by Natalie Giles | Nov 10, 2020 | Blog
What is an orthodontist? All orthodontists are dentists but not all dentists are orthodontists. What we commonly call orthodontists are actually specialists in the area of orthodontics (straightening teeth) and dento-facial orthopedics (the bones that support the...
by Natalie Giles | Nov 3, 2020 | Blog
In short, yes. While thumb sucking or pacifier use is one of an infant’s natural reflexes, prolonged sucking can exert force on the teeth and jaws. If your child sucks a thumb, finger, pacifier, or lips, their teeth or jaw growth may be affected (some bone...
by Natalie Giles | Oct 27, 2020 | Blog
HALLOWEEN TENDS TO come with a lot of sugar and a lot of treats on the banned foods list for orthodontic patients. Let’s just take a minute and go over the best and worst types of treats for teeth and braces. 😬 Anything hard, sticky, or sour is going to be bad for...
by Natalie Giles | Oct 20, 2020 | Blog
CAN YOU BELIEVE HALLOWEEN is coming up so soon? It’s always a fun time of year, with the spooky movies, the decorations, the costumes, and the tasty treats. We’re not here to drop toothbrushes in anyone’s candy buckets, but we do want to offer some tips on making...
by Natalie Giles | Oct 13, 2020 | Blog
SUGAR IS THE GREATEST nemesis of the dental profession and anyone who wants to maintain a healthy smile. Why? Because the harmful bacteria in our mouths love to eat it, then excrete acid onto our teeth as a waste product. That leads to enamel erosion, tooth...
by Natalie Giles | Oct 6, 2020 | Blog
WEAR YOUR ELASTICS if you want your braces off on time! ⏱ We know they’re not very fun to wear, and we know it’s easy to forget them, but following the ortho’s instructions for wearing your elastics is a huge part of getting your braces off on schedule. If you’ve had...
by Natalie Giles | Sep 29, 2020 | Blog
You’ve seen the TikTok trend of people using a nail file to grind their teeth down for a more even appearance, and thought, “Seems harmless, right?” WRONG! Unlike fingernails, teeth are permanent. What you remove won’t grow back. The protective layer of enamel...
by Natalie Giles | Sep 22, 2020 | Blog
WE SHOULD ALL BE happy to spend at least four total minutes a day brushing our teeth morning and evening (and then a few more for flossing), considering how important good oral health is. Braces-wearers might need to take a little more time on it, considering all...
by Natalie Giles | Sep 15, 2020 | Blog
ONE OF THE MAIN things people overlook about a daily oral hygiene routine is cleaning their tongues. That’s right, it doesn’t stop with brushing twice a day for two minutes with a soft-bristled brush and flossing daily. The rough surface of the tongue makes it...
by Natalie Giles | Sep 8, 2020 | Blog
AN IMPORTANT PART of keeping your teeth and gums healthy is your toothbrush. That might seem so obvious that it’s not worth saying, but you’d be surprised how many basic mistakes people make when it comes to their toothbrushes. We want to make sure our patients...
