Eating With Braces

Now that you have your braces, what foods can you still enjoy? While some foods are off limits, don't worry, you'll be eating popcorn and snacking on potato chips again in no time! However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.

Foods to AVOID with braces:

Chewy foods — bagels, licorice

Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice

Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum

Hard foods — nuts, hard candies

Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Foods you CAN eat with braces:

Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks

Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts

Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice

Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats

Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes

Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans

Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice

Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake

The Process Of Clear Smiles

Whether you’re considering Invisalign treatment for yourself or someone else, knowing more about the entire process can help you be more confident in your decision to choose Invisalign.

During your initial consultation, you and Dr. Wentz will discuss your concerns in detail to determine if you are a good candidate for Invisalign. We will take x-rays, pictures and impressions of your teeth, which will be used to create a digital 3-D image. From these images, Dr. Wentz will map out a precise treatment plan, including the exact movements of your teeth and tell you the approximate length of treatment. While every case is unique to each patient, treatment typically takes approximately 12 to 18 months.

Based on your individual treatment plan, a series of custom-made, clear aligners is then created specifically for you. These aligners are made of a smooth, comfortable, BPA-free plastic that won't
irritate your cheeks and gums like traditional metal braces often do. Simply wear your aligners throughout the day and remove them when you eat or brush and floss your teeth. As you wear each set of aligners, your teeth gently and gradually begin to shift into place.

Approximately every two weeks, you will begin wearing a new set of aligners, advancing you to the next stage of your treatment. To monitor your progress, you will also have occasional checkups with our office, usually only every six weeks or so. For best results and a timely outcome, you should wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day, throughout your entire treatment.

Wentz Orthodontics is an Elite Top 1% Provider for Invisalign.  This means that Wentz Orthodontics is part of the top 1% of all North American Invisalign providers and are among the most experienced. We have worked hard to provide our patients with the best Invisalign care for adults and teens, allowing us to become the only office in the south plains region to have the Top 1% provider designation. If you have any questions regarding the Invisalign process please contact our office today.

Invest In Your Child's Future

Braces are an investment in your child’s future for their oral, facial and overall health. At Wentz Orthodontics we advise our patients of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommendation that all children have a check-up with an orthodontist by the time they reach age 7.

Find out some benefits of early orthodontics below:

• Improved appearance: Attractive smile for life after having braces is a great self-esteem and confidence booster, improving both your child’s emotional well-being, as well as their social life.

• Improved oral health: Following braces, the teeth are better aligned and much easier to clean and floss, making them less likely to decay over time.

• Good bite: A well-positioned bite reduces wear on and fracturing of the teeth.

• Correction of issues: These can be from previous thumb sucking or extended pacifier use, or craniofacial abnormalities.

• Better sleep: Many children who grind or clench their teeth during sleep experience a resolution of their symptoms after orthodontic treatment.

• Improvement or elimination of recurrent headaches: Misalignment of the bite can cause damage to the temporomandibular joint and headaches and earaches. Orthodontics can help correct this.

• Improved speech: Many children who experience an array of speech impediments notice a difference when their teeth are aligned properly.

Call us at Wentz Orthodontics today for a consultation for your child. It’s never too early to start exploring your options and with a comprehensive assessment,

Stay Flossy

Wentz Orthodontics understands it may be difficult to figure out how to floss when you have braces. With those wires, brackets, bands, and appliances getting in the way, going from no braces, to a mouth full of appliances can be a little overwhelming. It is important that you don’t neglect flossing in order to keep your gums and teeth healthy. Flossing is extremely important while you’re a patient at Wentz Orthodontics being treated for braces because it can be easy for food particles to become trapped in your teeth. Trapped food particles can lead to cavities and gum disease; something we definitely want you to avoid. Flossing regularly while wearing braces will keep your mouth healthy and your smile will look amazing when your braces are removed.

If you are new to flossing with braces we’ve gathered some tips and tricks you can use to help you conquer this task. 

• Carefully Thread the Floss: You should thread the floss under the wire before passing it between your teeth with a floss threader. 
• Use a Proxy Brush: There is a special type of brush you can use called a proxy brush that can assist you trapped food particles. The bristles on this brush are great for getting under the wire and between your teeth. 
• Use a Water Flosser: Another great tool for flossing with braces is a water flosser. These flossers can be fixed with a special orthodontic tip on them that is designed to remove food particles and bacteria from your braces and between your teeth. Using a water flosser is much easier than threading the floss between each bracket. 
• Use Waxed Floss: Waxed flosses are less likely to get caught in your braces or tear when they come into contact with the metal braces. 

If you are a difficult time flossing with your braces, or if you would like more tips on how to successfully care for your teeth, our friendly team at Wentz Orthodontics is happy to help.

It's National Children’s Dental Health Month

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! This is the perfect opportunity to teach children the importance of oral health habits and proper techniques of taking care of their teeth, gums, and mouth. Did you know in the United States alone 51 million hours of school is missed by American students due to oral health problems? That’s why it’s so important to emphasize the recognition of this specified national month, because every hour of school that is missed creates more problems for children in the classroom. This is why Wentz Orthodontics encourages you to utilize this month to remind your kids about dental health.

Help your children have knowledge in dental health with these creative ways to make it fun.

Special Toothpaste

Most elementary school aged children aren’t concerned with having minty fresh breath, that’s why the ADA has approved so many fun flavored toothpastes. Almost all kids look forward to cleaning their teeth with fun flavors that fit their taste buds a little better. Some popular flavors are watermelon and strawberry, but there is a great variety to choose from!

Fun Toothbrushes

Another way to make dental health more interesting for children is to opt for fun style toothbrush. When replacing their toothbrush, let them pick one in their favorite color or with their favorite character. Also, a new toothbrush option that is growing pretty rapidly is the gaming toothbrush, such as the Grush. The “Grush” takes brushing to another level. This toothbrush is coupled with interactive and instructive mobile games guiding kids’ through proper brushing techniques while they think they are simply playing a game. These brushes also provide tracking for parents to see growth in results.

Create Memories

Show your children that taking care of their dental health is fun and memorable by adding a little flare to it. Brush and floss with them, sing songs, and help them brush while encouraging them to learn the proper skills. Also, there are several fun books and videos designed specifically for children to learn about dental health. Read to them and watch educational videos together. These efforts alone will provide great oral health habits with your children and long lasting memories.


It's never too late to teach your children proper techniques and skills for their dental health.  Also, don't forget you can bring your child in at age 7 for an evaluation and orthodontic treatment.

The Great Candy Buy-Back

We have teamed up with South Plains Food Bank to bring you "The Great Candy Buy-Back". Monday, Nov. 2 from 3-6 pm we will buy back your Halloween candy for $1 per pound (max 10 lbs of candy per child). All candy will be donated to the SPFB for Thanksgiving Baskets. This is a great opportunity for our patients who are currently in treatment and must avoid certain treats, our candy buy-back allow you to donate the candy to a wonderful cause. If you have any questions about The Great Candy Buy-Back please contact our office 806-79-BRACE.

Halloween Can Still Be Sweet With Braces!

Halloween Parfait Recipe
(provided by American Association of Orthodontist)

Ingredients:

• 3 boxes instant vanilla pudding
• 1 teaspoon red food coloring
• 1/2 teaspoon yellow food coloring
• one 9-ounce package plain chocolate wafers
• 6 cups milk
• chocolate syrup to taste
• one 8-ounce can mandarin oranges, drained

Directions:

• Combine pudding mix and milk in a large bowl as directed on the package. Refrigerate until firm. Crush chocolate wafers into crumbs, using a food processor, or put the wafers into a plastic food storage bag and crush with a rolling pin.
• Combine red and yellow food coloring in a small bowl. Stir into pudding thoroughly, until pudding is orange. 
• Alternate layers of pudding with layers of chocolate crumbs in a parfait cup or glass for a total of three layers of pudding. 
• Top each layer of crumbs with chocolate syrup to taste before adding the next pudding layer. Top each parfait with mandarin oranges and additional chocolate wafer crumbs.

Makes eight 8-ounce servings.

Have your own braces-friendly Halloween treats? Send them to us on social media and we'll share!

Wentz Orthodontics

4013 84th Street

Lubbock, TX 79423

(806) 792-7223 

(806) 794-8124

Brushing 101

Having a clean mouth is important. It gives you fresh breath and a nicer-looking smile. Brushing and flossing removes a thin sticky film of bacteria that grows on your teeth. This sticky film, called plaque, is the main cause of tooth decay and gum disease. You will notice that it is much harder to keep your teeth clean with braces. Food becomes caught in the brackets and between your teeth. Brushing after meals and flossing will help prevent plaque from forming and should become part of your daily schedule. Here’s a few things you need to know to make brushing a little easier.

Types of toothbrush you can use:

Soft toothbrush

• Soft toothbrushes are toothbrushes with soft bristles. When shopping for a toothbrush you will notice they are labeled either “extra soft,” “soft,” “medium,” or “hard.” Extra soft is your best option for braces.

Electric toothbrush

• An electric toothbrush, also known a power toothbrush, either battery powered or the kind you plug into the wall to recharge. Electronic toothbrushes clean teeth more effectively than traditional ones. Since you don't need to brush as hard with an electric toothbrush to get the same results, you are also less likely to injure your gums or inner cheeks.

How to brush: [source: oralb.com]

• Prepare to brush. Take off elastics, and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.
• Clean your braces. Use your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush from the top of each wire and then from the bottom. (Take time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed, and that you work all the way around upper and lower teeth.)
• Brush your teeth. Clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle to the junction between the tooth and the gum, then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Do this for about 10 seconds. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.

Remember you must see your dentist twice a year for your regular dental cleanings. If you are having any trouble brushing your teeth let us know about it during your next visit or give us a call.

Wentz Orthodontics

4013 84th Street

Lubbock, TX 79423

(806) 792-7223 

(806) 794-8124

10 Ways You Can Be Kind Today

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. -Ephesians 4:32

Our summer contest is coming to end, but there is still time for you submit your acts of kindness by August 28th. Random acts of kindness are selfless acts performed by a person or people to either assist or to cheer up a person or people. Everyone benefits from kindness, and we’re adding an extra incentive if you let us know what you’ve done to be kind. We are asking all of our patients to tell us about random acts of kindness they have performed. When you let us know about your acts of kindness you will be entered to win $100, $200 or $300. For some performing random acts of kindness is a part of their daily routine, however if you need a few ideas check out the list below.

10 Ways You Can Be Kind Today

• Volunteer to clean a room in your house
• Help with dinner 
• Help a sibling or younger family member with homework
• Tell your friends you appreciate them 
• Leave an online review for your favorite businesses or organization 
• Share helpful tips with friends
• Share kind words with a stranger
• Make plans to spend time with your grandparents 
• Write a letter to someone who has made a difference in your life
• Give someone you care about a hug

You can enter our kindness contest in our office,by tagging us on social media and using the hashtag #wentzkindnesscontest or by sending an email to tamara@wentzmail.com. You can enter as many times as you like, but hurry the contest ends August 28th, 2015.

Back to School Breakfast

It’s time to head back to school. Whether you’re heading back to grade school, middle school, high school or college, there is one important component that relates to our patients doing well in school and in treatment. It’s breakfast!

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast is the meal that kick starts your day and gives you fuel you need to get through the day. In general, kids and teens that eat breakfast have more energy, do better in school, and eat healthier throughout the day. You may be thinking how is breakfast important to treatment? Well it’s important that you eat food that is good for your oral health and safe for your appliance.

It's important for to have breakfast every day, but what you eat in the morning is crucial too. It’s best to choose breakfast foods that are rich in whole grains, fiber, and protein while low in added sugar. Foods with these nutrients may boost attention span, concentration, and memory, which they need to learn in school. While under treatment hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar must be avoided.

Knowing this here are a few foods that you can add to your breakfast menu:


1. Eggs- Eggs are loaded with Choline, a vitamin important to memory stem cells which is crucial to learn. Eggs can also be included in various recipes that the whole family can love.

2. Blueberries - Blueberries are loaded with Vitamin C, as well as folic acid, minerals, fiber and disease-fighting phytochemicals, which have shown to help prevent cancer and diabetes. Try adding blueberries as a topping to cereal or even mix them into muffins and pancakes.

3. Whole Wheat Bread – Whole wheat bread gives kids their iron, vitamins, magnesium, and zinc. So instead of making a sandwich on white bread for lunch you can use Whole Wheat Bread instead. It’s a little change that will make a big impact.

4. Oatmeal - Instead of high-sugar, high-fat options from the grocery store, try baking a batch of low-fat oatmeal cookies. Raisins, cranberries, dried apricots and nuts can be great additions to the cookie dough because of their nutritional value & taste.

5. Yogurt - Eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth. Consider Yogurt as an alternative to ice-cream for dessert. When mixed with berries and granola, yogurt is a tasty treat.

These are just a few foods that are important to include in breakfast. Hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar must be avoided. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. Minimize sugary foods; they cause tooth decay and related problems.

For more information about foods that are best for you or your family give us a call and visit our Foods to Avoid List to see what you shouldn’t be eating while in treatment.

Wentz Orthodontics

4013 84th Street

Lubbock, TX 79423

(806) 792-7223 

(806) 794-8124

4th of July Ortho-Friendly Treats

Every year on the 4th day of July we celebrate a great American holiday, Independence Day. Flags of bright red, white and blue appear everywhere you go. Independence Day is celebrated on the 4th of July because it was on July 4, 1776, that members of the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence.

The best things about the 4th of July are Family, Food and Fireworks. Everyone will show off their patriotism in different ways on Saturday. One way to show support for Independence Day that the entire family to enjoy is by making 4th of July themed treats. Since some of our patients are currently abiding by Dr. Wentz’s rules to avoid anything hard, sticky and super sugary, we've listed 5 tasty ortho-friendly treats for our patients under treatment to enjoy.

5 Ortho-Friendly Fourth of July Treats (For recipes click the name of each treat)

Cupcake Cones

Red, White and Blue Fruit Salad

Patriotic Punch

Jell-O Firecrackers

Red, White and Blue Cheesecake

Share your treats and your 4th of July fun with us, Tag us in your photos on Instagram and post photos to our wall on Facebook.

Pick the Right Snacks

Sometimes getting kids and teens to eat healthy isn't an easy task, especially when they’re busy with school and other activities. And as parents we’re even busier. It’s OK to admit that sometimes it’s just easier to grab fast food on the way home from work or toss our kids a couple bucks to purchase lunch in the school cafeteria. But proper nutrition not only insures that our kids will grow into healthy adults, it also insures that the money we spent on their orthodontic care does not go to waste.

Did you know that a proper diet provides all the essential nutrients to bones and tissues undergoing change? So, the healthier you are the better the results of your orthodontic treatment.

Knowing this, here are 4 quick, tasty and nutritious snacks your kids are sure to love.

1. Cheese: Cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your child’s teeth. In addition to providing calcium, cheese also helps fight cavities. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Cheese stimulates the body’s salivary glands to clear the mouth of debris. This means cheese disrupts the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal. Also…the Calcium and phosphorous found in cheese prevents decreases in the plaque’s ph level and work to re-mineralize the enamel of your child’s teeth.

2. Whole Wheat Bread: Whole wheat bread gives kids their iron, vitamins, magnesium, and zinc. So instead of making a sandwich on white bread for lunch use Whole Wheat Bread instead. It’s a little change that will make a big impact.

3. Oatmeal: Instead of high-sugar, high-fat options from the grocery store, try baking a batch of low-fat oatmeal cookies. Raisins, cranberries, dried apricots and nuts can be great additions to the cookie dough because of their nutritional value & taste.

4. Yogurt: Eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth. Consider Yogurt as an alternative to ice-cream for dessert. When mixed with berries and granola…yogurt is a tasty treat.

For more information about which foods are best for keeping your kids and their teeth healthy visit our website or call our office directly.

The Power of Music

Music can be found everywhere, from your car radio to the melodies made by the sounds of nature. But did you know there are benefits associated with hearing your favorite tunes.

Can you still remember your favorite childhood songs? Years can past by yet once you hear the beat of your favorite song you can instantly remember the words. This is one of the effects of music. Many researchers have confirmed the positive effects music can have on your overall health and day to day lives.

Here are 3 Positive Affects of Music:(source: Huffington Post)

Music can reduce stress- In stressful situation music can help calm nerves. For example, many people feel anxiety while visiting dentist or orthodontist but listening to music during treatment can you relax. "Research has shown that listening to music -- at least music with a slow tempo and low pitch, without lyrics or loud instrumentation -- can calm people down, even during highly stressful or painful events."

Music helps aid in memorization- Many people just music to stimulate memory. For instance students often play music while studying. "Music enjoyment elicits dopamine release, and dopamine release has been tied to motivation, which in turn is implicated in learning and memory."

Music gives you an energy boost for physical activity- According to sports researchers Peter Terry and Costas Karageorghis, “Music has the capacity to capture attention, lift spirits, generate emotion, change or regulate mood, evoke memories, increase work output, reduce inhibitions and encourage rhythmic movement -- all of which have potential applications in sport and exercise.”

Knowing what positive affects music can have on the mind and body, we want to give you a chance to reap the benefits live! Enter to win 4 tickets to see country music star Brad Paisey live in concert Saturday, March 7th.

For more information about this contest give us a call today, contest ends March 5th so hurry and enter! 

It's National Children's Dental Health Month!

February is National Children's Health Month!

National Children’s Dental Health Month is sponsored by the ADA (American Dental Association) which promotes creating lifelong healthy habits starting at an early age. Developing good habits early will more likely lead to that child being able to look forward to a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. It is very important that parents know that a balanced diet, limiting snacks, brushing and flossing are key to healthy teeth and avoiding cavities. Along with healthy habits, regular dental appointments will help you keep your child on track.

This year's NCDHM campaign slogan "Defeat Monster Mouth" is displayed on the eye-catching children's posters that feature the McGrinn Twins, Flossy and Buck, along with their best friends and next-door neighbors, Den and Gen Smiley and K-9 the dog.  They are fighting to defeat Plaqster the Monster for good oral health.

For more information about National Children’s Dental Health Month please visit Ada.org.

Remember, 7 is the perfect age for an evaluation. 7 years old may sound too early to be thinking about orthodontic treatment, but it proven that early treatment is important for ensuring positive treatment results. 7 isn’t just a number Dr. Wentz came up with, it is the age recommended by the American Association of Orthodontist.

An early examination does not mean immediate treatment is necessary. After your initial examination we may just need to monitor your child periodically to see how teeth and jaw continue to develop. If your child is not ready for treatment he/she will entered into the Wentz Thumbs Up Club. The Wentz Thumbs Up Club provides a way for our office to communicate with each patient’s family about everything going on in our office.

Have any questions about early intervention or want to bring your child in for a consultation? Give us a call today.

National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) began as a one-day event in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 3, 1941. The American Dental Association held the first national observance of Children’s Dental Health Day on February 8, 1949. The single day observance became a week-long event in 1955. In 1981, the program was extended to a month-long observance known today as National Children’s Dental Health Month. Since 1941, the observance has grown from a two-city event into a nationwide program. NCDHM messages reach thousands of people in communities across the country and at numerous armed services bases. Local observances often include displays of posters provided by the ADA, coloring and essay contests, health fairs, free dental screenings, museum exhibits, classroom presentations by dentists and other members of the dental team, and dental office tours.
Source: ADA.org

Foods Your Braces Should Avoid

Orthodontic treatment brings out the best smile in our patients here at Wentz Orthodontics, but with treatment come a lot of changes. From your smile to oral hygiene habits there is change. Be that as it may, one of the most drastic changes patients experience is what you can and can not eat.

Certain foods can do damage to your orthodontic appliances (ie; braces). It is important for you to avoid sticky, chewy, hard and crunchy foods. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets, and sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires.

Here are examples of food we want all of our patients to avoid:

• Gum (sugar-free or regular)
• Licorice
• Sugar Daddies
• Toffee
• Caramels
• Starburst
• Ice
• Nuts
• Hard taco shells
• French bread crust/rolls
• Corn on the cob
• Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
• Bagels
• Chips
• Jolly Rancher
• Pizza crust
• Uncooked carrots (unless cut)

In the meantime here are some examples of food you CAN enjoy:

• Dairy - pudding, soft cheeses
• Breads – sliced lunch bread, soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins w/o nuts, biscuits
• Grains – noodles, pasta, soft-cooked rice
• Meats/poultry - soft-cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
• Seafood - fish w/o bones, tuna, salmon, crab and crab cakes
• Vegetables - mashed potatoes, peas, yams, steamed spinach, beans
• Fruits - applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
• Treats - ice cream w/o nuts, milkshakes, smoothies, Jell-O, cake
• Other – eggs, hot dogs, hamburgers, chili, beans and much more

Be mindful of what you war or you might have to make a visit to our office sooner than expected.