Category: Summerville Orthodontist

When you have braces, a Summerville orthodontist may recommend that you stay away from specific summer snacks. Let’s look at some popular eats and what you can do to eat them safely.

What to Eat: Summertime with Braces

When you think about your favorite summer snacks, what comes to mind? So whether you are escaping the heat for a movie during a sweltering afternoon or having a barbecue with friends by the lake, consider summer treat tips with braces:

• Corn on the Cob: Slice the corn kernels off the cob in order to enjoy corn on the cob with braces. You can still use butter and salt to get that fresh summer taste that you seek. Also, it’s a fun spin on eating corn, trying to keep the corn in sections. Even though the corn is cut from the cob doesn’t mean it will taste like canned corn. You’ll get the best of both worlds, the fresh taste of corn mixed with keeping your braces clean and secure.
• Popsicles: A Summerville orthodontist will say the trouble with eating popsicles with braces is the high level of food coloring in the popsicles. The sugar can also get stuck around brackets and lead to more tooth decay. Look for popsicles that do not use food dye and use more natural sugars. The 100% fruit popsicles are a great alternative to having a cool, sweet treat without damaging your teeth.
• Cotton Candy: There is nothing better than a baseball game or summer fair with cotton candy. If you choose to eat cotton candy, take time to brush your teeth shortly after. If you are away from a sink, you can vigorously swish water around your mouth to free any crystalized sugar stuck between your braces.

At Crescent Moon Orthodontics, we want you to enjoy summer fun with braces. You don’t have to put your life on hold while you have braces. Find ways to partake in your summer eats while getting your teeth straightened. Contact us today to schedule your first appointment with your Summerville orthodontist.

If you are visiting your Summerville orthodontist frequently for orthodontic care, it may seem redundant to see another teeth specialist. However, you have a professional examine your teeth every few weeks, so why would you need to schedule your regular dentist appointments?

Orthodontist Care Vs. Dental Care

Visit your Summerville orthodontist to straighten your teeth. This includes taking impressions, putting on brackets and wires, and adjusting the wires to stay on track with the treatment plan. In addition, they can provide you with tools to help with cleaning your teeth while you are wearing braces. But orthodontists do not check for cavities.

A dentist focuses on cleaning your teeth. They clean the teeth thoroughly, check for cavities, and work on any restructuring or cosmetic dental work. The deep cleaning appointments are vital in preventing buildup and cavities.

A dentist does not have anything to do with straightening your teeth. Similarly, a Summerville orthodontist has nothing to do with checking for cavities or cleaning your teeth. While you have braces, regular dental checkups and orthodontist visits are required.

Keep Up with Regular Teeth Cleaning

A dentist does not need you to remove your braces in order to check for cavities and perform teeth cleaning. They can work around the braces and even take x-rays while you have the braces on. Schedule your dental appointments every 6 months as recommended. No matter the situation with your teeth, you should never skip a dental checkup.

At Crescent Moon Orthodontics, we will work hand-in-hand with your dentist to ensure that your teeth are in the best condition while you have braces. Your teeth are important and detailed cleaning by professionals will always decrease your chances of getting cavities, with or without braces. Contact us today to learn about your braces timeline.  

If you run into issues while you have braces, most are easily resolved. Let your Summerville orthodontist know what happened, and the team will work swiftly to remedy any problem you encounter.

Living Life with Braces

Before identifying all the ways that your life will be different while wearing braces, think about all of the improvements that straight teeth from a Summerville orthodontist will bring to your life. You will enjoy the benefits of a dazzling smile, easy-to-brush teeth, and evenly spaced teeth that do not trap food.

Let’s take a look at what life is like with braces:

1. Change the Way You Eat Certain Foods: While most Summerville orthodontists warn you to stay away from sticky and hard foods, you can eat many foods if you are conscious of the way you eat them. For example, eat corn on the cob by first cutting the corn from the cob. Eat apples by cutting them up into thin slices. Stay away from hard caramel and toffee that would be too sticky to enjoy, even in small pieces.
2. Brush Teeth Soon After Eating: If you do have sticky taffy or drink caramel-colored soda or coffee, brush your teeth right away to avoid teeth decay or stains. Having the brackets on your teeth serves the purpose of straightening your teeth but also provides more surfaces for food to get stuck and cause decay.
3. Use Additional Tools for Teeth Cleaning at Home: Instead of brushing and flossing two times per day, you will find that you need more tools to get between brackets. For example, use a floss threader to work around the wires while flossing. You can also use dental picks or proxa brushes to clear out the food that is stuck between brackets.

When you implement these easy habits, you will find the most success with your Summerville orthodontist.

At Crescent Moon Orthodontics, we want you to continue life as normal as you are straightening your teeth. Braces do not require a significant life change. After learning about these tips, you will see that braces aren’t all that bad. Contact us to learn more about your treatment plan.