Ceramic braces are tooth colored braces that are used to straighten teeth. They are preferred by many people, especially adults who often want to avoid metal braces. Ceramic braces are much less noticeable than metal braces. In fact, most people do not notice them unless they are up close to a person. Small ceramic pieces are glued to each tooth, and a wire is placed across the top and bottom teeth. These braces are made of a very strong and durable composite material, and they do not stain unless a person eats or drinks many foods that typically stain teeth.

Most orthodontists offer ceramic braces as well as metal braces. Although a dentist will recommend a certain type of braces for a patient based on the corrective work that is to be done, most patients leave the decision of whether to get ceramic or metal braces up to the patient. Besides being far less noticeable than metal braces, ceramic brands are often more comfortable than metal ones for many patients. They tend to not irritate the gums as much as their metal counterparts. Some people believe that ceramic braces break, but this is not true if they are bound with a plasma light.

Ceramic braces use clear or white ligatures, which are tiny elastic bands that hold the arch wire to the brackets. They may stain and then become more noticeable than they are intended to be. The great feature of the ligatures is that they are changed at monthly orthodontic visits, so even if they stain, they will be changed before long. These braces often cost a little more than metal braces, but for adults who are conscious of their looks, they are a good investment. It is important that patients realize that ceramic styles cannot be used on every patient. If the corrective work is extensive, metal braces may be required. Metal braces can be forcefully moved more easily if necessary.

Those who wear ceramic braces need to take care of them to avoid stains on the ligatures. Most orthodontists recommend that patients limit or avoid foods that stain. Some of these are curry, cola, tea, coffee, red wine, fruit drinks, and tomato sauce. Patients can choose the color of their ligatures, and most patients use clear ones. These stain more than others, and sometimes choosing a darker color is better since they do not show food or drink stains like clear bands do. There are also pastel colored or black or gray ligatures, and stains seldom show up on darker colors.

It is very important for those who wear ceramic braces to brush their teeth after eating. Brushing immediately after eating can keep the ligatures clear longer. Non-whitening toothpaste should be used so that the teeth underneath the braces will not be a different color after the braces are taken off. Some orthodontists recommend that patients drink lemon water after eating or drinking foods that may stain their braces or the ligatures. Electric toothbrushes are also helpful in keeping them clear and stain free.

The benefits of ceramic braces are definitely worth the extra care that must be taken to keep them clean. The excellent dental hygiene that is used while the braces are on can be continued for a lifetime to keep the teeth clean, healthy, and stain free.

We always love to see where our patients and their families have been. Whether you stay local or travel across the world, under water or in the sky! Send us a postcard so we can post them up in our office!

Whether it’s done consciously or subconsciously, nail biting habits affect people of all ages. As you can imagine there are lots of possible reasons why people start biting their nails including anxiety, stress, boredom, compulsiveness, depression, etc. On the surface, nail biting may not seem like a big deal. However, fairly severe consequences can result in both oral and overall health problems.

Nail Biting Effects Your Teeth

1. Nail biting can crack, chip and wear down teeth. Your front teeth are lot different than your back teeth in terms of functionality. They aren’t designed for gnawing or chewing.

2. Nail biting can shift tooth alignment and damage existing dental work.

3. Nail biting risks gum tissue damage. Bitten nail pieces can easily tear into your gum tissue increasing the risk of gum disease and eventual tooth loss.

4. Nail biting can be expensive. The Academy of General Dentistry estimates that nail biters incur an additional $4,000 in dental repairs.

Nail Biting Effects Your Health

Think about the most germ-concentrated areas of your body—your mouth and hands. You can imagine what happens when those two areas are in constant contact. And when there are even tiny, tiny breaks in the skin, germs get a free hall pass to your bloodstream. Yuck.

Tips For Quitting 

Maybe you’ve always wanted to quit, but it hasn’t worked yet. Here are a few tips:

• Keep your nails looking nice. It will help motivate you to leave them alone.
• Enlist friends. Sometimes it helps to have someone remind you when you’re biting.
• Notice your trigger(s).  Anxious? Bored? Learn to deal with these emotions in other ways.
• Carry a nail file and clippers. If you crack a nail or snag it, you can make repairs without biting.
• Treat your nails. There are many awful tasting products—designed for this purpose—that you can put on your nails to really deter you.

Let’s face it. With school, sports and hanging out with friends, getting metal braces is not at the top of your list of favorite things to do. Guess what? With Invisalign Teen^®, you can straighten your teeth without having to deal with metal wires and brackets. That means you can still do all the things that make these the best times of your life.

NO ONE NEEDS TO KNOW

Invisalign Teen aligners are made of a smooth, clear plastic that is virtually invisible! Your friends probably won’t even know you’re wearing them. In fact, they’re so comfortable, you may not even notice you’re wearing them either. Whether you’re taking pictures or just hanging out with friends, you’ll enjoy a better smile every day. See more reasons Why Invisalign Teen may be right for you

EAT WITH FREEDOM

You probably have friends with braces who aren’t allowed to eat certain things
like popcorn and chewing gum. With Invisalign Teen, you’re free to eat all of your
favorite foods whenever you want because the aligners are completely removable. This also means you can easily keep brushing and flossing as you normally would. Try that with braces. More benefits of Living with Invisalign.

KEEP DOING WHAT YOU LOVE

Whether you play sports or a musical instrument, a mouthful of metal can often
prevent you from enjoying the things you want to. Invisalign Teen helps you focus on doing what you do best—being a teenager. Comfort and Convenience of Invisalign^®.

Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May. It was formally known as Decoration Day and commemorates all men and women, who have died in military service for the United States. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day and it is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season.

What do people do?

It is traditional to fly the flag of the United States at half mast from dawn until noon. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries. Memorial Day is combined with Jefferson Davis' Birthday in Mississippi.

Memorial Day has become less of an occasion of remembrance. Many people choose to hold picnics, sports events and family gatherings on this weekend. This day is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season for cultural events. For the fashion conscious, it is seen as acceptable to wear white clothing, particularly shoes from Memorial Day until Labor Day. However, fewer and fewer people follow this rule and many wear white clothing throughout the year.

Public life

Memorial Day is a federal holiday. All non-essential Government offices are closed, as are schools, businesses and other organizations. Most public transit systems do not run on their regular schedule. Many people see Memorial Day weekend as an opportunity to go on a short vacation or visit family or friends. This can cause some congestion on highways and at airports.

Background

Memorial Day started as an event to honor Union soldiers, who had died during the American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in the Southern states honored their dead. After World War I, it was extended to include all men and women, who died in any war or military action.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The current name for this day did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day and then Memorial Day used to be held on May 30, regardless of the day of the week, on which it fell. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed as part of a move to use federal holidays to create three-day weekends. This meant that that, from 1971, Memorial Day holiday has been officially observed on the last Monday in May. However, it took a longer period for all American states to recognize the new date.

One of the first things your orthodontist will give you when you have braces put on is a list of foods that you are not supposed to eat. There will be some foods that are frowned upon and some foods that are completely forbidden. The orthodontist makes these recommendations for a reason. The brackets and wires that are moving your teeth are not invincible. They can be damaged by food. In addition to avoiding foods that might cause damage to your teeth and braces, there are also foods that you will want to eat more often, to enhance the health of your teeth and gums as well as to ease the tension in your mouth as your devices move your teeth around.

Foods To Avoid
The list of foods to avoid will probably feel far too long, but they can easily be grouped into several major categories.

Sticky foods are the most important foods to avoid. This means that gum, caramels, anything gummi or fruit rollup related, taffy, etc. The reason you want to avoid sticky food is that it can easily catch onto your brackets and wires and pull them out of place. There is nothing quite as unfortunate as having a bracket be pulled from its bonding or a wire that gets pulled out of a bracket. Not only will it feel uncomfortable but it means an extra trip to the orthodontist.

Crunchy foods and excessively hard foods are also on the no-no list. Whole apples, hard candy, peanut brittle, ice cubes, corn chips, beef jerky, hard rolls or bagels, etc are all foods that should be avoided. This is because they tend to catch on the brackets and wires as you bite into them. Also, as your teeth are going to be on the loose side, crunchy food can cause excess strain on your teeth and might make them even looser.

Very sugary foods should be avoided whether or not you wear braces. If you do have braces, however, sugary foods should be avoided because small bits can get caught under your wires or under the edges of your brackets and cause your teeth to decay. Tooth decay is harder to fix if you wear braces.

Foods to Embrace
Your teeth love vitamin C, calcium and magnesium. The best place to get these vitamins and minerals is from dairy products, leafy greens (though you will want to take care that the greens don’t get stuck in your braces), citrus fruits, brown rice and lentils. Everybody knows that drinking milk makes your bones stronger. It also makes your teeth and gums stronger as well. Make sure to eat a healthy diet that is rich in these vitamins and minerals.

When you wear braces, you are putting your teeth at risk for the sake of, in the long run, making them better. Braces are for more than straightening teeth. They can also help adjust a person’s bite and correct problems with your jaw. While they are on your teeth, however, you are at greater risk for tooth decay and the weakening of your gums. Following your orthodontist’s instructions on the foods you should avoid as well as making sure to eat a healthy diet that is rich in vitamin C, calcium and magnesium are important aspects to keeping your mouth as healthy as possible while the braces are in place.

If you thought brushing and flossing were important before you got braces…well, you were right. But people undergoing orthodontic treatment need to be even more dedicated to good oral hygiene.

Braces trap food very easily, which contributes to plaque formation. "If plaque is not carefully removed from teeth and from around braces, patients run the risk of developing gum disease, dental decay and bad breath.

Plaque is a mixture of bacteria, debris and bits of food. The bacteria feed on sugars and produce acids. The acids can irritate your gums, erode the enamel on your teeth and contribute to bad breath (halitosis).

It's important to remove the plaque thoroughly and often. Then, when your braces come off, the surfaces of your teeth underneath the braces will be healthy and strong and look good. Here are some tips to help you.

 Brushing

Use a soft-bristle toothbrush. Soft bristles are better than medium or hard bristles at getting into those nooks and crannies around your appliances. They also don't irritate your gums.

Some companies make toothbrushes especially for people with braces. Known as bi-level brushes, they have longer bristles on the edges and shorter ones in the middle. This type of brush allows you to clean the area above and below the brackets and the brackets as well.

The most important thing is to look for a brush that's soft and approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). After that, the size of the brush, the shape of the handle and other variations are up to you.

What about an electric toothbrush? It's not necessary, but if you have one, it's safe to use it on your braces. Just be careful not to hit the plastic back of the brush against the brackets on your braces because it can damage them. Also, it should be used on a moderate setting so as not to break or loosen braces.

Brush at least three times a day. It is best to brush after meals to make sure there's no food trapped in or around braces. If you are not able to brush after lunch, at least rinse your mouth with water very thoroughly.

Brush for at least two to three minutes each time. It's best to use a watch or timer to make sure you are brushing long enough.

Brushing should be done slowly and carefully. It's important to brush the braces and all the surfaces of the teeth, that is, the inside and outside surface and the chewing surfaces, too. Pay special attention to the areas between your brackets and your gums.

 Flossing

Floss at least once a day. It might seem like you can't possibly floss while you have braces, but you can and you should. Special flossing products can help you get into the space between the wires and your gum line. These include floss threaders and a special kind of floss. When your braces are first put on, someone in your orthodontist's office should review flossing techniques. If you're not sure you're doing it right, ask your orthodontist during your next visit.

 Tools To Help You

Rubber-tipped and end-tuft or single-tuft brushes — These are special brushes that help you to get into those nooks and crannies, as well as between your teeth. The end-tuft or single-tuft brushes look something like pipe cleaners.

Oral irrigators — These instruments shoot small streams of water onto your teeth at high pressure to remove bits of food. They can be used as an aid in your oral hygiene practice, but not in place of brushing and flossing. They also should be used at a moderate setting so they don't damage the braces.

Antibacterial rinses — These rinses are fine for adults, but their high alcohol content makes them off-limits for kids. There are alcohol-free rinses available for children to use, but some are designed only to freshen breath and not to kill bacteria. Before buying an antibacterial rinse for your child to use, you should ask your orthodontist which rinses he or she recommends.

Disclosing solutions or tablets — Your dentist may have used these during an office visit to see where you tend to miss spots after brushing. Disclosing tablets and solutions use vegetable dye to highlight plaque or debris in your mouth. Once you see the spots, you can quickly remove them with your toothbrush. You can find them in a drugstore or get some from your dentist and use them at home.

You’ve taken care of the kids, the house and even the dog…

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Have straighter teeth, fuller lips and broader smile!

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Swollen, red gums can often be the result of having teeth that are crowded or too widely spaced. Unfortunately, these are also signs of periodontal disease. When teeth are properly aligned, it helps the gums fit more securely around the teeth, allowing for the strongest and healthiest defense against potential periodontal problems. That’s where Invisalign comes in. The comfortable and clear aligners gently and gradually begin to move your teeth into the proper position — without unsightly brackets and wires.

EASIER CLEANING

One of the biggest challenges of having braces is removing all the food that gets trapped in the brackets and wires. This can often lead to plaque buildup and eventually tooth decay. With Invisalign, the aligners are removable, so it’s easy to continue brushing and flossing your teeth the way you normally do.

OVERALL HEALTH

Think of your teeth as a window to the health of your body. Your teeth and gums — and how they look to others when you smile—say a lot about your overall health. If you're taking good care of both, you're probably taking good care of the rest of you.

Tooth decay and gum disease are caused by bacteria. Left untreated, they can cause mouth sores, tender or bleeding gums, bad breath, and possible tooth loss. Studies by the American Dental Association have shown that oral infections can also lead to other more serious ailments such as heart disease,² stroke,³ pneumonia⁴ and diabetes⁵. Invisalign aligners make daily oral hygiene easier, thus reducing the risk of possible problems. And correctly aligned teeth can also alleviate the issues that can be caused by an improper bite, speech or chewing difficulties, jaw problems, and increased wear on the tooth enamel. Invisalign effectively addresses all of these orthodontic issues, so you'll have the confidence of a great smile and increase the likelihood of improved oral health.

Who says that you can't have fun at work?

You know what they say…

Braces For Pretty Faces knows how to have fun!