Tips For Back To School With Braces

Caring for braces especially for students in school can be quiet hectic due to the restrictive devotions to maintain the braces and for this reason, Wentz Orthodontics has decided to put up an article which will make caring for orthodontic braces easy in school. As a student who just had an orthodontic treatment, you should be rest assured that it is the best that can happen to give you the perfect smile again but the care for your teeth and gums help make it very effective. Take a look at your new braces, you can notice a lot of nooks and crannies that can trap food and plaque and that means a great risk of tooth decay is imminent if not properly cared for, therefore you need to pay special attention to cleaning your teeth. This might look hectic but right here the team of Wentz Orthodontics has few great tips to keep your braces in top condition.

1. WATCH YOUR DIET
As an orthodontic patient with braces, it is very important for you to select your diet with caution. We know that there are several foods in school which tastes great but don't look great in your braces. Certain foods can either break a bracket or some foods are sugary and can have negative effects on the natural ability to brush behind the bracket. Be sure to make decisions on foods based on what is healthy, tasty, and won't harm your brackets.

Food to avoid: As an orthodontic patient we would advise that you desist from:

• Sticky or gooey foods 
• Hard foods 
• Sugary foods 
• Acidic drinks 

2. WEAR A MOUTHGUARD
With braces on your teeth, you might be wondering if you should desist from sports or retire from being the captain of your favorite sports team, but the truth is orthodontics does not affect your ability to play sports. You can keep on with your braces and sports if and only if you have your mouth guard on. Mouth guards are safety measures that can mean the difference between just a bruised, fat lips and thousands spent in orthodontics repair work. While you are in any kind of physical activity (including gym classes), it is advisable that you wear a mouth guard which can protect your teeth and braces from flying sports balls, swinging elbows or an accidental fall or hit.

3. BRUSH AND FLOSS REGULARLY
Braces can easily trap food, and this trapped food can lead to other inimical dental problems. Because of this, it is very important to brush your teeth after every meal and to floss at least once a day.

4. DON'T CHEW ON PENCILS
Pencils, pen, and rulers are all hard objects and most times when you get bored, anxious or plainly destructive you are tempted to chew on them in class. Obviously, this can be destructive in the moment and can be grossly inimical over time. It is important that you don't practice these habits while wearing braces.

We know that maintaining braces in school is can be tough. That is why we ensure to give you the best plans of action to help you out.

For more questions and inquiries that you may have, we are always at your service. You can always contact Wentz Orthodontics.

Does My Child Need Orthodontic Treatment?

It is usually difficult for you as the parent to determine if treatment is necessary because there are many problems that can occur even though the front teeth look straight. Also, there are some problems that look intimidating and complex which will resolve on their own. Asking your general dentist is a good reference, but Wentz Orthodontics is your best resource since orthodontics is all we do.

Early intervention can make a dramatic impact on establishing the proper occlusal foundation. The American Association of Orthodontists, and Dr. Wentz, recommends that all children have a check-up with an orthodontist by the time they reach age 7, for early detection of any potential problems.

By the age 7, some of the permanent teeth have erupted, so that most children have a mix of adult and baby teeth. At this stage of mixed dentition, we can spot potential orthodontic problems related to jaw growth and eruption of adult teeth. Some growth-related orthodontic problems are easier to correct when they are identified early…while the facial bones are still growing.

An early exam allows us to determine how and when a child's particular jaw and/or dental problems should be corrected for the optimal results. Early treatment, or phase one therapy, may be needed to create a better environment to idealize the occlusion for the patient or possibly create an environment to elevate treatment forever. An early orthodontic examination does not always result in immediate treatment. After evaluating your child, we may simply want to monitor your child periodically while the permanent teeth erupt and the jaws and face continue to develop.

Our initial exam is comprehensive and informative, and we would be more than happy to see your child and make any recommendations necessary. Contact Wentz Orthodontics to schedule your child's first visit and let us help them get the smile they deserve. 

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Don't Do It Yourself

Do-It-Yourself videos and websites are popular among today’s culture, and while so many great ideas come from several of these outlets, there are some things that you just shouldn’t do yourself! Straightening your teeth or attempting to move your teeth as a “DIY” project is definitely one of the things you should not be doing.

Moving and straightening teeth is a medical procedure that needs to be supervised by an orthodontist. It’s important for you all to be wary of any videos or websites that advise you to use objects such as rubber bands, dental floss, or anything else in order to get straight teeth. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, “Moving teeth without a thorough examination of the overall health of the teeth and gums could result in the permanent loss of teeth, which may result in expensive and lifelong dental problems.”

Wentz Orthodontics and the American Association of Orthodontists have a prompt announcement for consumers about “DIY” orthodontic treatment. It is with great urgency that we emphasize to you all to be cautious about the trending “DIY” orthodontic treatment because straightening your teeth on your own can lead to lifelong dental problems.

If you have any further questions regarding “DIY” orthodontics, or are curious about straightening your teeth, please contact us at (806) 79-BRACE.

Avoid Bad Breath With Braces

Bad breath is nothing any of us want to deal with, right? When you have braces, the chances of having bad breath are even worse because there are so many other places for bacteria to hide. If you are worried about how your breath smells, take these simple steps every day to ensure that you are not causing people to back up when you talk.

Eat Right
Sugar is not good for your diet in the first place, but it is horrible for your dental health. If you have braces, sugar can hide in some of the tightest areas of your mouth. This means that when you do brush and floss, you probably are not getting all of it. The longer the sugar is able to sit on your teeth, the more damage it does.

As it joins with the bacteria in your mouth, it begins to form an acid that eats away at your enamel and causes bad breath. So instead of worrying about garlic and onions ruining your breath, stay away from foods high in sugar content to keep your breath smelling pleasant.

Drink Water

Water is essential for overall health and to fight bad breath. When your mouth is short on saliva, the bacteria thrives. That means that you will likely suffer from bad breath.

Brush and Floss

With or without braces, you should be brushing twice a day and flossing at least once, but this becomes even more important when you have braces. In fact, you should be brushing after every time that you eat, but if you cannot, you should at least rinse your mouth out with water to remove as much debris as possible from your braces. It is imperative that you never forget to floss when you have braces, as this could be the number one reason that you have bad breath. Floss is the only way to get the food that is stuck in between your brackets out from between them. If you have trouble flossing with braces, ask our staff for help.

Bad breath and braces do not have go hand in hand as long as you take care of your mouth. If you have a problem with bad breath with your braces, please contact us today so that we can help you!