Orthodontics Archives - Lowe Orthodontics

April is National Facial Protection Month

Nearly 60,000 people injure their faces annually while playing baseball and more than 100,000 people suffer facial injuries from bicycle accidents. This month enhances public awareness of facial protection and specialized treatment for facial injuries, at least half of which are in children. Pediatric dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons and orthodontists—which are all ADA- recognized dental specialists—are sponsoring “April is National Facial Protection Month.” Their message is clear: Avoid sports injuries by wearing protective equipment. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) and the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) encourage active people—children, parents, weekend warriors, professional athletes—to play it safe when getting outside this spring (or playing indoor sports). According to the National Institute of Health, childhood sports injuries may be inevitable but prevention does matter. For instance, football players can protect their faces with mouth guards and helmets. Likewise, basketball players should wear mouth guards and eye protection. A study published in the February 2003 Journal of the American Medical Association showed that players who used faceguards—devices made of plastic or metal that attached to baseball helmets—were 35 percent less likely to suffer facial injuries than non-users. Further, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that universal helmet use could save one life each day and prevent one head injury every four minutes. The Marshfield (Wisconsin) Clinic states that wearing protective eyewear can prevent 90 percent of eye injuries in the U.S. It seems the first step to facial protection is [...]

By admin|2017-02-05T21:07:57-08:00April 1st, 2016|Braces, Oral Health, Orthodontics|0 Comments

Set a goal in 2016 to improve your oral health and smile!!!

Many of our patients consider the beginning of a new year a time to not only reflect on the year that was, but also to set personal goals for the upcoming year. How are you planning to improve your health and happiness in 2016? We recommend that you make a New Year’s resolution to benefit your oral health! It’s important that New Year’s resolutions are reasonable and attainable, and that they improve your overall quality of life—for example, did you know that flossing every day is the very best way to prevent periodontal, or gum disease during your orthodontic treatment? Using a straw when drinking sugary beverages can also help prevent cavities while you’re wearing braces. There are many small steps that you can take to prevent cavities, oral infections and bad breath. After all, oral health is about more than just a beautiful smile. If your resolution is to attain a great-looking smile, we’d love to help! We are proud to offer some of today’s most innovative orthodontic technologies that can straighten your smile in less time than you ever imagined. Not only do today’s braces and other orthodontic treatments straighten your teeth quicker, they also offer greater comfort for you, and require fewer visits to our office. So if obtaining a healthy, beautiful smile is one of your New Year’s resolutions, we invite you to give us a call to schedule an initial orthodontic consultation.

By admin|2017-02-05T21:07:57-08:00December 31st, 2015|Oral Health, Orthodontics|0 Comments

Mouth Guards

Dental injuries are the most common type of injuries to the face, and 60% of facial injuries occur during sports practice. An athlete is 60 times more likely to suffer damage to the teeth when not wearing a mouth guard. A mouth guard is a flexible piece of plastic that fits around the upper teeth and protects them from injury. In addition to protecting against direct damage to the teeth, by cushioning the lips and cheeks from the teeth or orthodontic appliances, a mouth guard helps prevent laceration and bruising. A mouth guard can also prevent serious injuries caused when the lower jaw is jammed into the upper jaw, including concussion, cerebral hemorrhage, jaw fractures and neck injuries. There are several types of mouth guards. When choosing one, remember that a mouth guard should be flexible, comfortable, durable, odorless, tasteless, and easy to clean. A mouth guard should fit properly so that it protects your mouth, but does not interfere with breathing or speaking. The least expensive mouth guard is a stock one sold in sporting goods stores. They come in small, medium, and large and are held in place by biting down. The disadvantage of these mouth guards is that the fit is not adjustable and may not protect your teeth as well as a more fitted model would. Holding these guards in place requires that you bite down, so they can interfere with speech and breathing. The most commonly used type of mouth guard is also sold in [...]

By admin|2022-06-29T20:02:19-07:00October 12th, 2015|Oral Health, Orthodontics|Comments Off

Diet

The primary cause of cavities, gingivitis and periodontal disease is accumulation of plaque and tartar on your teeth. The bacteria normally present in your mouth converts the food you eat into acid, which in turn combines with bacteria and leftover food to form a sticky substance called plaque. Plaque accumulation can begin on your teeth in as little as 20 minutes after you’ve eaten. If not removed, the acid in the plaque dissolves tooth enamel and creates a cavity. The way you eat and the things you eat will either aid your body in fighting cavities and gum disease, or make you more likely to develop them. While your grandmother would have probably told you that eating candy was bad for your teeth, today’s dental nutritionists know that she was only partly right. Yes, sugary snacks are one of the culprits that set up the right conditions for development of plaque, but did you know that carbohydrates, such as bread or potatoes, are just as bad for your teeth as a candy bar? And did you know you can combat these conditions by eating your food in the right combinations? The two main factors that make a food a bad snack is the amount of sugar in the food and the length of time the food stays in your mouth. Strangely enough, the sugar and chocolate in a candy bar will actually be washed out of your mouth faster than the sugars from some fruits or the bread from your [...]

By admin|2017-02-05T21:07:57-08:00September 2nd, 2015|Braces, Braces Food, Oral Health, Orthodontics|0 Comments

Braces Friendly Recipe: Almond Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs

Easy to assemble dough – good for any occasion Ingredients: 1 cup butter (softened) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/1/2 cups powdered sugar 2 1/2 cups flour 1 egg 1 teaspoon cream of tarter 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1 teaspoon baking soda Directions: Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then add the egg, vanilla extract and almond extract flavorings. Combine the dry ingredients in separate bowl. Next, add the dry ingredients (by 1/2 cup measurements) to the butter/sugar mixture. Mix with a mixer on medium speed. Chill the dough for 2-3 hours or overnight, or “quick chill” in the freezer until very firm, for about 30-45 minutes. To Bake: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Separate the dough into fourths and roll each section until it is about 1/8 – 1/4 inch thickness. Use seasonal cookie cutters and cut into desired shapes. Bake 7-9 minutes or until the edges just begin to brown. Super Easy Ornamental Frosting Ingredients: 16 oz. powdered sugar 3 tablespoons meringue powder 1/3 cup of warm water Directions: Combine all the ingredients and mix at medium speed until smooth. Food coloring may be added at this point. Spread the frosting on each cutout. For spreading consistency, thin icing by adding tablespoons of warm water. Please note: it doesn’t take more than one or two tablespoons to thin the icing. Enjoy!

By admin|2017-02-05T21:07:57-08:00July 2nd, 2015|Braces, Braces FAQ, Braces Food, Orthodontics|0 Comments