iSmiles – Prior To Orthodontic Treatment Should You Extract Wisdom Teeth? Welcome to today’s Friday Focus. We’re going to be answering the question “Prior To Orthodontic Treatment Should You Extract Wisdom Teeth?” While this a fairly common question, the answer varies depending on the circumstances. If there’s enough room in the jaw for the wisdom teeth to emerge, and they’re erupting in a good direction, having them extracted isn’t always […]

What Toothbrush Should You Use While in Orthodontic Treatment? Cleaning your teeth and braces helps ensure successful orthodontic treatment, with the end result being a beautiful smile. The important thing to remember is that when you wear braces you’re going to need to be diligent with good oral hygiene habits, brushing consistently and well. If you have braces, you’ve probably wondered what toothbrush you should use to get the best […]

The seemingly harmless habit of thumb sucking can change the child’s facial structure for life if it’s not addressed and result in dental, respiratory and speech problem. Our biggest goal from an orthodontic perspective is to have thumb sucking stopped before your child turns 6 and a half to 7 when their front teeth start to come in. In most cases, children will stop a thumb sucking habit by the […]

For this week’s Friday Focus, we’re going to answer the question “Can two people with braces kiss?”, a question that we get asked from time to time. We’ve all heard the horror stories of lovebirds caught in lip-locks (literally), braces stuck together. The good news is that you don’t need to worry. This is more of a myth than a reality. Orthodontic treatments have evolved over the years, yet there […]

 Welcome to Friday Focus with Doctor “O”! The orthodontic related question of the week is “Can you eat popsicles with braces?” Yes, you can! While it makes sense that hard foods can crack your teeth, break brackets, erode enamel, and weaken the overall structure of teeth, this isn’t the case with popsicles because they aren’t as hard as other snack options. You just need to use common sense when […]

Have you been considering getting braces for yourself or a loved one? Here’s something you should think about if you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). As we wind down the year and head into the holiday season, a lot of important year end considerations end up being overlooked, including FSAs. If you have an FSA, don’t forget that they can expire, typically at the end of the year. The […]

For this Friday Focus we’re going to be discussing what foods are safe to eat right after getting braces. With new braces, you’ll probably experience some discomfort when they’re first put on, but this should only last a few days. To make your transition a little smoother, you’ll want to eat soft foods, including macaroni and cheese, bananas, mashed potatoes and gravy, soups, yogurt, scrambled eggs, etc. Smoothies also make […]

Kissing While Wearing Lingual Braces Twenty to thirty years ago, braces were a lot more cumbersome, made up of bigger brackets, thicker wires, and lots of rough edges. A lot has changed over the last few years, thanks to advancements in orthodontic treatments, including the development of lingual braces. The good news is that, if you’re worried about being able to kiss, this won’t be a problem while wearing lingual […]

The goal of wearing braces is to end up with a beautiful, aligned smile, but the process can leave you feeling self-conscious. This doesn’t need to be the case with the right outlook and a few helpful tips. Following are a few things to consider that will help you look good, feel confident and have a great smile while wearing braces. Embrace Your Braces The first thing you’ll need to […]

Orthodontic patients usually have a lot of questions. “Do braces hurt?” is one we get asked a lot. Well, you’ll be happy to know that after braces are placed, most patients only experience mild teeth or gum soreness. The soreness typically lasts about one week and is rarely difficult to deal with. During treatment, some patients find the soreness associated with braces to be uncomfortable, but manageable. When it does […]