An Urgency…Not an Emergency

You just got your braces on and you’re home from your appointment, taking selfie’s and posting your picture on Instagram for all of your friends to see. Then, you feel it…your mouth is tender, a wire is poking your cheek, your teeth are sore and your next appointment is scheduled for 8 weeks from now. You’re uncomfortable…it’s an emergency and you need help now!

Photo provided by mysmiledoctors.com.au

Many orthodontic problems are not actually true emergencies. You may be surprised at just how many things can be remedied right in your own home…by you. If you keep a few tools and supplies on hand, most orthodontic concerns, like, poking wires and mouth soreness can be fixed without scheduling an emergency appointment at all. 

You will be prepared to handle the most common orthodontic urgencies as long as you have the following handy:

• Orthodontic relief wax

• Tweezers

• Small, sharp clipper

• Q-tips

• Salt

• Non-prescription pain reliever

Easy Solutions for the Most Common Orthodontic Concerns 

Soreness or Discomfort 

Soreness can be expected for 3 – 5 days after an adjustment.  You may take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) as you would for a headache or similar discomfort. Warm salt water rinses several times a day will help alleviate the discomfort and help your mouth feel “back to normal” much more quickly. 

Sore Spot on Cheek  

When you first receive your braces or orthodontic appliance, sore spots may develop on your cheeks. To protect your cheeks, place wax on the bracket, wire or appliance. Rinsing with warm salt water several times a day is also very soothing to your gum and cheek tissues.  

Irritation in Mouth 

Sometimes new braces can be irritating to the mouth, especially when you are eating. A small amount of wax makes an excellent buffer between your braces and your mouth tissue. Simply pinch off a small piece and roll it into a ball the size of a small pea. Flatten the ball and place it completely over the area of the braces causing irritation. The wax is harmless, so don’t be afraid to eat while it is in place. 

Loose or Poking Wire 

If a wire is causing you irritation, push the wire away from the area using the eraser end of a pencil or a Q-tip. If the wire cannot be tucked away, cover the end of the wire with a small piece of wax or a cotton ball until you can see us for an appointment.  

If the main wire has come out of the tube on the back tooth, attempt to reinsert the wire with a pair of needle-nose pliers or tweezers. As a last resort, if you cannot come into our office, the wire can be cut with a small wire cutter or fingernail clipper close to the back of the last brace (bracket).

These helpful tips and tricks will help you Be Calm and Smile On.

Not all Braces are Created Equal

When you think braces, you probably think...braces, little metal things that are glued to your teeth to straighten your crooked smile. 

That’s true, to a point. Braces is a general term used for the brackets that move the teeth and adjust underlying bone. The type of bracket that is used can greatly affect your treatment process.

 

Photo Provided by damonbraces.com

Smiles are a big part of our identity. People with straight teeth are typically treated better in social situations than those with noticeably crooked teeth. With the innovative technology of Damon System Brackets it's easier than ever to improve your smile faster, with greater comfort and with greater results and benefits that last a lifetime. 

Photo Provided by damonbraces.com

Damon Brackets have an advantage over traditional brackets in that they do not require Elastic ties. Having braces used to mean a mouthful of wires with elastic ties and uncomfortable orthodontic adjustments. Instead of using elastic ties to hold the wire to the bracket, Damon brackets utilize a passive, self-litigating system. This means the wires are held in place by a sliding mechanism. This sliding mechanism allows for more freedom of movement and eliminates the need for tightening by the orthodontist. 

In addition to avoiding uncomfortable adjustment appointments, eliminating the use of elastic ties also allows for a more attractive final result. Even with proper brushing and flossing, plaque tends to gather around elastic ties leading to erosion of the enamel around the bracket, which can mean permanent marks on your teeth when the brackets are removed. Damon brackets are easier to keep clean, making dental hygiene easy during treatment. 

So if you’ve been thinking that all braces are the same…think again. Damon braces are designed to be discreet, comfortable and easy to keep clean. And smiles created with Damon braces have a more natural and aesthetically pleasing shape.

Oh Father...My Father

Father's Day Celebrates the Contribution that Fathers and Father Figures Make for Their Children's Lives 

Photo Provided by iwantcovers.com

You may think Father’s Day is a ways off…but really, Father’s Day is just around the corner. And since it seems like Father’s Day is always playing second fiddle to Mother’s Day, we wanted to give you some great ideas on how to make your dad feel extra special on his most celebrated day. 

Daddy's Stache Treat Jars

Provided by sandytoesandpopsicles

Who says moms are the only ones who can get gift baskets? Put together a gift basket that is just for dad...filled to the brim with all of his favorite things. These custom made mason jars are perfect and let dad know these special treats are just for him. All you need are mason jars in a variety of sizes (based on the treats your dad loves), paper and ribbon. It's that easy! 

  

Our Hero Sign

Photo Provided by shanty-2-chic.com

This handmade gift is going to make dad smile each and every time he looks at it. This sign is so customizable that you can print out just about any phrase to let dad know how much he means to you. Depending on the number of siblings, you may need to adjust the size of the board. But once you have that figured out, the rest of the project is a snap.

Party Time

 Provided by amandaparkerandfamily

Why not pull out all of the stops and throw dad a little party. Hang banners, print labels, make cupcakes...everything that you would do when throwing any holiday party, just tailor all party details to dad. Even if it's just the immediate family, what dad wouldn't feel special attending a party that was planned and organized in his honor?

You have 10 days left…so get to work!

Smiling 101

A smile is a powerful expression. The human body is programmed to smile; it's a natural reaction that makes you feel good and a good, natural smile is also a great way to leave a great first impression. 

Although smiling is one of the most instinctive things we do, smiling naturally may not come as easily for some people as it does for others…and smiling on command, like for a photo, is even harder.  But just like with anything we do in life, the more we practice, the easier it gets. 

3 Easy Steps to Improve Your Smile!

1. SAY “PIZZA” 

That’s right…to get a more natural looking smile, stop saying the word “cheese”. Words that end in an "uh" sound, like mocha or pizza give you a more realistic and natural smile. 

2. SMILE WITH YOUR EYES 

It sounds weird, but a genuine smile will naturally draw in the eyes. The eyes are essential for a natural, warm and friendly smile. When you smile, focus on your eyes and which muscles are working and how. 

3. PRACTICE IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR 

Stand in front of a mirror. Now…place your tongue behind your upper teeth, think of something that makes you happy and giggle a little. Doing these things will help you achieve a more natural smile. Practicing these things in front of a mirror will how you remember how great that smile looks and feels so that you'll be able to replicate it without looking in a mirror.

Now get on out there and SMILE! 

Smiling raises your spirits and makes other people happy.

7, 8, Keep Them Straight

For anyone going through braces treatment, it's pretty much common knowledge that you will need to wear a retainer to keep your teeth straight after your braces have been removed.

We probably told you that you will need to wear your retainer full time, which means 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We know...24 hours a day, 7 days a week sounds like braces all over again. But really, wearing your retainer couldn't be more important.  

Fact of the matter is…your teeth aren't set rigidly into your jawbone like you might think. Your teeth are held in place by a network of fibers. After your teeth have been moved into their ideal position, it takes months for the fibers to adjust. When you’re not wearing your retainer, pressure from your lips and tongue can cause your teeth to shift out of alignment. You may think that your teeth don’t look any different initially, but just because you can’t see the change, doesn’t mean your teeth haven’t moved. And if you continually go without wearing your retainer, your teeth will continue to move until the misalignment is visibly noticeable. 

So again...just to be clear.

If you don’t wear your retainer as prescribed, your nice straight teeth will move out of alignment and back into their crooked places…just as if you never even had braces at all.

Photo provided by Poser Orthodontics

 We know you didn't go through orthodontic treatment just to have your teeth go back to being crooked. So…if you want to keep that perfect smile, wearing your retainer is a MUST. 

Wearing your retainer faithfully will maintain your beautiful, healthy smile.

Seventh Heaven

Did you know that every child should be seen by an orthodontic specialist as early as the age of seven? 

It's true. Early diagnosis and treatment by an orthodontic professional can help correct small problems before they turn into big problems.

We know...seven years old sounds way too early to be thinking about braces for your child. And if you're like most people, when you think braces...you think teenager. In most cases that's true. However, seeing an orthodontist at the age of seven doesn't necessarily mean braces at age seven. But early diagnosis can help avoid more extensive treatment in the future after the teeth, jaw and face have already developed.

Think of it this way...we take our car in for a tune-up. Nothing is wrong with our car as far as we can tell, but we take it in for a check-up to insure nothing major will go wrong in the future. That's just what Interceptive Treatment is...making sure we avoid major problems later in life.

So, if you or your general dentist notices your child has difficulty chewing, is mouth-breathing, is sucking on his/her thumb or fingers or has misaligned teeth...come in and see Dr. Poser. He will let you know if orthodontic treatment is necessary now or if it can wait until later.

There is no fee for your initial consultation. So, if you have a child and you are concerned that that child may need orthodontic treatment...give us a call and let Dr. Poser and his staff provide your child with the opportunity to feel good about themselves and smile with confidence!

A Rose by Any Other Name is...MOM

With Mother's day right around the corner, you may be wondering what to get the woman who has everything.

Photo Provided by urbanicpaper.com

It's pretty easy to go out and buy a box of candy or a shirt or a bottle of perfume, but those things don't really relay just how much you care for the most important woman in your life. This year, show mom exactly what she means to you by making her something that she can enjoy every single day.

Now all women pretty much love receiving flowers, so here are a few ideas to put some love and flare into an otherwise traditional gift.

Etched Glass Vase

Photo Provided by huffingtonpost.com

Making mom this custom etched glass vase is very simple...anyone over the age of 5 can do it. It just takes a little etching cream and some sticker transfers...and in six easy steps, you've got yourself the most beautiful floral vase anyone can ask for.

Mason Jar Vase

Photo Provided by christinasadventures

This is a simple and inexpensive idea that children of any age can create. You can make several different colored jars in different sizes and mom can use them all around the house. Get creative, instead of your hand print on the outside of the jar...write mom's name or wrap the jar with a pretty ribbon. Let your imagination and love for mom shine through.

Decorative Yarn Vase

Photo Provided by allyou.com

Now this idea is the absolute cutest! And what better way to add that personal, loving touch to a bouquet of flowers for mom on her special day? All it takes is some yarn and any glass cylinder or vase. Just wrap as little or as much of the vase as you like, add a few buttons or pearl beads, fill with a wonderful arrangement of spring flowers...and perfection! The best Mother's Day gift ever!

Now get to work and show mom just how much you love her!