smile with their teeth in pictures. This is not necessary since anyone who has seen you in real life knows you have braces. Chances are you are making it a bigger deal than it really is. Here are a couple things you can do to improve your pictures if you are really worried about how they will look.
1. When you are choosing your bands, choose a lighter color. If you choose a dark color the bands will really stand out in pictures and can sometimes look like something is stuck in your teeth. Sometimes choosing alternating colors look really cool and different in pictures.
2. Always smile real smiles! This improves your pictures immensely since if you are self conscious about your braces when you are having a picture taken it will show!
3. If you want to you can smile without your teeth showing but if it isn’t your real smile then we recommend just smiling!
Since so many kids have braces nowadays it definitely isn’t a big deal and most teenagers look good with braces! So just smile in them. We understand the need to hide them, especially for important pictures such as school photos and such, but it isn’t that noticeable. We promise!
-Amanda and Erik
1. When you are choosing your bands, choose a lighter color. If you choose a dark color the bands will really stand out in pictures and can sometimes look like something is stuck in your teeth. Sometimes choosing alternating colors look really cool and different in pictures.
2. Always smile real smiles! This improves your pictures immensely since if you are self conscious about your braces when you are having a picture taken it will show!
3. If you want to you can smile without your teeth showing but if it isn’t your real smile then we recommend just smiling!
Since so many kids have braces nowadays it definitely isn’t a big deal and most teenagers look good with braces! So just smile in them. We understand the need to hide them, especially for important pictures such as school photos and such, but it isn’t that noticeable. We promise!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Cleaning Guide to Headgear
Your head gear will eventually become, to be quite blunt, caked in dried spit and plaque. When it gets to this point, you will probably not want to be putting it back in your mouth anytime soon. This calls for a thorough cleansing.
One way to clean your head gear is to brush it using you’re toothbrush and toothpaste and brush it like you would your teeth. Or if it still smells funky, you can soak it in mouthwash. Just leave it in for about 5 minutes and then brush it thoroughly. Doing this should clean up your headgear nicely and make it clean!
We recommend you brush your headgear every couple of days so it doesn’t build up. Plus, when you think about it, if there is still plaque on your headgear then it is similar to not brushing your teeth. The plaque sits in your mouth overnight (or however long you wear your head gear) and will cause bad breath /or cavities.
Keeping your head gear clean will also make it less of a big deal to wear, after all no one wants to put a dirty piece of metal into their mouth for hours on end!
-Amanda and Erik
One way to clean your head gear is to brush it using you’re toothbrush and toothpaste and brush it like you would your teeth. Or if it still smells funky, you can soak it in mouthwash. Just leave it in for about 5 minutes and then brush it thoroughly. Doing this should clean up your headgear nicely and make it clean!
We recommend you brush your headgear every couple of days so it doesn’t build up. Plus, when you think about it, if there is still plaque on your headgear then it is similar to not brushing your teeth. The plaque sits in your mouth overnight (or however long you wear your head gear) and will cause bad breath /or cavities.
Keeping your head gear clean will also make it less of a big deal to wear, after all no one wants to put a dirty piece of metal into their mouth for hours on end!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Sleeping with Headgear
One issue you might run into while wearing your headgear, but not really think about until you have to actually do it, is sleeping while wearing it. This may not even be a problem if you only need to wear it for a few hours during the day. Many people choose to wear the head gear at night though because that means you don’t have to be out in public with it on.
We have both had to wear the headgear at night and know all of the good and bad positions:
1. On your chest: Although it may seem rather obvious, this is probably the worst position to try to sleep in. It is actually painful to lie down in this position because the metal of the headgear pushes your teeth to the side and your mouth becomes really sore after just a few minutes.
2. On your side: This is sort of in the middle. It is not too difficult to fall asleep like this since there is a lot less pressure on the side of your head, and thus, on your teeth and jaw. You need to be careful about this one though because it might end up making your jaw a little asymmetrical if you continuously sleep on the same side since the headgear would be pulling on one side more than the other.
3. On your back: This is by far the most comfortable position. When lying down like this, there is very little strain on your teeth aside from the normal amount you would feel while wearing the gear. The straps also do not dig into your neck too much. You can even position yourself so that the headgear strap isn’t even on the pillow and then there will be no outside strain on your head at all!
Hopefully this will help you find a comfortable position and make the time you have to wear your headgear just a bit better.
-Erik and Amanda
We have both had to wear the headgear at night and know all of the good and bad positions:
1. On your chest: Although it may seem rather obvious, this is probably the worst position to try to sleep in. It is actually painful to lie down in this position because the metal of the headgear pushes your teeth to the side and your mouth becomes really sore after just a few minutes.
2. On your side: This is sort of in the middle. It is not too difficult to fall asleep like this since there is a lot less pressure on the side of your head, and thus, on your teeth and jaw. You need to be careful about this one though because it might end up making your jaw a little asymmetrical if you continuously sleep on the same side since the headgear would be pulling on one side more than the other.
3. On your back: This is by far the most comfortable position. When lying down like this, there is very little strain on your teeth aside from the normal amount you would feel while wearing the gear. The straps also do not dig into your neck too much. You can even position yourself so that the headgear strap isn’t even on the pillow and then there will be no outside strain on your head at all!
Hopefully this will help you find a comfortable position and make the time you have to wear your headgear just a bit better.
-Erik and Amanda
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Wisdom Teeth Part 4: The Last Week
For the first two days after your operation you will need to not eat any hard food. This is very important if you had multiple wisdom teeth removed because the more teeth the more chances of your stitches coming loose. If you eat hard food you will need to chew and since those areas are still sensitive it might keep them from healing when being continually opened up.
So we recommend just eating jello, pudding, mashed potatoes, soup, ice cream, smoothies etc anything that is basically liquid and doesn’t require chewing. Doesn’t sound that bad what with most liquids being desserts!
Also if you keep up the icing 20 minutes on and off for a bit each day, you will probably avoid the chipmunk cheeks that go along with getting your wisdom teeth removed.
After about a week you will be able to eat and you can probably get off the pain medication you are on. But everyone is different so play it by ear.
-Amanda and Erik
So we recommend just eating jello, pudding, mashed potatoes, soup, ice cream, smoothies etc anything that is basically liquid and doesn’t require chewing. Doesn’t sound that bad what with most liquids being desserts!
Also if you keep up the icing 20 minutes on and off for a bit each day, you will probably avoid the chipmunk cheeks that go along with getting your wisdom teeth removed.
After about a week you will be able to eat and you can probably get off the pain medication you are on. But everyone is different so play it by ear.
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Wisdom Teeth Part 3: Day of the Operation
The day of you go into the surgeons office and depending on how nervous you are they might give you a hypnotic or happy juice. Then they will take you back and inject the anesthesia.
Then you will wake up and your teeth will be removed! There are some slight side affects such as fatigue and slight amnesia. When Erik got his removed, he woke up and was really groggy. He kept asking the same questions over and over! And on the way back he was talking a lot but didn’t remember it later that day.
Also he could barely walk and basically fell asleep when he got home. But you need to ice for the first day 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. So we kept him awake with music!For the rest of the day he just sipped cold water and iced his cheeks and relaxed. The amnesia fully wore off about 4 hours later.
That is basically what is to expected the day of the operation
-Amanda and Erik
Then you will wake up and your teeth will be removed! There are some slight side affects such as fatigue and slight amnesia. When Erik got his removed, he woke up and was really groggy. He kept asking the same questions over and over! And on the way back he was talking a lot but didn’t remember it later that day.
Also he could barely walk and basically fell asleep when he got home. But you need to ice for the first day 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. So we kept him awake with music!For the rest of the day he just sipped cold water and iced his cheeks and relaxed. The amnesia fully wore off about 4 hours later.
That is basically what is to expected the day of the operation
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wisdom Teeth Part 2: Pre Operation
There are two things that you must do the day before and the day of the operation. One is you can’t eat or drink anything 8-10 hours before your surgery. The other thing is they will prescribe an antibiotic that kills all bacteria in your system the morning of your operation.
A couple optional but recommended things to do pre operation are to schedule basically a week of recovery time. You never know how long it will take. For me (Erik), it took about a week and a half before I started eating normally and participating in sports.You will also need someone to drive you home and take care of you because the first few hours you will not be able to do much especially if you chose to use general anesthesia. When you go to get the operation wear loose clothing so that they can insert the IV easier and you will be comfortable since the surgery lasts for about 45-2 hours.
These are the basic things you will need to do to prep for your wisdom teeth removal!
-Amanda and Erik
A couple optional but recommended things to do pre operation are to schedule basically a week of recovery time. You never know how long it will take. For me (Erik), it took about a week and a half before I started eating normally and participating in sports.You will also need someone to drive you home and take care of you because the first few hours you will not be able to do much especially if you chose to use general anesthesia. When you go to get the operation wear loose clothing so that they can insert the IV easier and you will be comfortable since the surgery lasts for about 45-2 hours.
These are the basic things you will need to do to prep for your wisdom teeth removal!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Wisdom Teeth Part 1: Consulting the Doctor
Wisdom teeth are well known for the orthodontic and dental problems they can cause, and a high percentage of people end up getting theirs removed. Generally it is smart to get them removed at an early age because of the fact that they have not yet erupted and started causing problems. It is also a good idea because the younger you are, the faster you will recuperate from surgery.
The very first thing that will probably happen in the whole process is your orthodontist taking an x-ray of your mouth. He/she will then take a look at your wisdom teeth and let you know how they are forming. He/she will either inform you that your wisdom are growing straight upward and will erupt into a healthy position, or that they are impacted. Impaction basically means they are growing in any other way but upwards. The teeth may be growing away from your back molars, parallel to the gum line, or angled inward towards your molars. In all these cases you have two choices, the first one being removal and the second being just letting them grow out and facing the potential consequences.
In my case (Erik), I had the teeth growing at an angle into my back molars. This is called a mesioangular position. Because of this, my orthodontist sent an x-ray to my dentist suggesting I get them removed. I then set up an appointment with her to have her take a look. She gave me a letter of recommendation to an oral surgeon since I consented to getting them removed.
The removal of your wisdom teeth comes in two stages. First is the meeting with your oral surgeon. The point of this is generally to give you all of the information that you need to plan around the surgery and to set up the date of the surgery. Second is the day of the actual removal.
When I got into the surgeon’s office on the day of my dental exam, a nurse led me to a room in the back and played about a 7 minute video about the logistics of wisdom teeth removal and gave me a pamphlet that listed essentially the same information. The sections that are relevant to this post were as follows,
1. The dental anatomy and development of wisdom teeth: This section basically had a diagram of the mouth and nasal area, and had information about how long it takes for wisdom teeth to develop and the age stages in which they grow.
2. Problems with impacted wisdom teeth: First the obvious crowding of the mouth (which is the main reason why I decided to get mine removed) when the wisdom teeth come in sideways, resulting in the forcing of other teeth out of their aligned position. Other problems included gum infection and disease, tooth decay, and cysts/tumors.
In the next part, we will discuss the prep time before the operation and the removal of the wisdom teeth itself.
-Erik and Amanda
The very first thing that will probably happen in the whole process is your orthodontist taking an x-ray of your mouth. He/she will then take a look at your wisdom teeth and let you know how they are forming. He/she will either inform you that your wisdom are growing straight upward and will erupt into a healthy position, or that they are impacted. Impaction basically means they are growing in any other way but upwards. The teeth may be growing away from your back molars, parallel to the gum line, or angled inward towards your molars. In all these cases you have two choices, the first one being removal and the second being just letting them grow out and facing the potential consequences.
In my case (Erik), I had the teeth growing at an angle into my back molars. This is called a mesioangular position. Because of this, my orthodontist sent an x-ray to my dentist suggesting I get them removed. I then set up an appointment with her to have her take a look. She gave me a letter of recommendation to an oral surgeon since I consented to getting them removed.
The removal of your wisdom teeth comes in two stages. First is the meeting with your oral surgeon. The point of this is generally to give you all of the information that you need to plan around the surgery and to set up the date of the surgery. Second is the day of the actual removal.
When I got into the surgeon’s office on the day of my dental exam, a nurse led me to a room in the back and played about a 7 minute video about the logistics of wisdom teeth removal and gave me a pamphlet that listed essentially the same information. The sections that are relevant to this post were as follows,
1. The dental anatomy and development of wisdom teeth: This section basically had a diagram of the mouth and nasal area, and had information about how long it takes for wisdom teeth to develop and the age stages in which they grow.
2. Problems with impacted wisdom teeth: First the obvious crowding of the mouth (which is the main reason why I decided to get mine removed) when the wisdom teeth come in sideways, resulting in the forcing of other teeth out of their aligned position. Other problems included gum infection and disease, tooth decay, and cysts/tumors.
In the next part, we will discuss the prep time before the operation and the removal of the wisdom teeth itself.
-Erik and Amanda
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Fillings
When you have a cavity (with or without braces) you will need to get a filling. This is where your dentist fills in the rotten part of the tooth. In this post, we will describe Amanda’s experience of this process to give you an idea of how it will go.
The first thing your dentist will do is give you a shot of Novocain in your cheek and gum area around the specific tooth. Depending on where the tooth is, they might have to give you a second shot to numb your chin and lip.
Once they have administered the local anesthesia and made sure you are completely numb, your dentist will start the process. First, he/she will scrape away at the rotted part of the tooth. Sometimes the cavity is really deep and they will need to drill into your tooth to get to the actual cavity. When this is the case, your dentist will use what looks like a miniature jackhammer, called a dental hand piece, to chip away the tooth.
After they have cleared the path to the cavity, they will fill it in with a dental amalgam or resin that is the same color as your tooth. Also note that they will probably allow you to listen to your own music during the operation if you request it! The only pain you should feel throughout the procedure is the shot, so if you start to feel pain during the operation you should immediately let your dentist know.
Planning your day around a filling: Typically the whole process will take upwards of an hour to complete. The Novocain usually takes around three hours to wear off, although you can still eat while it’s numb. The tooth you got filled will be sensitive to hot and cold foods so be careful when you are eating after your appointment. Other than that you can basically follow your normal schedule after getting your filling.
-Erik and Amanda
The first thing your dentist will do is give you a shot of Novocain in your cheek and gum area around the specific tooth. Depending on where the tooth is, they might have to give you a second shot to numb your chin and lip.
Once they have administered the local anesthesia and made sure you are completely numb, your dentist will start the process. First, he/she will scrape away at the rotted part of the tooth. Sometimes the cavity is really deep and they will need to drill into your tooth to get to the actual cavity. When this is the case, your dentist will use what looks like a miniature jackhammer, called a dental hand piece, to chip away the tooth.
After they have cleared the path to the cavity, they will fill it in with a dental amalgam or resin that is the same color as your tooth. Also note that they will probably allow you to listen to your own music during the operation if you request it! The only pain you should feel throughout the procedure is the shot, so if you start to feel pain during the operation you should immediately let your dentist know.
Planning your day around a filling: Typically the whole process will take upwards of an hour to complete. The Novocain usually takes around three hours to wear off, although you can still eat while it’s numb. The tooth you got filled will be sensitive to hot and cold foods so be careful when you are eating after your appointment. Other than that you can basically follow your normal schedule after getting your filling.
-Erik and Amanda
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Orthodontics in Sports
In this post we will address an important issue for teens who play sports, should you wear your orthodontic materials? Well although your orthodontist might say differently here are our recommendations for which you should wear for some common sports.
Gymnastics: Although this is not exactly a common sport, both of us do gymnastics. We would say stay away from wearing your retainers because they might fall out or you might bite on them and break the plastic. Bands are okay, although you need to watch out for them snapping. Definitely do not wear head gear!
Swimming: Talking with people we know who swim, they say that wearing retainers and bands are fine because worst case is that they fall out and are at the bottom of the pool. In this case they are relatively easy to retrieve but watch out for the bottom pool filters. While swimming in the ocean or a lake do NOT wear retainers or anything because if you lose them there is almost no way to get them back.
Baseball: Bands or retainers are probably fine but watch out if they fall out because they might get stepped on!
Football: Chances are you will be wearing a mouth guard so it probably isn’t even an option.
Cheerleading: Same as gymnastics.
Soccer: Basically retainers and bands and such are going to be okay with soccer as well but similar to with baseball watch out for dropping them!
When I (Erik) had my clear retainers for the first time I wore them to gym. But after I did a skill and the bottom one came flying out I decided to stop. Head gear is basically not an option with any sport. Basically it all depends on you personally. For some people their retainers come out easily or they tend to snap bands so you need to figure out what works for you. Just use your common sense and decide whether you are going to wear them or not. And more importantly don't let fixing your retainers, bands, etc get in the way of you having fun playing whatever sport you enjoy!
-Amanda and Erik
Gymnastics: Although this is not exactly a common sport, both of us do gymnastics. We would say stay away from wearing your retainers because they might fall out or you might bite on them and break the plastic. Bands are okay, although you need to watch out for them snapping. Definitely do not wear head gear!
Swimming: Talking with people we know who swim, they say that wearing retainers and bands are fine because worst case is that they fall out and are at the bottom of the pool. In this case they are relatively easy to retrieve but watch out for the bottom pool filters. While swimming in the ocean or a lake do NOT wear retainers or anything because if you lose them there is almost no way to get them back.
Baseball: Bands or retainers are probably fine but watch out if they fall out because they might get stepped on!
Football: Chances are you will be wearing a mouth guard so it probably isn’t even an option.
Cheerleading: Same as gymnastics.
Soccer: Basically retainers and bands and such are going to be okay with soccer as well but similar to with baseball watch out for dropping them!
When I (Erik) had my clear retainers for the first time I wore them to gym. But after I did a skill and the bottom one came flying out I decided to stop. Head gear is basically not an option with any sport. Basically it all depends on you personally. For some people their retainers come out easily or they tend to snap bands so you need to figure out what works for you. Just use your common sense and decide whether you are going to wear them or not. And more importantly don't let fixing your retainers, bands, etc get in the way of you having fun playing whatever sport you enjoy!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Retainer Maintainer Container
You need to keep your retainers safe every time you take them out, so obviously you will need somewhere to put them! Using a container will ensure that they will not get damaged or lost. Typically these are little plastic boxes that have a latch so that they can’t be easily opened.
Here are some tips to keep your retainers in good condition:
1. Never put them in a place that could get thrown away or crunched such as a napkin or pocket.
2. When you have chosen a container, either from your orthodontist or your own, write on it or on a sticker a note saying if found call this number and make it your phone number.
3. One optional tip is to have multiple containers. Put these containers in backpacks, by the dinner table, purses, etc. so no matter where you are you will have a safe place to put your retainers when you need to take them out.
4. Put brightly colored stickers on the container so it stands out better.
Follow these tips to keep your retainers safe because this is a very vital piece of equipment and you don’t want to break it!
-Erik and Amanda
Here are some tips to keep your retainers in good condition:
1. Never put them in a place that could get thrown away or crunched such as a napkin or pocket.
2. When you have chosen a container, either from your orthodontist or your own, write on it or on a sticker a note saying if found call this number and make it your phone number.
3. One optional tip is to have multiple containers. Put these containers in backpacks, by the dinner table, purses, etc. so no matter where you are you will have a safe place to put your retainers when you need to take them out.
4. Put brightly colored stickers on the container so it stands out better.
Follow these tips to keep your retainers safe because this is a very vital piece of equipment and you don’t want to break it!
-Erik and Amanda
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Gingivitis
In this post we will be discussing some ways that dentists test for gingivitis. Gingivitis is very easy to get when you have braces because it is harder to clean as thoroughly. Some symptoms of gingivitis are bad breath, gum decay and receding gums. You especially want to avoid these conditions when you have braces since another symptom is loose teeth. (see http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/gingivitis-periodontal-disease)
When you go to the dentist there is a specific test that they will do to see whether or not your gums are swollen. Your dentist will insert a small tool in between your gum and teeth that has measurements 1,2,3 and 4 in millimeters (4 being swollen). They will test each tooth on both sides and call out the numbers. Also during this they will also make a note of whether or not your gums bleed during this. You want to have no bleeding and 1,2 or 3 mm gum lines. If you have a couple of 4’s but not all then you don’t have severe gingivitis but you need to take steps to reverse it. If you have a lot of 4’s you have gingivitis and will need to undertake treatment.
Here are some ways to reverse gingivitis if it is not very severe (as recommended by my, Amanda, dentist):
1. Brush your tongue thoroughly as a lot of plaque lives there.
2. Brush in a circular motion especially on your gums. This might be painful at first since your gums are probably swollen but after a while they will become healthy.
3. Use a mouthwash morning and night.
4. Floss twice a day (because face it most of us only floss once a day).
We hope that these will help those of you with braces to take these steps because they are also preventive of gingivitis. And with braces the last thing you want is gingivitis to ruin your straightening smile!
-Amanda and Erik
When you go to the dentist there is a specific test that they will do to see whether or not your gums are swollen. Your dentist will insert a small tool in between your gum and teeth that has measurements 1,2,3 and 4 in millimeters (4 being swollen). They will test each tooth on both sides and call out the numbers. Also during this they will also make a note of whether or not your gums bleed during this. You want to have no bleeding and 1,2 or 3 mm gum lines. If you have a couple of 4’s but not all then you don’t have severe gingivitis but you need to take steps to reverse it. If you have a lot of 4’s you have gingivitis and will need to undertake treatment.
Here are some ways to reverse gingivitis if it is not very severe (as recommended by my, Amanda, dentist):
1. Brush your tongue thoroughly as a lot of plaque lives there.
2. Brush in a circular motion especially on your gums. This might be painful at first since your gums are probably swollen but after a while they will become healthy.
3. Use a mouthwash morning and night.
4. Floss twice a day (because face it most of us only floss once a day).
We hope that these will help those of you with braces to take these steps because they are also preventive of gingivitis. And with braces the last thing you want is gingivitis to ruin your straightening smile!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Coping Series Part 4: Enemies
If you have enemies (hopefully you don’t) they might try to use your braces as a way to get to you. As in the other coping posts you need to really ignore these people because they are only doing that since they know you will be self conscious.
Just remember that when people feel the need to put other people down, its because they themselves are insecure. Don’t let your enemies use this as ammunition against you by not taking the bait and responding to them!
Hopefully this helps!
-Amanda and Erik
Just remember that when people feel the need to put other people down, its because they themselves are insecure. Don’t let your enemies use this as ammunition against you by not taking the bait and responding to them!
Hopefully this helps!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Coping Series Part 3: Friends
First day with braces you will probably see your friends. They will of course notice that you got braces especially since you probably told them! Usually your friends will be supportive of you since after all most of them probably have/had braces at some point.
But sometimes they will have different reactions such as:
Teasing: You might get the usual name calling from your friends but they will probably not mean it. Everyone gets a hard time when they get braces (we did from our friends!) but they don’t mean any harm by it.
Encouraging: Most of your friends will probably have had braces so they will understand what you are going through.
Jealous: You will usually get a lot of attention your first day, people exclaiming “Wow you got braces!” and such. Some of your friends might get a bit jealous. So if some of them seem upset just remember that if they are jealous they will get over it after the excitement dies.
We hope this helps prepare or explain some of the reactions you might get!
-Amanda and Erik
But sometimes they will have different reactions such as:
Teasing: You might get the usual name calling from your friends but they will probably not mean it. Everyone gets a hard time when they get braces (we did from our friends!) but they don’t mean any harm by it.
Encouraging: Most of your friends will probably have had braces so they will understand what you are going through.
Jealous: You will usually get a lot of attention your first day, people exclaiming “Wow you got braces!” and such. Some of your friends might get a bit jealous. So if some of them seem upset just remember that if they are jealous they will get over it after the excitement dies.
We hope this helps prepare or explain some of the reactions you might get!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Coping Series Part 2: Parents
Coping with your parents when you get braces is much different than with strangers. The only similarity is that the first few days you have your braces on, your parents will probably be asking how it feels and does it hurt and so on but this is much different than the general public because they will likely be being supportive of you!
Here are some things you might have to worry about with your parents:
1. Constant reminders: Most likely your parents will constantly be telling you to brush your teeth and be getting on your case about wearing your bands or head gear. This can get extremely frustrating at times, but if you just do what they say they will eventually calm down and leave you to it. Also the more you make sure you are brushing regularly and wearing all of your equipment, the sooner they will see that you can monitor yourself and don’t need them to constantly remind you. Just remember they are trying to help and they want the whole process to work!
2. Eating and food: Sometimes parents can be really strict about telling their kids what they can and cannot eat. As we have said in previous posts, most of the foods will not hurt as long as you are careful, but then again your parents are paying for the braces so if they are adamant about your not eating some foods it would be good to just listen. You can also try talking to them and coming to a common agreement about the matter.
Chances are your parents had braces when they were teens too. Don’t just brush them aside when they offer advice or get on your case because they may have reasons that aren’t apparent and will probably benefit you in the long run. Not to mention the braces your parents had were probably much more of a pain to wear than yours are!
-Erik and Amanda
Here are some things you might have to worry about with your parents:
1. Constant reminders: Most likely your parents will constantly be telling you to brush your teeth and be getting on your case about wearing your bands or head gear. This can get extremely frustrating at times, but if you just do what they say they will eventually calm down and leave you to it. Also the more you make sure you are brushing regularly and wearing all of your equipment, the sooner they will see that you can monitor yourself and don’t need them to constantly remind you. Just remember they are trying to help and they want the whole process to work!
2. Eating and food: Sometimes parents can be really strict about telling their kids what they can and cannot eat. As we have said in previous posts, most of the foods will not hurt as long as you are careful, but then again your parents are paying for the braces so if they are adamant about your not eating some foods it would be good to just listen. You can also try talking to them and coming to a common agreement about the matter.
Chances are your parents had braces when they were teens too. Don’t just brush them aside when they offer advice or get on your case because they may have reasons that aren’t apparent and will probably benefit you in the long run. Not to mention the braces your parents had were probably much more of a pain to wear than yours are!
-Erik and Amanda
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Coping Series Part 1: Strangers
This is the first installment in our three part series on coping with braces.
Now when you get braces, people might look at you differently. But luckily since braces are not as noticeable as when your parents had them and they are also not a huge deal.
You must ignore any reactions. It will take away from your braces experience if you are constantly worried about what other people think.
A common habit some kids develop when they get braces is they use their hand to cover their mouth when smiling or laughing. Usually they don’t realize it, it just becomes automatic. But trust us, it just calls attention to your braces. And when you get your braces off you don’t want that habit!
Similarly to getting a reaction when you have braces on, you might see a difference when you get them off.
-Amanda and Erik
Now when you get braces, people might look at you differently. But luckily since braces are not as noticeable as when your parents had them and they are also not a huge deal.
You must ignore any reactions. It will take away from your braces experience if you are constantly worried about what other people think.
A common habit some kids develop when they get braces is they use their hand to cover their mouth when smiling or laughing. Usually they don’t realize it, it just becomes automatic. But trust us, it just calls attention to your braces. And when you get your braces off you don’t want that habit!
Similarly to getting a reaction when you have braces on, you might see a difference when you get them off.
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Update
Hello Readers!
There will be no new post next Wednesday (June 16). Thanks for the understanding!
-Amanda and Erik
There will be no new post next Wednesday (June 16). Thanks for the understanding!
-Amanda and Erik
Ode To Retainers
So I (Amanda) have had my retainers for about two months and I must admit it is very, very hard to keep up with them. Its very tempting to just wear them at night even tho I am supposed to wear them all the time except eating. Its not that they hurt or anything its just a hassle to put them back in. Now that is going to change. Since Erik just got his braces off, I must set a good example.
So we are both going to wear our retainers all the time except for eating and hard exercise. If you have retainers and you are reading this and nodding in agreement with the first paragraph, join us! All that money will be wasted if us braces-veterans don’t wear our retainers diligently!
It is hard to keep it up but we shall get through it together. Please comment telling us your story!
-Amanda and Erik
So we are both going to wear our retainers all the time except for eating and hard exercise. If you have retainers and you are reading this and nodding in agreement with the first paragraph, join us! All that money will be wasted if us braces-veterans don’t wear our retainers diligently!
It is hard to keep it up but we shall get through it together. Please comment telling us your story!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Teeth Pulling
You may have to get teeth pulled if you are planning to get braces, but have not lost all of your baby teeth. Obviously we don’t want to be putting braces on just to have a couple of the teeth fall out, plus then you would have to wait the time it takes for your permanent teeth to come in! Thus your orthodontist may prescribe getting your baby teeth pulled if he/she wants to get you in braces.
Here is how my (Erik’s) appointment with the oral surgeon went:
First I arrived at the office. My family and I sat around in the waiting room until one of the assistants escorted us to a separate waiting room. I had decided earlier that I did not want to be anesthetized so that I would be somewhat aware of what was going on during the surgery. This new room had a TV in it and, after about five minutes, the same assistant came in and gave me my glass of “happy juice.” It took, again, around five minutes for the stuff to take its effect and I became pretty out of it. They moved me into the surgery room and had me sit down in the reclining chair.
Next my surgeon took a needle and injected local anesthetics into my mouth so my gums would be numb when he pulled out the teeth. Although I don’t remember most of this, the oral surgeon pulled out my two baby teeth and replaced them with squares of gauze to help stop the bleeding. Then he helped me back into the waiting room and gave instructions to my parents on what I should do and eat for the next few days. We then went home, and I slept for about three hours. When I woke up I was in very minimal pain and was even able to do some schoolwork.
After having the surgery, the goal is to get the spaces where the teeth were stopped up with a blood clot. This clot is very “loose” and can easily be knocked out by eating hard food, so you will probably be instructed to stay on a liquid diet (i.e. soup, smoothies, etc.) for the next few days!
-Erik and Amanda
Here is how my (Erik’s) appointment with the oral surgeon went:
First I arrived at the office. My family and I sat around in the waiting room until one of the assistants escorted us to a separate waiting room. I had decided earlier that I did not want to be anesthetized so that I would be somewhat aware of what was going on during the surgery. This new room had a TV in it and, after about five minutes, the same assistant came in and gave me my glass of “happy juice.” It took, again, around five minutes for the stuff to take its effect and I became pretty out of it. They moved me into the surgery room and had me sit down in the reclining chair.
Next my surgeon took a needle and injected local anesthetics into my mouth so my gums would be numb when he pulled out the teeth. Although I don’t remember most of this, the oral surgeon pulled out my two baby teeth and replaced them with squares of gauze to help stop the bleeding. Then he helped me back into the waiting room and gave instructions to my parents on what I should do and eat for the next few days. We then went home, and I slept for about three hours. When I woke up I was in very minimal pain and was even able to do some schoolwork.
After having the surgery, the goal is to get the spaces where the teeth were stopped up with a blood clot. This clot is very “loose” and can easily be knocked out by eating hard food, so you will probably be instructed to stay on a liquid diet (i.e. soup, smoothies, etc.) for the next few days!
-Erik and Amanda
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Methods of Assessment
The main point of going to a checkup is to assess your progress to straight teeth. Here are examples of the many different methods your orthodontist may use to do this:
1. X-ray:
Before you get an x-ray, your orthodontist will ask you to take off any outside metal (e.g. earrings, headbands etc.). Then you will put on a jacket-like lead bib and stand next to a machine. Then you will bite onto these two plastic pieces, one for your upper jaw one for your lower. Next x-ray machine will spin around your head and make a ringing noise, while taking an x-ray of your jaws. Then you are done!
2. Pictures:
Another method is to take pictures every few checkups. Unlike the picture taking we spoke of in "The Classic Checkup", here your orthodontist will have you pull your cheeks open with plastic stretchers. Then he/she will take pictures from the front and sides, while opening your mouth and biting your back teeth. If your orthodontist needs to show you and your parents something they may pull up these pictures on the computer or print them and show them to you. They are used to show what your orthodontist is talking about.
3. Jaw mold:
Before you get anything that is going to fit in your mouth(bite-plane, retainers and such) your orthodontist will make a mold of your teeth. Your orthodontist will put some colored goop in your mouth then push it against your teeth and then pull it out. Then later on they will make a white mold that is a exact replica of your mouth from the inside using that mold. This they use to make your retainers and such so that they fit your mouth perfectly.
These are some examples of how you will get to see your progress. Hopefully now you won't be confused if your orthodontist starts doing these things!
-Amanda and Erik
1. X-ray:
Before you get an x-ray, your orthodontist will ask you to take off any outside metal (e.g. earrings, headbands etc.). Then you will put on a jacket-like lead bib and stand next to a machine. Then you will bite onto these two plastic pieces, one for your upper jaw one for your lower. Next x-ray machine will spin around your head and make a ringing noise, while taking an x-ray of your jaws. Then you are done!
2. Pictures:
Another method is to take pictures every few checkups. Unlike the picture taking we spoke of in "The Classic Checkup", here your orthodontist will have you pull your cheeks open with plastic stretchers. Then he/she will take pictures from the front and sides, while opening your mouth and biting your back teeth. If your orthodontist needs to show you and your parents something they may pull up these pictures on the computer or print them and show them to you. They are used to show what your orthodontist is talking about.
3. Jaw mold:
Before you get anything that is going to fit in your mouth(bite-plane, retainers and such) your orthodontist will make a mold of your teeth. Your orthodontist will put some colored goop in your mouth then push it against your teeth and then pull it out. Then later on they will make a white mold that is a exact replica of your mouth from the inside using that mold. This they use to make your retainers and such so that they fit your mouth perfectly.
These are some examples of how you will get to see your progress. Hopefully now you won't be confused if your orthodontist starts doing these things!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
The Secret to Sleepovers
One trouble we ran into is keeping up your orthodontic materials when going to a sleepover. We recommend not skipping out just because you go to a friend’s house.
Here are some tips for dealing with it:
Head Gear:
1. Wear it during the day if possible so that when you have a sleepover you can snack and eat later in the evening without having to worry about getting in your 12 (or whatever) hours.
2. If that isn’t possible decide on a time that you will put it on so that way you can eat before then
3. You can also put it on right before you and your friend(s) go to bed so they don’t ask about it if you are embarrassed.
4. If you think that it will just be a pain and get in the way you can also just skip that one night but we’d say only do that if it’s really going to be hard to wear it.
Braces:
1. If for some reason your friends don’t plan on brushing their teeth, just excuse yourself and brush your teeth. Since you have braces and as we have mentioned in post “Cleaning Techniques” and “The Health in Hygiene”, it is extra important to brush your teeth if you have braces.
2. You can probably skip flossing on the night of your sleepover since it is so time consuming.
Bands:
1. You can just wear these when you normally do since they are inconspicuous.
2. Bring extra just in case your bands break.
Retainers:
1. Bring your retainers with in you in a hard plastic case of some sort. That way when you are going to eat you can slip your retainers into it so they don’t get broken accidentally.
2. And remember to put your retainer in after you eat preferably after brushing but it doesn’t really matter as long as you brush your teeth at some point.
One point we cant stress enough is bring your orthodontic materials home. And in one piece! And as our orthodontist once said “The safest place for your materials is in your mouth or at home” So if you think that there is any chance of losing or breaking any of these it would be better to just leave them home. But don’t use it as an excuse to take a break. The more you wear all your bands and gears now the less time you will have to later! So don’t let your mouth get in the way of having fun at your sleepovers!
-Amanda and Erik
Here are some tips for dealing with it:
Head Gear:
1. Wear it during the day if possible so that when you have a sleepover you can snack and eat later in the evening without having to worry about getting in your 12 (or whatever) hours.
2. If that isn’t possible decide on a time that you will put it on so that way you can eat before then
3. You can also put it on right before you and your friend(s) go to bed so they don’t ask about it if you are embarrassed.
4. If you think that it will just be a pain and get in the way you can also just skip that one night but we’d say only do that if it’s really going to be hard to wear it.
Braces:
1. If for some reason your friends don’t plan on brushing their teeth, just excuse yourself and brush your teeth. Since you have braces and as we have mentioned in post “Cleaning Techniques” and “The Health in Hygiene”, it is extra important to brush your teeth if you have braces.
2. You can probably skip flossing on the night of your sleepover since it is so time consuming.
Bands:
1. You can just wear these when you normally do since they are inconspicuous.
2. Bring extra just in case your bands break.
Retainers:
1. Bring your retainers with in you in a hard plastic case of some sort. That way when you are going to eat you can slip your retainers into it so they don’t get broken accidentally.
2. And remember to put your retainer in after you eat preferably after brushing but it doesn’t really matter as long as you brush your teeth at some point.
One point we cant stress enough is bring your orthodontic materials home. And in one piece! And as our orthodontist once said “The safest place for your materials is in your mouth or at home” So if you think that there is any chance of losing or breaking any of these it would be better to just leave them home. But don’t use it as an excuse to take a break. The more you wear all your bands and gears now the less time you will have to later! So don’t let your mouth get in the way of having fun at your sleepovers!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Loose Bracket
Sometimes you will have a bracket fall off or get knocked off your tooth from eating or something. When the bracket isn’t attached it will not pull or tighten that tooth so its important to fix it as soon as possible.
Usually you can schedule an appointment so we would recommend doing that soon. Usually your orthodontist will go through the whole procedure of glueing your bracket back on, so its nothing you haven’t done before.
Here are some tips for the time period before your appointment:
1. Try not to play with it because you can dislodge other brackets and ruin the wire.
2. Try not to eat on the part of your mouth where your loose bracket is that way you won’t damage it more.
So if you feel in your mouth one day that something is loose or you hear a crack after you bite into that hard piece of bread, don’t be alarmed! It happens to everyone at one point and is very simple to fix. Just remember to schedule that appointment!
-Amanda and Erik
Usually you can schedule an appointment so we would recommend doing that soon. Usually your orthodontist will go through the whole procedure of glueing your bracket back on, so its nothing you haven’t done before.
Here are some tips for the time period before your appointment:
1. Try not to play with it because you can dislodge other brackets and ruin the wire.
2. Try not to eat on the part of your mouth where your loose bracket is that way you won’t damage it more.
So if you feel in your mouth one day that something is loose or you hear a crack after you bite into that hard piece of bread, don’t be alarmed! It happens to everyone at one point and is very simple to fix. Just remember to schedule that appointment!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Getting Food Unstuck
Although your orthodontist has probably told you not to eat certain foods, and although we do not necessarily condone it, most of us eat the “forbidden foods” anyway. These were discussed in our post, Damaging Delectables.
We know that a lot of these foods get stuck in your braces really easily, so here are some tips for dislodging the toughest pieces:
1. If it is a piece of chewy candy, you can swish-and-spit some hot/warm water. The water will help to dissolve the sugar in the candy, thus making it easier to remove.
2. Short of trying to push out the food with your tongue, sometimes your orthodontist will give you a little tool that is a pipe-cleaner with a little plastic handle that can be used to push out the snagged pieces (this device was discussed in the post Cleaning Techniques). Another option would be to use a toothpick!
3. You can brush your teeth or floss. It may seem obvious, but sometimes it is easier to just brush your teeth than it is to spend time trying to push out the food by hand.
One problem is that if you are out in public and you get some food stuck in your braces you can’t pick at it with your fingers because that would be rude, and you will most likely not be able to brush your teeth, so the simple solution is to not get food stuck in the first place! Here are two tips to do this:
1. Try to in general steer clear of the foods that get stuck easily, like corn, lettuce, pineapple, etc. If you just don’t eat these foods, then you will not have to even worry about getting gobs of food stuck!
2. If you are going to eat the foods that get caught, try chewing it slowly and carefully. When you chew really quickly and heavily, you jam the food up in your braces, so try chewing a bit more carefully.
-Erik and Amanda
We know that a lot of these foods get stuck in your braces really easily, so here are some tips for dislodging the toughest pieces:
1. If it is a piece of chewy candy, you can swish-and-spit some hot/warm water. The water will help to dissolve the sugar in the candy, thus making it easier to remove.
2. Short of trying to push out the food with your tongue, sometimes your orthodontist will give you a little tool that is a pipe-cleaner with a little plastic handle that can be used to push out the snagged pieces (this device was discussed in the post Cleaning Techniques). Another option would be to use a toothpick!
3. You can brush your teeth or floss. It may seem obvious, but sometimes it is easier to just brush your teeth than it is to spend time trying to push out the food by hand.
One problem is that if you are out in public and you get some food stuck in your braces you can’t pick at it with your fingers because that would be rude, and you will most likely not be able to brush your teeth, so the simple solution is to not get food stuck in the first place! Here are two tips to do this:
1. Try to in general steer clear of the foods that get stuck easily, like corn, lettuce, pineapple, etc. If you just don’t eat these foods, then you will not have to even worry about getting gobs of food stuck!
2. If you are going to eat the foods that get caught, try chewing it slowly and carefully. When you chew really quickly and heavily, you jam the food up in your braces, so try chewing a bit more carefully.
-Erik and Amanda
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
In The Orthodontist Waiting Room
When you have your first checkup, you might get a little nervous in the waiting room of the orthodontist office. You might be thinking about whether you are actually making and progress and things similar to this.
Here are some things tips for dealing with this phenomenon:
1. Just picture your beautiful straight teeth or a perfectly aligned jaw so that you have a symmetrical jaw that fits nicely! Remember that the reason you are doing this whole process is so you will have a straight smile.
2. Trust in your orthodontist! Know that he/she is trying to get the result with the least amount of effort on your part, so trust that the things they give to you wear etc. are going to help.
3. Also think about how you will be glad that you went through all the effort when you finished!
The first time I (Amanda) went to the orthodontist for a checkup, I was so scared because all of my friends were saying how painful all of the orthodontia they had was. At the time I had a rather large overbite and I just kept telling myself that they would fix it for me and my smile would be normal and it made me less nervous. And once I talked with my orthodontist I felt better because he was very relaxed and told me it would be a gradual process and he planned out how the next few years would be. So if you are nervous in the waiting room, just relax. Its going to turn out awesome!
-Erik and Amanda
Here are some things tips for dealing with this phenomenon:
1. Just picture your beautiful straight teeth or a perfectly aligned jaw so that you have a symmetrical jaw that fits nicely! Remember that the reason you are doing this whole process is so you will have a straight smile.
2. Trust in your orthodontist! Know that he/she is trying to get the result with the least amount of effort on your part, so trust that the things they give to you wear etc. are going to help.
3. Also think about how you will be glad that you went through all the effort when you finished!
The first time I (Amanda) went to the orthodontist for a checkup, I was so scared because all of my friends were saying how painful all of the orthodontia they had was. At the time I had a rather large overbite and I just kept telling myself that they would fix it for me and my smile would be normal and it made me less nervous. And once I talked with my orthodontist I felt better because he was very relaxed and told me it would be a gradual process and he planned out how the next few years would be. So if you are nervous in the waiting room, just relax. Its going to turn out awesome!
-Erik and Amanda
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Getting Your Braces On
So you are going to get braces. Here is how your procedure will probably go:
1. First you sit in the orthodontist’s special chair and your orthodontist will polish your teeth with a sand-like substance. They do this so that they have a smooth surface to work with when gluing on the brackets.2. Next is gluing on the brackets. First he/she will put a dab of their fancy glue on your first
tooth and place the bracket on.
3. After your orthodontist has positioned the bracket so that it is straight and in the middle of your tooth, this is the procedure our orthodontist followed, he/she will then shine ultraviolet light on your tooth (before they do this step, you will be outfitted with a pair of glasses). The glue is special in that it dries under ultraviolet light.
Steps two and three will be done for all of the teeth you are getting braces on.
4. Next is attaching the wire. Your orthodontist will get out a wire of specific stiffness, usually relatively soft at the beginning. Then he/she will cut the wire to the right length for your mouth. Then, after heating up the ends of the wire, your orthodontist will bend the ends so that they will hook around your back brackets after being pushed through the hole.
5. Once you have the wire ready, your orthodontist will push it into each of your brackets and then pull the wire through your back brackets.
6. Next you will pick a color of band and they will fit those around the bracket to keep the wire in place (see Rainbow of Rubber).
7. Now your orthodontist will cut the wire in the back so it doesn’t poke your cheek (see post Wretched Wires).
8. You now have braces!
This whole procedure usually takes somewhere between 30 minutes to 45 minutes per jaw. Congratulations on your new braces!
-Erik and Amanda
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wretched Wires
Ow! What is that stabbing me in the cheek? Sound familiar? That "thing" is your wire sticking into your cheek.
We do not recommend trying to fix this yourself, instead set up an appointment with your orthodontist because he/she will have a special tool that is used to cut the bit that is sticking out.
Now say this happens in a critical time when it hurts a lot and you want to relieve the pain right away. Here are a couple things that you can do:
1. Get some of that wax we talked about in the post “Predicting the Pain” and put a generous amount over the wire that is sticking out. This is a temporary fix as the wax will come out within the day. As a side note don’t eat with it because if the wax comes off you might accidentally swallow it!
2. If the part sticking out is long enough you might be able to reach in the back of your mouth with your finger and push it down so that it curves away from your cheek.
The best way to avoid this problem is when you first get your braces on or go and have them tightened, feel around your teeth with your tongue and you should be able to feel any bit poking out. If so, be sure to let your orthodontist know so he/she can fix it on the spot and you will have a pain free six weeks!
-Erik and Amanda
We do not recommend trying to fix this yourself, instead set up an appointment with your orthodontist because he/she will have a special tool that is used to cut the bit that is sticking out.
Now say this happens in a critical time when it hurts a lot and you want to relieve the pain right away. Here are a couple things that you can do:
1. Get some of that wax we talked about in the post “Predicting the Pain” and put a generous amount over the wire that is sticking out. This is a temporary fix as the wax will come out within the day. As a side note don’t eat with it because if the wax comes off you might accidentally swallow it!
2. If the part sticking out is long enough you might be able to reach in the back of your mouth with your finger and push it down so that it curves away from your cheek.
The best way to avoid this problem is when you first get your braces on or go and have them tightened, feel around your teeth with your tongue and you should be able to feel any bit poking out. If so, be sure to let your orthodontist know so he/she can fix it on the spot and you will have a pain free six weeks!
-Erik and Amanda
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Bracket Bands
When you get your braces on, depending on what is wrong with your teeth, you will get different types of bands to fit over your wire.
Type A: For this type of band, there is an individual band per tooth. This band’s sole purpose is to hold your wire in place over your teeth. You can customize the colors of these.
Type B: These are called chain bands. They can span anywhere from over two teeth to your whole upper or lower set of teeth. The chain band is tighter and more evenly spaced than the first type. These are used to correct spaces in between your teeth. The chain-type is also more painful the first few days since your wire is already pulling your teeth straight and this band adds even
more pressure. Another difference is that your
orthodontist may put in a chain band anywhere after you get your braces, your band type can change throughout your time with braces. You can customize the colors of these, but they come in one color per whole chain so choose wisely!
For both of these bands, although type B is harder, it is difficult to floss with them in. But if you use our previously mentioned tips for cleaning (post Cleaning Techniques), it is possible!
-Amanda and Erik
Type A: For this type of band, there is an individual band per tooth. This band’s sole purpose is to hold your wire in place over your teeth. You can customize the colors of these.
Type B: These are called chain bands. They can span anywhere from over two teeth to your whole upper or lower set of teeth. The chain band is tighter and more evenly spaced than the first type. These are used to correct spaces in between your teeth. The chain-type is also more painful the first few days since your wire is already pulling your teeth straight and this band adds even
more pressure. Another difference is that yourorthodontist may put in a chain band anywhere after you get your braces, your band type can change throughout your time with braces. You can customize the colors of these, but they come in one color per whole chain so choose wisely!
For both of these bands, although type B is harder, it is difficult to floss with them in. But if you use our previously mentioned tips for cleaning (post Cleaning Techniques), it is possible!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Asymmetrical Jaws
Sometimes one side of your lower or upper jaw has grown or is growing faster than your other side. The result of this is called an asymmetrical jaw. In the best case, it is very unnoticeable on the outside and is not a big issue. But there are severe cases where your whole face can look asymmetrical.
Fixes:
1. Bands: Similar to the cases of having an overbite, there is a different fix if your mouth is still in the process of developing. When you are still growing you can get criss-cross bands that go from right-left or left-right depending on which side needs to be held back. (See post “Battle of the Bands” for pictures). This fix essentially stops the problem before it becomes too much to handle.
2. Surgery: The other option which would be advised when you have stopped growing and is similar to when you have an overbite. Here your surgeon will implant a piece of semi-soft material on the side that is smaller. Look at the following links for more information.
http://www.onlinetoothdoctor.com/jawsurgery.html
http://www.drposnick.com/orthognathic/amp.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Correction-of-Jaw-Asymmetry-With-Implants&id=1710445
As we were saying in the post about Head Gear, we would recommend that if you are still growing and you have a less severe case, try the band method. If your asymmetrical jaw is really bad and you want to fix it, chances are you will have to get the surgery.
-Erik and Amanda
Fixes:
1. Bands: Similar to the cases of having an overbite, there is a different fix if your mouth is still in the process of developing. When you are still growing you can get criss-cross bands that go from right-left or left-right depending on which side needs to be held back. (See post “Battle of the Bands” for pictures). This fix essentially stops the problem before it becomes too much to handle.
2. Surgery: The other option which would be advised when you have stopped growing and is similar to when you have an overbite. Here your surgeon will implant a piece of semi-soft material on the side that is smaller. Look at the following links for more information.
http://www.onlinetoothdoctor.com/jawsurgery.html
http://www.drposnick.com/orthognathic/amp.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Correction-of-Jaw-Asymmetry-With-Implants&id=1710445
As we were saying in the post about Head Gear, we would recommend that if you are still growing and you have a less severe case, try the band method. If your asymmetrical jaw is really bad and you want to fix it, chances are you will have to get the surgery.
-Erik and Amanda
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Overbite
A condition that some people have (us included) is called an overbite. An overbite is when your top jaw has grown more than your lower jaw, so your top teeth hang over your bottom teeth. The result is usually what is known as having “buckteeth”.
Here are the two fixes:
1. The Faster Way: In this way you go to an orthodontic surgeon. They will break your lower jaw and then push it forward and position your jaw so that your teeth are straight and line up. Then the surgeon will insert metal pieces that fit into the space that was made by moving your jaw forward so that it permanently stays in place.
2. The Slower Way: The classic way to rid yourself of an overbite is to get head gear. With head gear, the idea is that the gears hold back your top jaw from growing so that your lower jaw can catch up. Naturally this will take longer.
The first fix is typically used for adults or people who have stopped growing, since head gear requires that your lower jaw is still actually growing. Similarly head gear is used mainly for kids and teenagers, if they haven’t stopped growing.
Our opinion on fixing an overbite:
Both of us have done and completed the head gear fix. Though it takes quite a bit longer and is kind of a drag to wear, the results are definitely noticeable and worth it. This method has been around for decades (chances are your parents even had headgear!) and has stood the test of time. But it is not reasonable if you have stopped growing, which is when the fast surgical way would be a better choice. But for kids we recommend the head gear, since the whole breaking-the-jaw part is generally probably not a good idea in kids who are still growing.
-Amanda and Erik
Here are the two fixes:
1. The Faster Way: In this way you go to an orthodontic surgeon. They will break your lower jaw and then push it forward and position your jaw so that your teeth are straight and line up. Then the surgeon will insert metal pieces that fit into the space that was made by moving your jaw forward so that it permanently stays in place.
2. The Slower Way: The classic way to rid yourself of an overbite is to get head gear. With head gear, the idea is that the gears hold back your top jaw from growing so that your lower jaw can catch up. Naturally this will take longer.
The first fix is typically used for adults or people who have stopped growing, since head gear requires that your lower jaw is still actually growing. Similarly head gear is used mainly for kids and teenagers, if they haven’t stopped growing.
Our opinion on fixing an overbite:
Both of us have done and completed the head gear fix. Though it takes quite a bit longer and is kind of a drag to wear, the results are definitely noticeable and worth it. This method has been around for decades (chances are your parents even had headgear!) and has stood the test of time. But it is not reasonable if you have stopped growing, which is when the fast surgical way would be a better choice. But for kids we recommend the head gear, since the whole breaking-the-jaw part is generally probably not a good idea in kids who are still growing.
-Amanda and Erik
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Briefing You on Bite Planes
Another appliance used before you get braces is the bite plane. A bite plane is a retainer-like piece fitted to the shape of your top jaw that prevents your bottom teeth from hitting the roof of your mouth (used in extreme overbite situations usually). There are small metal pieces molded into it that slide onto two of your front teeth, used to hold it up. Because these metal holder uppers are the only things showing, the bite plane is not visible to other people. Eventually as your mouth grows to accommodate this device, your back teeth will touch while your bottom teeth will not hit the roof of your mouth. In other words, your jaw will line up properly.
Here are some tips for this new piece of plastic:
1. Do not eat with it in.
2. Brush your bite plane a lot. For cleaning techniques see our previous post called "All About Retainers", for cleaning your bite plane is exactly the same as cleaning your retainer.
3. Keep it in a safe place when you take it out. Bite planes break extremely easily.
4. Do not play with your bite plane in your mouth. Besides being kind of weird-looking to other people, you can accidentally break off the little metal pieces that hold it up (which are not replaceable unless you get a whole new bite plane!). And you can break off chunks of the plastic part too. Trust us it happens.
To emphasize Tip #4 here is a little story. When I, Amanda, got my bite plane, I used to play with it in my mouth a lot. One day I was talking to my friend and as I went to answer her question, I accidentally spit out my bite plane since I'd been playing with it. It was embarrassing and plus it fell on the ground so I couldn’t put it back in. Moral of this story: DON'T PLAY WITH IT!
-Erik and Amanda
Here are some tips for this new piece of plastic:
1. Do not eat with it in.
2. Brush your bite plane a lot. For cleaning techniques see our previous post called "All About Retainers", for cleaning your bite plane is exactly the same as cleaning your retainer.
3. Keep it in a safe place when you take it out. Bite planes break extremely easily.
4. Do not play with your bite plane in your mouth. Besides being kind of weird-looking to other people, you can accidentally break off the little metal pieces that hold it up (which are not replaceable unless you get a whole new bite plane!). And you can break off chunks of the plastic part too. Trust us it happens.
To emphasize Tip #4 here is a little story. When I, Amanda, got my bite plane, I used to play with it in my mouth a lot. One day I was talking to my friend and as I went to answer her question, I accidentally spit out my bite plane since I'd been playing with it. It was embarrassing and plus it fell on the ground so I couldn’t put it back in. Moral of this story: DON'T PLAY WITH IT!
-Erik and Amanda
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Cleaning Techniques
Between your teeth: Some of you may be wondering "how it is possible to floss with all this metal in my mouth?" One way is to take your floss (make sure it is the wax kind) and thread it under your wire and between your brackets. Another way is to buy those stiff little flossers. You thread the floss through the loop and then stick the flosser end under your wire and pull it out, thus easily getting your floss under your wire/between your bracket.
Brackets: Another place food can sit and rot in your mouth is in your bracket. And we mean in the actual bracket that is glued to your teeth. The best way to get this out is to brush this area very thoroughly. Sometimes your orthodontist will give you a little pipecleaner-like tool and you can use that to dislodge food from your brackets.
Gums: A common problem in people with braces is infected gums. When you have infected gums, they get all red and puffy and hurt to the touch. Not fun! To avoid this problem, be sure to brush above your brackets and floss regularly. Another reason you don’t want this is that when you get your braces off and if you get a plastic retainer, the retainer won’t fit properly when your gum line gets healthy again.
Head Gear: As with all things sitting in your mouth for long periods of time, your head gear will need to be cleaned. To clean the metal mouth piece, brush it with your toothbrush and toothpaste. To get a deep clean you can soak it in your mouthwash and then brush it same as before. As for the cloth part, if it gets too gross for you to wear, you can wash it by hand using regular hand-washing soap. We didn't have this problem but we only wore/wear ours for 12 hours.
Bands: Don’t bother trying to clean these. After wearing them once, just throw them away and replace it with a fresh set!
Cleaning is very important as we have stated in previous posts (such as Health in Hygiene). Hopefully these tips will make it easier for you to manage this task.
-Amanda and Erik
Brackets: Another place food can sit and rot in your mouth is in your bracket. And we mean in the actual bracket that is glued to your teeth. The best way to get this out is to brush this area very thoroughly. Sometimes your orthodontist will give you a little pipecleaner-like tool and you can use that to dislodge food from your brackets.
Gums: A common problem in people with braces is infected gums. When you have infected gums, they get all red and puffy and hurt to the touch. Not fun! To avoid this problem, be sure to brush above your brackets and floss regularly. Another reason you don’t want this is that when you get your braces off and if you get a plastic retainer, the retainer won’t fit properly when your gum line gets healthy again.
Head Gear: As with all things sitting in your mouth for long periods of time, your head gear will need to be cleaned. To clean the metal mouth piece, brush it with your toothbrush and toothpaste. To get a deep clean you can soak it in your mouthwash and then brush it same as before. As for the cloth part, if it gets too gross for you to wear, you can wash it by hand using regular hand-washing soap. We didn't have this problem but we only wore/wear ours for 12 hours.
Bands: Don’t bother trying to clean these. After wearing them once, just throw them away and replace it with a fresh set!
Cleaning is very important as we have stated in previous posts (such as Health in Hygiene). Hopefully these tips will make it easier for you to manage this task.
-Amanda and Erik
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Classic Checkup
To make sure your teeth are coming along, you get checkups every six weeks or so. The point of this is to make sure your braces and other orthodontic materials are doing what they're supposed to.
Braces: During your checkup, your orthodontist will usually tighten your wires. First they use a little tool with a hook on the end to carefully take your bands off the brackets. You usually can pick a new color at this point, and they will provide you with samples for all color choices. Then they reach in the back of your mouth and pull the wire out from your brackets. Now they will get a stiffer wire and will measure and cut it so that it matches your old wire in length. When your orthodontist puts your new wire in, your teeth will probably be sore for a day or so, similar to when you first got your braces on. After the wire is in, they will trim the ends that stick out into your cheek. Be sure to tell the orthodontist if it is poking you or it will be a painful next six weeks. Don’t worry the process of tightening your wires doesn't hurt and you don't get your wire tightened every time!
Headgear: The orthodontist will usually make sure you are wearing it tight enough and that it sits properly.
Bands: They will usually give you thicker and tighter bands.
Photos: Sometime when you get a checkup, your orthodontist (in our experience) will take pictures of your teeth from straight on and sideways, open and closed. When they do this, the orthodontist will give you plastic cheek stretchers so that they can get a clear view of your teeth. They take the pictures so that they can track your progress.
Here are some tips to help you prepare for your checkup:
1. Brush and floss very thoroughly. Your orthodontist will get on your case if you have a bit of leftover breakfast in your braces.
2. Bring all of your orthodontic materials like your headgear, but you will probably not be required to bring your bands.
3. If you have bands, be sure to ask your orthodontist for more.
You get used to these checkups and they aren't a big deal. But they are important. If for some reason the orthodontist figures out that you aren't using the right equipment to fix your teeth you would probably want to know sooner than later!
-Erik and Amanda
Braces: During your checkup, your orthodontist will usually tighten your wires. First they use a little tool with a hook on the end to carefully take your bands off the brackets. You usually can pick a new color at this point, and they will provide you with samples for all color choices. Then they reach in the back of your mouth and pull the wire out from your brackets. Now they will get a stiffer wire and will measure and cut it so that it matches your old wire in length. When your orthodontist puts your new wire in, your teeth will probably be sore for a day or so, similar to when you first got your braces on. After the wire is in, they will trim the ends that stick out into your cheek. Be sure to tell the orthodontist if it is poking you or it will be a painful next six weeks. Don’t worry the process of tightening your wires doesn't hurt and you don't get your wire tightened every time!
Headgear: The orthodontist will usually make sure you are wearing it tight enough and that it sits properly.
Bands: They will usually give you thicker and tighter bands.
Photos: Sometime when you get a checkup, your orthodontist (in our experience) will take pictures of your teeth from straight on and sideways, open and closed. When they do this, the orthodontist will give you plastic cheek stretchers so that they can get a clear view of your teeth. They take the pictures so that they can track your progress.
Here are some tips to help you prepare for your checkup:
1. Brush and floss very thoroughly. Your orthodontist will get on your case if you have a bit of leftover breakfast in your braces.
2. Bring all of your orthodontic materials like your headgear, but you will probably not be required to bring your bands.
3. If you have bands, be sure to ask your orthodontist for more.
You get used to these checkups and they aren't a big deal. But they are important. If for some reason the orthodontist figures out that you aren't using the right equipment to fix your teeth you would probably want to know sooner than later!
-Erik and Amanda
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
All About Retainers
When you get your braces off, you get a retainer to keep them in place the first few months when they might move back.
There is the classic retainer which is one wire that fits around the front of your teeth while it is connected to a plastic customizable piece that fits over the roof and bottom of your mouth. This retainer is very fragile and very expensive to replace, so always put it in a safe place when you take them out. For this type of retainer, you take them out when you eat and when you brush your teeth.
Cleaning your retainer: Clean your wire retainer often, but do not boil it! This will warp the plastic part of it. Instead soak it in vinegar, and then brush it thoroughly with your tooth brush.
Before you put your retainer back in, brush your teeth thoroughly and floss your teeth. Then brush your retainer carefully. This prevents the build up of plaque on your retainer which, similar to plaque on your teeth, causes bad breath and is just plain nasty after a while.
All this being said about cleaning, we’d recommend not even wearing your retainer out to eat so that you will avoid the problem in the first place. This will also help to prevent you from losing it and the need to brush your teeth before putting it back in.
In my (Amanda) experience, I received a
temporary, clear fitted retainer that was an exact
mold of my teeth. You couldn't even see this one when I had it on. I wore this one until I got my normal retainers made later. Again, if you get this retainer, it is very fragile. Brush this retainer a lot, since it holds plaque and food really well.Another tip is when you’re wearing either retainer; don’t play with them in your mouth. This looks kind of funny to other people and you increase the risk of breaking it.
We know that your orthodontist has probably told you this already, but, similar to headgear and bands, you just need to diligently wear your retainer!
-Amanda and Erik
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Getting Braces Off: Amanda
Amanda: When I went to sit in the orthodontist chair, the first thing my orthodontist did was to check one last time that I had no overbite and my teeth were straight. Once he was certain this was the case, he whipped out a special “bracket remover”. Then he started to pull/cut the brackets off my teeth (I couldn’t quite tell since I couldn’t see it!). Once he had finished that, I rinsed a bit to get the pieces of dried glue out of my mouth. As I was rinsing, I felt my real teeth for the first time in two and a half years!
Then my orthodontist took out another tool, a little circular, spinning grinder, and ground off the old glue that kept the brackets on. I rinsed again. They were so much smoother! After I’d rinsed, he got out yet another tool, a rubber tipped grinder, and then scraped off the remaining glue. Again I rinsed.
Next was the polishing. Your dentist has probably done this with you. He took some cherry flavored gritty paste and, in effect, rubbed it over my teeth with his tooth polisher. Rinse again. In case you were wondering nothing hurt so far, except the bracket-pulling was a little bit uncomfortable.
Now that I had shiny, smooth teeth, he made a mold of my mouth so I could get my clear fitted retainer later that day. This process consisted of putting a hardening rubber on my teeth and letting it harden into a mold of my teeth. Next came picture time. My orthodontist took pictures of the inside of mouth from all angles. He then took face and profile shots of me smiling and not smiling.
After that, I went to the front desk and picked the color of my normal retainer. I chose camouflage.
Erik: I was in the waiting room basically listening to the sounds of grinding, the whir of little electrical devices, and the occasional “Go ahead and rinse now” from our orthodontist. Then about half an hour later, Amanda came out of the orthodontist office and she was smiling and it looked amazing! I remembered back to how her teeth looked before she got braces, and it was a huge difference. I was happy to see that the end result was so great, and I couldn’t wait until I got my braces off.
So we just want to say hang in there! Your teeth will look great when your all done!
-Erik and Amanda
Then my orthodontist took out another tool, a little circular, spinning grinder, and ground off the old glue that kept the brackets on. I rinsed again. They were so much smoother! After I’d rinsed, he got out yet another tool, a rubber tipped grinder, and then scraped off the remaining glue. Again I rinsed.
Next was the polishing. Your dentist has probably done this with you. He took some cherry flavored gritty paste and, in effect, rubbed it over my teeth with his tooth polisher. Rinse again. In case you were wondering nothing hurt so far, except the bracket-pulling was a little bit uncomfortable.
Now that I had shiny, smooth teeth, he made a mold of my mouth so I could get my clear fitted retainer later that day. This process consisted of putting a hardening rubber on my teeth and letting it harden into a mold of my teeth. Next came picture time. My orthodontist took pictures of the inside of mouth from all angles. He then took face and profile shots of me smiling and not smiling.
After that, I went to the front desk and picked the color of my normal retainer. I chose camouflage.
Erik: I was in the waiting room basically listening to the sounds of grinding, the whir of little electrical devices, and the occasional “Go ahead and rinse now” from our orthodontist. Then about half an hour later, Amanda came out of the orthodontist office and she was smiling and it looked amazing! I remembered back to how her teeth looked before she got braces, and it was a huge difference. I was happy to see that the end result was so great, and I couldn’t wait until I got my braces off.
So we just want to say hang in there! Your teeth will look great when your all done!
-Erik and Amanda
Monday, February 8, 2010
Facts about Fiberotomy
At the end of your journey with braces, your orthodontist might suggest you get what is called a “fiberotomy”. This is usually suggested instead of the classic retainer. In this post, we will give an argument for getting this operation and one for not getting it. Also we will include some technical information about the procedure.
A fiberotomy is a surgical operation to sever the fibers that hold your teeth in their current position. You'd get this procedure done after you’ve straightened your teeth with braces and such. Sometimes the “gingival fibers” as they are called will pull your teeth back to where they were before your braces. Check out these links for more information:
Fiberotomy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiberotomy
http://www.austinperiodontal.com/procedures-fiberotomy.asp
Gingival Fibers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gingival_fibers
Arguments for getting a fiberotomy:
• Snipping those fibers will ensure that your teeth will not go back to their pre-brace position.
• Chances are you will not have to get a retainer. With a retainer, it guarantees that you’re teeth stay straight…as long as you wear it. So if you get a fiberotomy you don’t have to worry about the hassle of losing your retainer or always wearing it.
Arguments for not getting a fiberotomy:
• It is usually not covered in your insurance, as it is considered a “cosmetic” surgery.
• It is said to be nearly painless, for they give you local anesthesia, but there have been accounts that say otherwise. Just read this person’s account of their experience.
http://healthmad.com/medicine/fiberotomy/
• And take a look at this picture...pretty gruesome huh?
http://www.pittsburghdentalimplants.com/periodontal-diseases/fiberotomy.html~
• The fiberotomy is a relatively new procedure that hasn’t been around long so it’s not as tested as the retainer. See Part 2.2 of this article from the UK.
http://www.taysideorthodonticmcn.scot.nhs.uk/documents/guidelines/clinical_guidelines_orthodonitic_retention.pdf
In our opinion, besides the fact that the reasons for not getting it done surpass the reasons for getting a fiberotomy, snipping fibers in the body is usually not a good idea. Those fibers are there for a reason. The retainer is a tried and true method of keeping your teeth straight.
Keep in mind these are only our opinions, as neither of us has had the surgery. Be sure to consider both choices!
-Amanda and Erik
A fiberotomy is a surgical operation to sever the fibers that hold your teeth in their current position. You'd get this procedure done after you’ve straightened your teeth with braces and such. Sometimes the “gingival fibers” as they are called will pull your teeth back to where they were before your braces. Check out these links for more information:
Fiberotomy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiberotomy
http://www.austinperiodontal.com/procedures-fiberotomy.asp
Gingival Fibers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gingival_fibers
Arguments for getting a fiberotomy:
• Snipping those fibers will ensure that your teeth will not go back to their pre-brace position.
• Chances are you will not have to get a retainer. With a retainer, it guarantees that you’re teeth stay straight…as long as you wear it. So if you get a fiberotomy you don’t have to worry about the hassle of losing your retainer or always wearing it.
Arguments for not getting a fiberotomy:
• It is usually not covered in your insurance, as it is considered a “cosmetic” surgery.
• It is said to be nearly painless, for they give you local anesthesia, but there have been accounts that say otherwise. Just read this person’s account of their experience.
http://healthmad.com/medicine/fiberotomy/
• And take a look at this picture...pretty gruesome huh?
http://www.pittsburghdentalimplants.com/periodontal-diseases/fiberotomy.html~
• The fiberotomy is a relatively new procedure that hasn’t been around long so it’s not as tested as the retainer. See Part 2.2 of this article from the UK.
http://www.taysideorthodonticmcn.scot.nhs.uk/documents/guidelines/clinical_guidelines_orthodonitic_retention.pdf
In our opinion, besides the fact that the reasons for not getting it done surpass the reasons for getting a fiberotomy, snipping fibers in the body is usually not a good idea. Those fibers are there for a reason. The retainer is a tried and true method of keeping your teeth straight.
Keep in mind these are only our opinions, as neither of us has had the surgery. Be sure to consider both choices!
-Amanda and Erik
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Battle of the Bands
Either or during the time you are wearing your braces, you will probably encounter some type of band. They all have different purposes. Here are some common types.
Crisscross bands: These are circular rubber bands that go from either the top right of your mouth to the bottom left, or top left to the bottom right of your mouth. These bands fix asymmetrical jaw growth which is where one side of your jaw grows forward faster than the other side does. The bands force the side that’s growing faster to “hold up” for the other side.
Top bottom bands: These bands stretch from the top right to the bottom right or top left to the bottom left, and are much thicker
than the crisscross bands. Top
bottom bands make sure that when you bite down all your teeth line up. The first time I, Erik, wore my top bottom band I made the mistake of yawning. Of course the rubber band snapped inside my mouth which, I’m sure you can imagine, did not feel very good.
Spacers: These are little rubber bands that the orthodontist will push in between your two back molars on the top. This is usually done before you have your braces put on to make room for the bracket that goes on your back molar. The orthodontist usually will give you replacements, since spacers are easy to dislodge.
After the first week all these bands get easier to deal with, but you will always wake up a bit sore. Oh and by the way, the orthodontist will usually supply you with the bands so make sure to ask for a fresh bag of them when you go to get your braces tightened!
-Erik and Amanda
Crisscross bands: These are circular rubber bands that go from either the top right of your mouth to the bottom left, or top left to the bottom right of your mouth. These bands fix asymmetrical jaw growth which is where one side of your jaw grows forward faster than the other side does. The bands force the side that’s growing faster to “hold up” for the other side.
Top bottom bands: These bands stretch from the top right to the bottom right or top left to the bottom left, and are much thicker
than the crisscross bands. Top
bottom bands make sure that when you bite down all your teeth line up. The first time I, Erik, wore my top bottom band I made the mistake of yawning. Of course the rubber band snapped inside my mouth which, I’m sure you can imagine, did not feel very good.Spacers: These are little rubber bands that the orthodontist will push in between your two back molars on the top. This is usually done before you have your braces put on to make room for the bracket that goes on your back molar. The orthodontist usually will give you replacements, since spacers are easy to dislodge.
After the first week all these bands get easier to deal with, but you will always wake up a bit sore. Oh and by the way, the orthodontist will usually supply you with the bands so make sure to ask for a fresh bag of them when you go to get your braces tightened!
-Erik and Amanda
Monday, January 25, 2010
The Handy Head Gear Guide
Besides braces, here is another device you may
encounter on your road to perfect teeth.
The head gear. Head gear fixes your overbite. It is usually a wire frame inserted into a bracket glued to your back teeth. The strap can either go across your neck, or over your head. Now both of us have head gear. Trust us even though it looks weird, hurts, and is a big pain, it really does work!
Now here are a couple tips for dealing with the headgear:
1. Do not eat while wearing it.
2. Schedule how long you wear it so that it you can fit all your hours in without screwing up your day.
3. Wear it routinely. You will just pay for the time you skip wearing it by having to wear it longer.
We know it's hard, but, if you do end up getting headgear, following these tips will make it a lot easier.
- Amanda and Erik
encounter on your road to perfect teeth.
The head gear. Head gear fixes your overbite. It is usually a wire frame inserted into a bracket glued to your back teeth. The strap can either go across your neck, or over your head. Now both of us have head gear. Trust us even though it looks weird, hurts, and is a big pain, it really does work!Now here are a couple tips for dealing with the headgear:
1. Do not eat while wearing it.
2. Schedule how long you wear it so that it you can fit all your hours in without screwing up your day.
3. Wear it routinely. You will just pay for the time you skip wearing it by having to wear it longer.
We know it's hard, but, if you do end up getting headgear, following these tips will make it a lot easier.
- Amanda and Erik
Monday, January 11, 2010
Predicting the Pain
One question that's frequently asked when people get their braces is “how much does it hurt?" There are two main time periods where the pain is apparent.
The first period is when you are getting your braces put on. There isn’t much pain in this part since all the orthodontist is doing is cementing the braces on your teeth. After you have the wires set in, your teeth might be a bit sore (the amount of pain may vary from person to person).
The second time period is the first week or so of having your braces. During this time your mouth pretty much will have a constant, dull ache to it.
Other common ailments to look out for are when you get your braces on the metal will rub against the inside of your cheeks. This can really hurt, especially if you cheeks get really ripped up. Chewing hard food is also kind of painful, but by the second week you will hardly notice them anymore!
Here are some useful tips for dealing
with the pain
of your new braces!
1. To cure those painful cuts on the inside of your cheeks, try getting dental wax and sticking it to the wires and braces where its rubbing your cheek. Although this is a good temporary fix, the best thing you can do is tough it out till your mouth gets used to the braces and don’t rub your cheeks.
2. For the first week, its usually a good idea to eat only soft foods and lots of liquids!
3. Another thing for the first week, brush carefully so as to not break anything and not hurt your sensitive mouth.
We know that, if you are going to be getting braces soon or in the future, you might be nervous about this part. But don't worry, you'll get through it!
-Erik and Amanda
The first period is when you are getting your braces put on. There isn’t much pain in this part since all the orthodontist is doing is cementing the braces on your teeth. After you have the wires set in, your teeth might be a bit sore (the amount of pain may vary from person to person).
The second time period is the first week or so of having your braces. During this time your mouth pretty much will have a constant, dull ache to it.
Other common ailments to look out for are when you get your braces on the metal will rub against the inside of your cheeks. This can really hurt, especially if you cheeks get really ripped up. Chewing hard food is also kind of painful, but by the second week you will hardly notice them anymore!
Here are some useful tips for dealing
with the painof your new braces!
1. To cure those painful cuts on the inside of your cheeks, try getting dental wax and sticking it to the wires and braces where its rubbing your cheek. Although this is a good temporary fix, the best thing you can do is tough it out till your mouth gets used to the braces and don’t rub your cheeks.
2. For the first week, its usually a good idea to eat only soft foods and lots of liquids!
3. Another thing for the first week, brush carefully so as to not break anything and not hurt your sensitive mouth.
We know that, if you are going to be getting braces soon or in the future, you might be nervous about this part. But don't worry, you'll get through it!
-Erik and Amanda
Friday, January 8, 2010
The Health in Hygiene
Careful hygiene is especially important when you have braces. Not to sound like your mother or dentist. This includes flossing, brushing, and extracting hard to reach bits of food stuck in between your braces.
One of the reasons this is necessary is because when you have a piece of food under your wire for a while, it starts to rot (gross, right) and makes your breath smell bad. Another obvious reason is that if you smile and there is, for example, lettuce stuck in your teeth, everyone can see it and it’s very embarrassing. Brushing is also important because when you get them taken off, if you haven’t brushed, there will be small white squares on your teeth with yellow all around it! So remember brush, brush, brush!
Here are some tips for your dental hygiene:
1. Buy waxed floss as it is easier to stick under the wire and will make your job of flossing a bit easier.
2. Make sure to brush above your braces for the top and below them for the bottom.
3. Use a toothpick or something similar to push out those chunks of food stuck in your braces. Carrying one around with you is also helpful when you go out to eat!
-Amanda and Erik
One of the reasons this is necessary is because when you have a piece of food under your wire for a while, it starts to rot (gross, right) and makes your breath smell bad. Another obvious reason is that if you smile and there is, for example, lettuce stuck in your teeth, everyone can see it and it’s very embarrassing. Brushing is also important because when you get them taken off, if you haven’t brushed, there will be small white squares on your teeth with yellow all around it! So remember brush, brush, brush!
Here are some tips for your dental hygiene:
1. Buy waxed floss as it is easier to stick under the wire and will make your job of flossing a bit easier.
2. Make sure to brush above your braces for the top and below them for the bottom.
3. Use a toothpick or something similar to push out those chunks of food stuck in your braces. Carrying one around with you is also helpful when you go out to eat!
-Amanda and Erik
Monday, January 4, 2010
Rainbow of Rubber
After the orthodontist puts on your braces, they will probably ask you what color bands you want. Bands can come in all imaginable colors, including sparkly versions. If you're reading this before you're getting your braces on, keep in mind that not all orthodontists offer color choices, nor do they all have the same colors.
Here are some useful tips for choosing a color:
1. NO WHITE! After a while the white turns yellow from food stains and is very unattractive. Plus even if you avoid that, the contrast makes your teeth look yellow!
2. Don’t get yellow, for similar reasons as number 1.
3. If you're going to go with holiday colors remember you're going to be keeping them on for a while after the holiday.
When I (Amanda) first got my braces, I wanted to get black bands because it’s my favorite color. Everyone told me, "Don't get black, it won't look good" but I got black anyway and the bands looked fine in my opinion. Moral is to get whatever color you want regardless of what other people say because it's your mouth and you’re the one wearing the braces!
- Erik and Amanda
Here are some useful tips for choosing a color:
1. NO WHITE! After a while the white turns yellow from food stains and is very unattractive. Plus even if you avoid that, the contrast makes your teeth look yellow!
2. Don’t get yellow, for similar reasons as number 1.
3. If you're going to go with holiday colors remember you're going to be keeping them on for a while after the holiday.
When I (Amanda) first got my braces, I wanted to get black bands because it’s my favorite color. Everyone told me, "Don't get black, it won't look good" but I got black anyway and the bands looked fine in my opinion. Moral is to get whatever color you want regardless of what other people say because it's your mouth and you’re the one wearing the braces!
- Erik and Amanda
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)