What Will YOUR Smile Look Like After Orthodontic Treatment?

It is sometimes hard to believe the transformation your smile undergoes during orthodontic treatment. We love to see our patients’ smiles light up when they see their new smile in the mirror for the first time. For those of you who haven’t yet started or finished your orthodontic treatment, have you ever wondered what your new smile might look like after treatment?

The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO for short, has recently launched a new tool called “Virtual Smiles”, which shows what your smile might look like after orthodontic treatment. Check out the Virtual Smiles tool, and call us to get started on improving your smile today!

Foods to Avoid During Orthodontic Treatment

While there are many foods you can eat while in braces, there are certain types that our team at Mastroianni Orthodontics would like you to avoid during the course of your treatment. Some of these foods can bend the wires or even break the brackets on your braces. Avoid tough meats, hard breads and raw vegetables such as carrots and celery. You’ll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces. A few examples of foods to avoid include:

• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
• Hard foods: nuts, candy
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Additionally, chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces, which can cause delay in treatment.

If you have any questions on which foods you should be avoiding and why, we invite you to give us a call, or ask during your next visit. As always, if you believe you may have damaged your orthodontic appliances, please give our office a call immediately.

Don’t Forget Your Dental Checkups!

While you’re in orthodontic treatment, proper oral hygiene is critical. Braces and orthodontic appliances can be more challenging to brush and floss around, but an effective daily routine will help ensure the best possible results when your braces come off! While we can help you learn the best methods for oral hygiene with braces, don’t forget that it’s also important to visit your regular dentist every 3-4 months while in treatment, and every 6 months without braces (or as recommended). Because your dental health is important to us, we'd like to remind you to keep up to date with your dental exams and cleanings.

Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health, as your dentist can check for problems that might not be seen or felt, Detect cavities and early signs of decay, and treat other oral health problems early.

Oral exams usually involve checking the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been in to your dentist recently, schedule an appointment right away. Additionally, if you have any questions, feel free to ask us!