Holiday Fun Without Orthodontic Emergencies

With the fun-filled holidays quickly approaching, there are things to remember so that a day with friends and family won't be spent with an orthodontic emergency.

If you have braces (be it metal, ceramic, or lingual) remember these simple things to avoid broken brackets and/or wire distortion:

1. Avoid anything chewy or sticky such as: caramel, gum, and taffy

2. Be careful of those chicken, turkey, duck, etc. BONES. 

3. Hard rolls

4. Holiday cakes can sometimes have hidden nuts in them

Basically anything chewy, sticky, or hard.  In the event something does break, do not worry just call you orthodontist or dental care provider and explain the situation.  Very often the fix is simple but just maybe an inconvenience to you

How long do I need to wear my retainers?

There seems to be some confusion about retainers and I wanted to help shed some light on the subject.

Let's start with the basics. Teeth are anchored in bone. Teeth move in response to a force which can come in the form of braces, fingers, tongue, lips and cheeks, and even something like a popcorn kernel can apply force to move teeth.

After orthodontic treatment, be it via traditionial braces, lingual braces, or Invisalign, a retainer will be needed to keep teeth in the newly moved position.

The question always arises how long is retainer use needed? Let me ask you this: if you go to the gym to get in shape, do you stop going once you have achieved your ideal body? Of course not, you need to continue to go to the gym to maintain the body you worked hard for. The same concept applies to your teeth after orthodntic treatment.

As I said before, teeth are in bone and move in respose to force. As you age, your tongue, lips and cheeks will apply different forces to your mouth and teeth. In addition, although you may be done growing your bone is constantly undergoing remodeling. As this bone change occurs in your jaw bones your teeth can be subject to change also.

So to answer your question: How long do I need to wear my retainers? How long do you want your teeth to be straight? Please remember that at some point you can wear retainers at night only and you may even be able to wear them every couple of nights once your teeth reach a state of equilibrium. But complete discontinuation of retainers will result in loss of that perfecct smile your worked hard to get. So keep those teeth in tip-top shape and wear your retainers.

If you have any further questions please contact your orthodontist or dental care provider.

Invisalign 911

Invisalign is a great option for many to correct their crooked teeth. Invisalign is a series of clear trays that align teeth. It gives people the ability to have straight teeth without the stigma of "braces".

Many of you may have run into the problem of the plastic aligner irritating your cheek or tongue. Here is a quick fix. Take an Emory board and gently smooth the rough area of the aligner paying careful attention not to compromise the integrity of the aligner. Usually 2 or 3 strokes is all that is needed to smooth out the area in question. Once done you will find that the trays are more comfortable now.

Please remember to contact your dental provider about the issue that occurred or if the problem persists.

Hope this makes your Invisalign experience that much better.

Be well.

Tooth Grinding

Grinding, clenching, bruxing-many different names for a problem that can have severe detrimental effects on your teeth. Many of you may have been told by your dentist, "you're a tooth grinder!" and to that you might have answered, "what can I do?" or "why does that matter?"

First let's establish what this problem is. It is the forceful movement of your lower jaw into your upper jaw and then the subsequent grinding of teeth together, usually done during sleep.

Signs and symptoms can include (but are not limited to): wearing of teeth, breaking of teeth, sensitive teeth, loose teeth, fracture lines in teeth, waking up with headaches, facial muscle soreness, TMJ pain or tenderness, and various periodontal issues.

Finding a solution to this problem and correcting it can be tricky. The etiology can be dental, musculo-skeletal, or even stress. Many times bruxing is the result of a mild combination of all these factors which leads to a rather LARGE problem. Having a bite that is off or a slight skeletal discrepancy is not so bad but mix in the stresses of daily life (ie. job, family, etc) and you can wake up in the morning feeling like you were chewing a pack of Trident all night. It is important to find a professional to evaluate you and see what the cause of your tooth grinding is.

Many times reducing stress can improve the symptoms. However, you may find that visiting your local dental care provider and having your bite evaluated and adjusted or using a nightguard can alleviate the problem completely.

Bruxing will ultimately affect the longevity of your teeth. We as a society are living longer lives, having healthier teeth can influence the overall quality of life . Remember, if you take care of your teeth now, they'll take care of you later.

For further information about this please contact your dental professional.

Timing Is Everything!

I am sure everyone will agree that in life, timing is everything. This cannot be more true when it comes to your child's orthodontic treatment.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO, www.braces.org) recommends that children should be evaluated by an orthodontist no later than 7 years of age. You may be thinking that your child has many baby teeth at this age and why should something like braces be considered.

The fact is that your child may not need treatment right away but your orthodontist can evaluate your child and see if your child's teeth and jaws are developing correctly. If something is not developing correctly then early intervention is key to a healthy smile and correctly aligned jaws. Many times limited early treatment can prevent problems from getting worse and even result in your child not needing full braces when they get older.

So as the school year comes to an end and summer vacation activities start, find time to visit your local orthodontist for a consultation and become educated on your child's orthodontic needs.

NYC Heatwave

The first day of summer may be June 20 but here in the New York City Metro Area we are officially in a heatwave. Although many may enjoy the free tanning opportunity and trips to the local pool or beach, there are some serious health concerns to be aware of.

According to the Department of Health some of the people who are at risk during this very warm weather (but not limited to) are:

• People who are 75 years or older and/or live by themselves
• People who are either mentally or physically handicapped and need assistance with day to day activities
• Certain medications may make you vulnerable in high temperature so you should check with your physician to see if you are at risk and what to do
• Those who suffer from cardiac or respiratory issues should be cautious in this weather
• People who work outside (landscapers, construction workers, policemen, firefighters, athletes, etc.)
• Babies and children under 4 years of age

When in doubt it is always better to be safe than sorry. Keep an eye on your neighboor who lives alone, the gardener who toils endlessly over their lawn, or the crossing guard who protects you and your children.

Knowing when someone is suffering from heat exhaustion may be tricky but some things to look for are: headaches, nausea, dehydration, sleepiness, confusion, short-temperedness, hot or dry skin, and loss of consciousness.

To avoid the harmful effects of the heat try to stay cool. Avoid being outdoors from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (the hottest times of the day). If you need to do work outdoors during the day try to arrange your schedule so you are outdoors in the earlier or later parts of the day. Keep your curtains closed during the day to keep out the heat. Try not to run the clothes dryer or use the oven during the hotter parts of the day. Make sure you drink plenty of water during the day. Avoid beverages that may dehydrate you like: tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages. Try to wear loose comfortable clothing made from cotton.

Many of these things may seem like common sense but heat stroke or dehydration sneaks up on you and can be deadly. By the time you are aware of what is going on it is too late. So be respectful of the sun - check on the elders, children, and pets.

Be safe and enjoy the summer.

Thumg Sucking - Relief Now, Pay Later

Many of us can picture this scenario: a crying child driving you and everyone around you to the brink of insanity. What finally gets the child to stop? Sucking happily on their thumb. But this temporary relief can have serious consequences.

Most children stop sucking their thumb by 2 and 1/2 years of age and it is even considered normal until ages 3 to 4. However, when the finger habit persists beyond the toddler years and into the adolescent years there can be significant effects on the teeth, gums, jaws, and even facial form.

Prolonged thumb sucking turns into a habit which can cause a dental and even a skeletal open bite. If the habit ceases while the child is still growing the dental open bite can self correct but sometimes the help of an orthodontist is required to correct the position of the teeth. But if the habit continues or the open bite does not correct while the child is still growing then the jaws "solidify" in the open position. If the open bite is not corrected while your child is growing then jaw surgery may be required to correct the bite.

Think about it, a seemingly harmless act as a child can change the facial form of your child for life and result in various respiratory, dental, and speech problems - your child would not be able to bite into a sandwhich or a famous New York City pizza slice. Not Good.

What can be done? Like I said in the beginning until age 4 this finger habit is considered normal but if it persists discuss with your child ways in stopping it. Various over the counter treatments can be found at the drugstore. Try to find out why your child has continued the habit - look for the etiology. If it continues seek advice from your dentist or orthodontist. Many times there are retainer type devices that can stop the habit and prevent some of the ill effects and eventual jaw surgery.

For more information about thumb/finger sucking contact your dental health professional.