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
Thursday, November 25, 2010
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
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