Orthodontic issues can certainly arise while you are at home or even while you are on vacation. However, keep in mind that true orthodontic emergencies are incredibly rare. If you are experiencing these emergencies, such as trauma to the mouth or swallowing part of an orthodontic appliance, you may need to visit the emergency room. These are not situations that can be handled at home and it is important to obtain the appropriate treatment. There are many other issues that can be handled from home until you are able to make it into our office. Here are some tips for handling orthodontic issues at home.

Stuck Food

Food often becomes stuck in between braces. While this is not an orthodontic emergency, it can certainly be frustrating. This issue can be easily resolved when you are at home. You can usually remove the food particle with an orthodontic flosser that will allow you to reach beneath the surface of the braces. However, if you are out and about, you may not have floss available. This doesn’t mean that you have to suffer through the day with food in your teeth. If there is no other alternative, you may be able to remove the food particle by very carefully using a toothpick to move it out from your braces. You should also take care to rinse your mouth with water regularly. This can help to flush out food particles before they become wedged in your braces.

Poking Wire

Braces use wires and rubber bands to guide the teeth back into place. The use of these wires can sometimes result in wires that poke the inside of your cheek. This can be incredibly uncomfortable and difficult to deal with. However, it isn’t too difficult to rectify when you are experiencing a poking wire. First, you will want to gently push the wire out of the way with a clean cotton swab or the eraser end of a pencil. Ensure that you wash anything before you put it in your mouth to prevent a transfer of bacteria. Then, if it is a relatively small piece of wire, you can use dental wax to cover the offending piece.

If the piece of wire poking your mouth is extremely long, you may need to snip the wire to remove the discomfort. This can be done with the use of clean nail clippers. If you have to clip the wire, you will want to schedule repairs with us to ensure that they continue to function.

Cheek or Lip Irritation

Irritation of the cheek or the lips is incredibly common, especially at the beginning of orthodontic treatment. This irritation should go away within a few days as your mouth adjusts to the new braces. There are several methods that you can use to minimize discomfort during this period of adjustment. Rinse your mouth with a saltwater solution to help soothe the discomfort. You may also be able to use dental wax as a barrier to the inside of your mouth, which can prevent an escalation of the irritation.

Loose or Broken Bracket

A bracket may loosen or break for many reasons. You may have bitten down on something hard, which has caused the loosening or gotten hit in the face by a basketball. Whatever the cause, it is important to pay attention to where the bracket has become loose. When the loose bracket is in the back off the mouth, you may be able to resolve the problem by snipping off the excess water. If it is present in the front, you will want to carefully use tweezers to move the loose bracket back into its intended position. You can use your handy dental wax to hold the bracket in place until you are able to obtain repairs.

O-Ring Issues

The O-ring is the small rubber band that is used to help hold the braces in place. Occasionally, this O-ring may pop off of the braces, which can leave a loosened portion. If this happens, you will first want to try to find the O-ring. This is often much easier if you like bright colored bands on your braces. If you can find the O-ring, you will want to ensure that you clean it carefully and use tweezers to attempt to put the O-ring back on. However, if you can’t find it, you will want to contact our office to schedule an appointment to restore it. In the meantime, you can use dental wax in order to prevent any loosened portion of the braces from poking into your mouth until you can get back to our office.

Sensitive Teeth

Sensitive teeth is an extremely common condition as the orthodontic treatment helps to move your teeth back into place. This often results in pain and discomfort. In order to minimize the negative impact of sensitive teeth, you should be careful about what you eat. Sip on cold beverages to help soothe the pain. You may also want to eat primarily soft foods. You can take pain relievers, such as Ibuprofen, in order to reduce your discomfort until the sensitivity lessens.

Lost Aligners

There isn’t really a method for handling lost aligners from your home. When you lose these aligners, Invisalign treatment will stop being effective. It is important to be incredibly careful with your lost aligners. Take extra precautions to ensure that you know where your aligners are at all times. If you have lost your aligner, you will want to contact us as soon as possible to get your orthodontic treatment back on track.

At Bailey Orthodontics, we provide the services that you need to obtain a beautiful, pristine smile. Orthodontic treatment can result in some situations that will be difficult to resolve at home. When you handle orthodontic issues at home, you will be able to protect your comfort in between visits to our office. If you are ever unsure how to handle an orthodontic issue, you should consult with our expert team. To learn more about the best ways to handle an orthodontic issue at home, contact us at Bailey Orthodontics today!

It is important to ensure that you are aware of the signs that you or your child needs braces. Obtaining the appropriate orthodontic treatment can go a long way toward enhancing the appearance of your smile and minimizing the possibility of future oral health issues. When you obtain orthodontic treatment for your smile, you can help your teeth to become easier to clean and remain in great condition. These signs apply to children and adults alike, because crooked or misaligned teeth can cause oral health issues with anyone. These health issues often occur when it becomes more difficult to remove food particles from between the teeth.

Crowding

Crowding occurs when you don’t have sufficient space in your jaw to house all of your teeth. This causes the teeth to crowd together and become crooked. When teeth are crowded, it often becomes much more difficult to clean the spaces between the teeth. This allows food particles and harmful components to become lodged in your teeth. Crowding of the teeth tends to lead to accelerated oral health issues. If you notice that your teeth are crowded together, it is likely that you need braces.

Gaps and Spaces

Gaps and spaces lead to many additional problems. For example, when there is a gap in your teeth, the teeth won’t be putting any pressure on that part of the jawbone. This leads to the jawbone deteriorating, which can cause additional shifting of the teeth. If there are gaps and spaces between your teeth, it will be important to seek orthodontic treatment to remedy the situation. Checking the placement of your teeth will often provide guidance regarding the necessity of braces.

Improper Bites

Improper bites are an incredibly common reason for braces. It is important to keep in mind that your teeth should fit comfortably together when your bite is in the correct placement. Overbites result when the upper teeth lay in front of the lower teeth. Underbites are the inverse situation, where the lower teeth rest over the upper teeth. Crossbites and open bites are other examples that indicate that you may require orthodontic treatment. The appropriate orthodontic treatment can help to resolve these bites and ensure that your teeth sit at a healthy point.

Difficulty Flossing

It is important to ensure that you always effectively and thoroughly floss your teeth. When you find that this is rather difficult, it is likely that your smile could require orthodontic treatment. It shouldn’t be particularly difficult to ensure that you can thoroughly remove food particles from the spaces between your teeth. When your teeth are straight, it tends to be far easier to keep them clean and remove harmful particles from the surfaces of your teeth.

Frequently Biting your Tongue

When you need braces, it is likely that you will find yourself frequently or consistently causing damage to the interior of your mouth. This often manifests as biting your tongue or the inside of your cheeks. Not only is this relatively painful, but it is also an indication that you would benefit from braces.

Difficulty with Pronunciation

Crooked teeth may make it difficult to pronounce certain sounds correctly. Not only can this be embarrassing, but it can also indicate that you require orthodontic treatment. The appropriate treatment can restore your teeth to their correct position, which will make it easier for you to make certain sounds. This can go a long way toward improving your confidence and ensuring that you smile much more frequently. This also helps to increase your overall levels of happiness.

Jawline Fatigue

When the teeth are crooked or otherwise misaligned, they won’t place strain evenly across each tooth. If you notice that there is an uneven amount of stress or fatigue on one point of your jawline when you are chewing, it is possible that you need braces. Misaligned teeth also tend to cause the teeth to wear out unevenly. This can cause substantial amounts of damage to the teeth. When you ensure that you obtain an effective orthodontic treatment, you can prevent significant amounts of damage to your teeth.

Timing of the Loss of Baby Teeth

It is important to pay attention to when you or your child loses their baby teeth. If the baby teeth are lost too early or too late, it is possible that there is an issue with the teeth. This is just one indication that you or your child needs braces. Other indications in the earlier years include visibly crooked teeth, prolonged use of a pacifier, or many additional considerations.

Jaw Shifting

A jaw that regularly shifts or makes sounds, like clicking or other noises, may require orthodontic care. If you notice these sounds, it is useful to consult with our experts. We can help to identify the underlying problem and help to ensure that you obtain the appropriate treatment to improve your oral health. Pay attention to how your jaw feels while you are chewing or speaking if you suspect you may need braces.

Options for Teeth Straightening

If you have determined that you need braces, it is important to keep in mind that there are multiple options available for the straightening of your teeth. Invisalign and braces tend to be the most well-known options. However, there are also many types of braces, including traditional varieties, lingual braces, and many additional options. Understanding the best possible option for straightening your teeth can help to ensure the most efficient method for the straightening of your smile.

Here at Bailey Orthodontics, we are passionate about providing the orthodontic treatment and services that you need to maintain a heathy, beautiful smile. It is important to ensure that you have your teeth straightened when necessary in order to prevent a substantial amount of damage to your teeth and oral health. We offer many services to ensure the best straightening solution for your teeth, whether you want Invisalign or braces. To learn more about the signs that you need braces or to schedule an appointment with us, contact our expert team at Bailey Orthodontics today!

If you have crooked teeth, it is likely that your teeth have impacted your self-esteem. Not only do people tend to feel less confident about their smile when they have crooked teeth, but they also tend to have more oral health problems. Misaligned teeth will be more difficult to clean, because it will be harder to reach the surfaces between them. Those with misaligned teeth smile less frequently, which can be detrimental to their mood. It can be difficult to identify the ideal straightening method for your teeth, due to the many options that are available for straightening the teeth. It can be useful to help with the decision when you understand the benefits of various orthodontic options. This will go a long way toward helping you to make the best decision. Here are some of the top benefits to using Invisalign to straighten your teeth.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign uses sets of clear aligners in order to gently straighten the teeth. When you use Invisalign to straighten your teeth, you will likely experience less disruption to your life. The system Invisalign implements switched these sets out regularly to ensure that the teeth continue to be straightened throughout the entire process. These are a few things that you need to understand when it comes to Invisalign.

Easier Oral Hygiene

It is easier to effectively care for your teeth when you use Invisalign. The use of clear aligners means that they are removable, which allows you to remove them when you care for your teeth. This makes it easier to remove food particles and other harmful substances from the surface of your teeth. With traditional braces, it can be difficult to clean underneath the wires of the braces. This allows food particles to accumulate, which can lead to substantial oral health issues. You often need to implement specific tools to reach underneath the wires and remove accumulated particles. One of the major benefits of Invisalign is that it makes it easier for you to keep your teeth cleaned effectively.

Fewer Office Visits

Invisalign clear aligners tend to require fewer visits to the office, without negatively impacting the process. With each visit to your care provider, you will be provided with several weeks’ worth of clear aligners that you will switch out at the specified times. In most cases, you will only be required to visit our office approximately every 6 weeks, rather than the monthly visits that are required for the tightening of traditional braces. This can go a long way toward allowing you to obtain the services that you need without requiring substantial disruption to your life. The less time you spend at the office, the more time you will have for other activities.

No Food Restrictions

Traditional braces tend to come with a substantial amount of food restrictions. Extremely chewy foods, like caramel, tend to be restricted when you have braces. This is because these foods will ultimately stick to the braces and be difficult to remove from the teeth. They can even pull on the wires of the braces. One of the top benefits of Invisalign is that there are no food restrictions when you use this method for your straightening solution. You can remove the aligner when you eat, which means that you can continue to enjoy the foods you love, even while your teeth are being straightened.

Aesthetically Pleasing

One of the major concerns that people have about implementing straightening solutions is the cosmetic impact it will have on their appearance. This is especially true when it comes to adults that require straightening solutions. One of the benefits of Invisalign is that the clear aligners are virtually unnoticeable. These clear aligners are very difficult to see, which can help to provide excellent straightening solutions, without the appearance that comes along with standard braces. It is important to note that there are additional options for braces that are difficult to detect, such as lingual braces.  

Increased Comfort

Traditional braces involve brackets and wires that help to guide the teeth into place. When braces are first implemented, the rough surfaces tend to cause irritation to the inside of the cheeks. This can lead to a substantial amount of pain and discomfort. Alternatively, the smooth aligners with Invisalign don’t cause irritation to the inside of the mouth. While there may be a feeling of tightness when you switch to a new aligner, it is far less than the discomfort that is associated with traditional braces. The use of Invisalign can ensure a far more comfortable process for straightening your teeth.

Safer Alternative

Braces are permanently adhered to the teeth during the duration of the straightening process. This can be particularly dangerous for those that play sports. Taking a soccer ball to the face with braces can cause substantial injury to the interior of the mouth. However, Invisalign aligners don’t cause the same amount of damage to the mouth. They are also removable, which can help to protect the teeth during the playing of sports. This goes a long way toward preventing injuries and protecting the overall health of the teeth.  

Effective Treatment

Invisalign is a particularly effective straightening solution. The aligners help to gently guide the teeth into alignment. Not only do you need to spend less time in the office with Invisalign, but the total time of treatment is often reduced. It is also beneficial to note that Invisalign aligners are comfortable and easy to implement, which often makes the duration feel even shorter.

Here at Bailey Orthodontics, we provide a large array of services to provide beautiful, straight smiles. One of the services that we offer is implementing Invisalign treatments to straighten the teeth. Invisalign is far more comfortable and convenient than traditional braces. They also provide clear aligners that can substantially reduce the self-consciousness that is often associated with braces. To learn more about the many benefits of Invisalign and to determine if you are a good candidate for Invisalign, contact our experts at Bailey Orthodontics today!