Archive for category: BRO News

Can you believe it’s already December? The holidays are upon us!

The most wonderful time of the year doesn’t have to be any less wonderful if you’re currently wearing braces. In fact, it might just *sparkle* with even more magic than usual.

Foods to Avoid

As much as we love to see you, we hope you won’t need to interrupt any holiday cheer with an emergency appointment.

If you have traditional braces, here are some festive foods you’ll want to avoid:

• Candy canes
  • Remember, this includes peppermint bark and chocolate covered candy canes!
  • If you break off pieces to suck on rather than crunching down (even at the end, when it’s tempting!) you should be okay.
• Caramel apples
• Corn on the cob
• Hard cheese and charcuterie
• Hard cookies
• Meat on the bone
• Pecan pie
• Peanut brittle
• Toffee and other hard candies

Here are some festive foods you can indulge in:

• Cake
• Cranberry sauce
• Eggnog
  • If you’re an adult who is over 21 that is! (Be sure to check out our Lifestyle Guide to Adult Braces)
  • Of course, eggnog can also be served without alcohol for the kiddos or anyone who prefers it that way.
• Green bean casserole
• Ham
• Hot chocolate
• Jello
• Pudding
• Soft cheese and charcuterie
• Soft cookies (just make sure they don’t have any hard candy or nut chunks)
• Stuffing
• Turkey

We know you all are smart cookies (food pun intended!) so we also want to encourage you to just use your best judgement. There are lot of “in between” foods that could go either way. Take s’mores, for example. Crunching down on a graham cracker with your braces isn’t the best idea, nor is biting into a hard chunk of chocolate. However, if you were to let the toasted marshmallow melt the piece chocolate on a place, and then either eat it sans graham cracker or break the cracker into smaller pieces, you would probably be fine.

The same thing goes for dinner rolls: tearing off a crusty bite with your teeth might pop a bracket, whereas using your hands to pull off piece or sticking to soft options like Hawaiian rolls will protect your teeth.

Colorful Cheer

One of the most exciting parts of having braces (besides looking forward to perfectly straight teeth!) is getting to change the colors of your elastics.

Will you go with a popping combo like red and green for Christmas or blue and silver for Hannukah? Or maybe just keep it festive-chic with all gold, all silver, or a metallic wintery grey?

The world–and the BRO office–is your oyster!

Invisalign

If you have Invisalign or BRO Impressions, you already know you can eat whatever you want– during your 2-4 hour eating window, that is!

We recommend setting a timer on your phone when it comes to your allotted time. This season often includes a busy social calendar, and it can be easy to lose track when things are merry at the office holiday party, jolly at an ugly sweater party, or peaceful and bright while driving around looking at Christmas lights with a canteen of hot chocolate.

We recommend planning ahead a little extra during the holidays. If you know you have a social engagement on the calendar that evening, try to keep breakfast and lunch short. Also don’t forget that this season is all about peppermint– and that includes the taste of toothpaste when you brush your teeth before putting those aligners back in! 😉

Conclusion

We hope you and your family are having an amazing holiday season! We can’t wait to wish you a merry everything when you come in for your next appointment. And if we don’t see you before 2018, we hope you finish this year with lots of love and laughter!

If you do end up having an orthodontic emergency, please get in touch with us! We are always a phone call away at 828-585-6045, or you can view additional contact information here.

It’s that time of the year again! Perhaps on the 31st we should refer to ourselves as “BOO” instead of “BRO”?

We love Halloween around here, and we know most of our amazing patients do too!

That being said, let’s save the scary moments for haunted houses and costumes– not for your braces. We’ve put together a little guide on how to avoid all kinds of orthodontic scares.

Pre-Braces Jitters

Are you super excited to be straightening your smile? If you already feel the same way about improved confidence and oral health as little girls do about princess costumes, then you can skip on down to the next section!

These tips are for those of you who might be feeling a little wary of your upcoming orthodontic experience, or have kids who are nervous about theirs. Don’t worry, that’s okay too! Working through your apprehension is better than suppressing it.

Here are a few things that might help:

• You are far from alone. Over four million people wear braces in the US alone!
• Out of those four million people, approximately one million are adults.
• Gwen Stefani once said, “I always told myself when I got rich, that’s the first thing I’d do,” in regard to braces. Here at Blue Ridge Orthodontics, we working with most private insurance and try to make them accessible to everyone. That being said, how cool that rocking braces was Gwen’s first priority!
• Braces have become so commonplace that they no longer have the “nerdy” stereotype they did in the eighties and early nineties.
• At BRO, we charge the same for Invisalign as we do for braces, so you can make your choice based on your true preference rather than your bank account.
• Braces are like going to the gym. Even if you’re dreading it, you’ll feel happy and healthy after you’re done!

We like to think being at the BRO office is way more fun than the gym anyway. We even have a spa because the trick to entertaining waiting parents is a nice treat!

Spooky Snacks

When you think of Halloween, the main two things that come to mind are probably costumes and candy!

via GIPHY

That won’t need to change when you have braces; the second part will simply need to be modified a little.

We advise picking softer chocolates; for example, opt for Reese’s cups over harder options like Butterfinger or Reisen. Watch out for nuts, caramel, and anything crunchy or sticky.

If you (or your child) is a huge fan of something specific like Snickers, it will probably be okay to cut it into smaller pieces and put it back on the molars to chew slowly and carefully.

It’s always fun to get think like a family team too! For example, if you have one child in braces and one who isn’t, the siblings can trade trick or treat candies with one another and get some softer options to the braces-wearing child.

Not to mention that you can think outside the wrapper! Try baking Halloween themed cupcakes as a family or buy the braces-wearer’s favorite non-chunky flavor of ice cream during Halloween week. If you’re a 21+ orthodontic patient, maybe pour yourself a glass of champagne to make up for skipping the toffee and caramel this year. The possibilities are endless!

Keeping Your Teeth Healthy

When you’re indulging in things like candy and sugary beverages, make sure to brush your teeth as soon as you are done! Optimally you are brushing after every meal anyway, but it’s especially important after an orange-frosted chocolate cupcake.

Invisalign patients are in luck because they can take their aligners out and eat things like caramel apples. That being said, remember to brush your teeth, clean your aligners, and put them back in! It can be easy to take your aligners out for a Halloween party or a night of nibbling on your kids trick-or-treat snacks and go over your allotted 2 hours of daily eating time.

Happy Halloween from the BRO Team

Now that you know how to enjoy Halloween with braces, we hope you won’t have anything to be scared of… except maybe this ↓

via GIPHY

Is anyone planning on incorporating their braces into their Halloween costume? We’re thinking Gwen Stefani in her pink wig and tin grin would be quite the cool 90s throwback!

As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Dr. Roberts, Dr. Schuler, Dr. Twomley, and all of us BROmies want your holiday to be awesome and worry-free. Happy Halloween from our family to yours!

Have you ever heard someone say “…and eventually it’ll come as naturally as brushing your
teeth!” in regard to a new habit – such as eating a healthier diet or working out?

Brushing your teeth is a habit you’ve had ingrained since early childhood, so it’s fitting that people sometimes compare other good routines to dental hygiene. But once you get your braces, this seemingly simple habit becomes more complex.

If that’s the case for you, this is the ultimate guide to help you establish your new tooth-brushing routine.

Brushing

Before you got your braces, did you find any areas harder to reach with your toothbrush? That’s not unusual, as malocclusions and other orthodontic issues often create these problems.

Fortunately, you made the smart choice of investing in your smile and getting braces. Once your orthodontic treatment is complete, your teeth will be much easier to clean!

In the meantime, braces will make brushing your teeth a little more complicated. Don’t worry,
the team at Blue Ridge Orthodontics is here to help! Here are some steps that will help you
through the process:

Step 1 – Choose a Good Toothbrush

A quality electric toothbrush is often a great idea – both when you have braces and just in
general. However, you don’t have to have one to do a great job brushing. A soft-bristled brush
that’s gentle on your gums, teeth and braces will work well, too. You also should use the
interdental toothbrush (Proxibrush) that we give you to get underneath your wires and around
your brackets.

Don’t hesitate to show us your toothbrush or ask for a replacement Proxibrush if you lose
yours! We want to make sure you’re using all the right tools.

Step 2 – Brush Gently, But Thoroughly

You’re probably used to brushing your teeth twice a day: once in the morning and once before
bed. Perhaps sometimes you sneak in a third brush before an important event like a birthday
party, presentation for school, date or business meeting!

(Remember, adults often get braces too. We know our young patients aren’t headed to board meetings… or on dates!)

However, once you get braces, it’s recommended you brush your teeth after every meal or
snack.

Here’s how:

• Rinse your mouth with water to get the loose or large particles out before you even start
  brushing.
• Get your toothbrush wet and apply a toothpaste that contains fluoride.
  • Make sure not to use a whitening toothpaste, since it’ll only whiten the area of the teeth NOT covered by your braces and you’ll wind up with little darker patches where the brackets were.
  • If you’d like tips on choosing your toothpaste, any of the Blue Ridge
    Orthodontics team is here to help.
• Put your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums and brush the parts of your teeth
  above the braces.
• Gently move your brush back and forth – or if you have an electric toothbrush, move it
  slowly forward or backward as it does its work.
• Repeat for:
  • the parts of your teeth below the braces
  • the brackets themselves
  • the biting surfaces of your teeth
  • the backs
• Brush thoroughly for 3 to 5 minutes (at least).
  • Remember “thoroughly” doesn’t mean “aggressively.” Brushing too vigorously is
    bad for your enamel and gums; it can even lead to periodontal problems and cavities on the roots of your teeth.
• Don’t forget to brush your tongue, too!

These step-by-step videos are also helpful!

If for any reason you can’t brush after you eat, make sure to drink lots of water and/or rinse your
mouth out.

Step 3 – Follow Up with Mouthwash

A hydrogen peroxide antiseptic mouthwash can do for your gums and inside of your cheeks
what hydrogen peroxide can do for shallow cuts and skin problems:

• Reduce inflammation
• Prevent infection
• Decrease irritation
• Help with the healing process

Peroxyl is a great brand of mouthwash to use while you have braces. It can help heal canker
sores, cheek bites and other temporary injuries to your gums.

Your braces shouldn’t be jabbing you or cutting the inside of your mouth. If you experience
anything like this, let us know right away so we can fix that wire or bracket! However, little gum and cheek irritations can happen sometimes, and a good offense is your best defense.

To use Peroxyl or another brand of antibacterial mouthwash, rinse your mouth with two
teaspoons up to four times daily, following your normal brushing routine.

Step 4 – Fight with Fluoride

As you likely know, fluoride strengthens the enamel of your teeth, preventing damage and tooth
decay.

You likely already use a toothpaste with fluoride, but adding a post-brushing treatment can be a good idea, too. One effective brand is Phos-Flur, a sodium fluoride gel that kills bacteria and replaces minerals in tooth enamel. Unlike brushing and using mouthwash, you should only use a fluoride treatment once a day at bedtime.

These four steps to brushing will help keep your smile sparkling and healthy! Remember to be
consistent with your routine and to abstain from any kind of whitening. (That can be your treat to yourself when the braces come off!)

Flossing

Our Asheville orthodontics team is going to be honest with you: flossing with braces is not what most people consider a delightful task. It takes some getting used to and the braces will require even more time to adequately maneuver. That being said, it’s even more important than ever!

Luckily there are two great options for flossing with braces.

Option #1 – Glide Threader Floss

Glide Threader Floss comes in individual pieces, rather than in an enclosed spool. Each piece has three parts:

1. A straight, stiff end that’s still somewhat bendable
2. A section of thicker, spongy material
3. A normal floss end (significantly longer than the first two parts)

You use the stiff end to get under the wire and between the two teeth. Once the floss is where it needs to be, you can proceed as usual, making a C-shape against each tooth.

Option #2 – A Floss Threader

A floss threader is made of similar material as the stiff end of a piece of Superfloss. Use the floss threader to “thread” your piece of dental floss under your wire and proceed as usual.

Since it’s easier for food to get stuck when you have braces, it’s a great idea to floss after every meal. However, be sure that you’re being gentle and not damaging your gums. If flossing after every meal isn’t feasible, make sure you’re flossing at least once a day. And don’t forget to rinse your mouth with water after you’re done!

Retainer Care

After your braces come off, it’s important to make sure all your hard work results in a lifetime of straight, beautiful teeth! That means wearing a retainer.

One big plus of wearing a retainer is that it’s far easier than having braces. You only wear them when you sleep at night time.

Optimally you should clean your retainer once a day. Here are some great retainer care tips:

• Brush your retainer with non-whitening toothpaste after brushing your teeth. This way, you’ll establish an easy-to-remember routine.
• Disinfect your retainer by soaking it in hydrogen peroxide or Retainer Brite.
• Rinse your retainer with regular water afterwards.
• Put it back in your mouth to protect that straight smile!
• Make sure to never:
  • Scrub it with whitening toothpaste, which can damage the surface
  • Over-soak
  • Use vinegar instead of Retainer Brite or hydrogen peroxide
  • Expose your retainer to excessive heat
  • Put it somewhere where a pet or small child can reach it

Please remember how important your retainer is! It’s a lot easier to care for than braces, but
equally important.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve enjoyed the ultimate guide to brushing your teeth with braces! We know that
the extra minutes spent on oral care while you have braces might be tedious, but we promise
they are worth it. Just think about that gorgeous, healthy smile you’ll be rocking in the very near future!

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a free consultation at our Asheville office, please call us at 828-585-6045 or email us at [email protected].

Braces probably seem pretty straightforward– or should we say straight-teeth-forward?

Dear readers,
Please excuse this attempt at orthodontic humor; we can’t help ourselves…

The overall process is simple: you get them put on by a reputable orthodontist, you wear them, you get them taken off, you wear your retainer. You probably know plenty of people who have or have had braces, and perhaps you’re one of them yourself. Braces may be pretty standard, but there are actually a lot of incredible facts about them you may not know!

Fact #1 – Braces Are Nearly 300 Years Old

French physician Pierre Fauchard, known as the father of modern dentistry, made the first set of braces in 1728. They consisted of a flat piece of metal material connected to the wearer’s teeth by thread. Just shy of 200 years later, dentist Edward Angle made some important advancements to more effectively fix problematic tooth alignment. He created brackets in 1915, using either 14 or 18 karat gold because of its malleable properties.

Fact #2 – The Type of Wire Used for Braces was Invented by NASA

Are you ready for your straight, beautiful smile to blow people out of this world? Then you might love that the wire used for braces was created by none other than NASA!

Dr. Angle’s developments may have been innovative, but gold braces were also expensive. The field of orthodontics took a giant leap when NASA developed a metal alloy called nickel titanium in 1959. Though they created this heat-resistant metal for space-bound shuttles, it was also perfect for making thin, highly flexible wires that could maintain their shape after being bent and attached to a wearer’s teeth.

Fact #3 – Braces Aren’t Just for Straightening Your Teeth

Although having perfectly aligned teeth is a wonderful aspect of braces, one of the main benefits is actually that braces fix a wearer’s bite. If your upper front teeth cover your lower teeth and the cusps of your molars don’t touch, you have the perfect dental alignment; however, not many people have this naturally.

Braces are far more than just a cosmetic investment. Because they fix your bite, they also alleviate an array of health problems, including:

• Difficulty speaking
• Breathing issues
• Problems chewing and swallowing

When it comes to your mouth, orthodontics are pretty and practical.

Fact #4 – {Smile} Like an Egyptian

The desire for straight teeth can be traced far further back than 18th century France– all the way to Ancient Egypt! Who knows whether Ancient Egyptians knew about the health benefits listed in the previous section or if they just wanted straight teeth for cosmetic reasons, but some mummies were actually found with makeshift “braces”. Archaeologists believe that the animal intestines wrapped around mummies’ teeth in a fashion similar to modern braces wiring were an attempt at straightening crooked teeth.

Fact #5 – There Are Over Ten Different Types of Braces

At first glance, you may think all braces are the same; however, they actually vary from one another in small ways. You and your orthodontist will evaluate what type of braces are perfect for you. Invisalign is an excellent option for patients who don’t want their braces to be visible. Mini braces or porcelain braces are also sometimes an option for people who don’t need their braces to be fully invisible, but do want them to be somewhat less noticeable.

Fact #6 – All Orthodontists are Dentists

Do you remember learning in elementary school that “all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares”? This is similar! An orthodontist is actually a dentist who specializes in the prevention and treatment of malocclusions and other teeth irregularities. Orthodontists go to dental school, but afterwards they complete an additional two to three years in an orthodontic residency program. About 6% of dentists are orthodontists.

Fact #7 – Braces Aren’t Just for Tweens and Teens

Sure, that may have been a stereotype of the past, but it’s certainly not realistic! The American Association of Orthodontics has reported that about one in five orthodontic patients is an adult. These days, parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents have decided to reap the benefits of a healthy bite and straighter smile. It’s never too late!

On the flip side of that coin, many people also don’t realize how young orthodontic treatment should start. The earlier you get your child in for his or her first free consultation, the earlier you’ll know what he or she might need. The American Association of Orthodontics recommends getting your child into an office by age seven. Certain malocclusions are best treated young; in fact, sometimes seeking orthodontic care for a small child can entirely prevent him or her from needing braces later in life.

Fact #8 – You Might Need to Bust Some Myths!

If you’re thinking about getting braces, it’s natural to have questions or concerns. But make sure you’re not letting any myths get to you! Here are some busted myths about braces you might be relieved to hear:

1. You can still safely play sports
2. You can still effectively play musical instruments, including ones that use your mouth
3. Braces don’t actually set off metal detectors
4. Braces do not interfere with radio signals
5. Braces are not magnetic
6. It’s not possible to “lock” braces while kissing another person with braces!

Whew! No one wants to have issues going through airport security, give up hobbies, or have trouble kissing. Good news all around!

Fact #9 – Time and Pressure Work Wonders

Time and pressure provide the teamwork that make the perfect smile dream work! If you’ve ever wondered why you have to wear braces for so long, you’ll find this fact especially interesting.

Each tooth has a nerve ending inside, known as pulp. If your teeth were to be realigned too quickly, the process would cut off their blood supply. Instead, we adjust your teeth with slow, steady pressure so the pulp continues to move with the tooth, supplying the tooth tissue with the blood and nutrition it needs. The archwires of the braces are designed to get the perfect amount of pressure to each tooth, moving it to its desired place at the most efficient–and healthy!–rate possible.

Fact #10 – One of Four Million

Going through a big change like getting braces can sometimes make people feel alone or self-conscious. While there’s nothing wrong with feeling that way at first, there is really no need to feel alienated. Why? Because FOUR MILLION other Americans are currently in your shoes!

That’s right, the American Association of Orthodontics has reported that four million other people also have braces at this very minute. Not only are millions sharing your quest for a healthier and more beautiful smile, but about one million of these orthodontics patients are adults over the age of 18. Braces are a popular decision– and for good reason. Rock that decision now and rock perfect teeth soon!

In addition to being a wise decision for your looks and health, it turns out braces are pretty interesting too! We hope you’ve enjoyed these incredible facts, and that they’ve shed some light on potential worries or concerns. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment, please call us at (828) 585-6045 or email us at [email protected] today. Blue Ridge Orthodontics is passionate about perfecting Asheville smiles, and yours can be next!

Have any upcoming vacations on your calendar? (If so, can you pack us in your suitcase?!)

While travel is fun and exciting, it can also be more challenging to take care of your braces or Invisalign. Whether you’re on the road or speed-walking to make your connecting flight, travel can be hectic.

No matter whether you’re enjoying a day at the beach or on the slopes, travel takes you out of your daily routine. That’s one of the best parts, but this deviation from the norm can negatively impact your orthodontic plan if you’re not careful! Here are four key tips to keep in mind while traveling with braces.

1) Snack Smart

Unfortunately your braces don’t get any PTO; they are on you full-time! (Unless, of course, you have Invisalign.)

Nothing puts a damper on a fun day like losing a bracket, especially if you are far away from Asheville, North Carolina and the team here at Blue Ridge Orthodontics.

While we don’t want you to miss out on the interesting foods of a new region, here are some things you always should skip:

• Bagels
• Candies that are:
  • Chewy
  • Gummy
  • Sticky
• Hard or chewy:
  • Bread
  • Cookies
  • Rolls
• Corn on the cob
• Ice (this is a sneaky, common culprit!)
• Nuts of any kind
• Pretzels
• Whole raw fruits and vegetables
  • Fruits and veggies are usually fine if they’re cut small

Remember, you can still treat yourself! You can eat ice cream as long as it doesn’t have a hard cone or crunchy toppings. With a food like pizza, you can cut it up into smaller bites. There are ways to handle vacation meals without compromising your braces or the joy behind that smile. Talk about having your cake and eating it too!

Invisalign Tips

If you have Invisalign, you already know you can eat whatever you’d like when your aligners are out. That being said, it’s easy to neglect the mandatory 22 hours of wear if you’re sipping pina coladas on a beach! Make extra sure you’ve set your timer for your eating/drinking non-water windows, so you don’t fall behind on your progress.

If you lose an aligner to a napkin in a “We’re about to miss our tour bus!” moment of panic, don’t worry. Simply use your previous or next aligner for the time being, and let us know what happened either by email or when you get back home to the Asheville area.

2) Keep Up Your Routine

Vacation is a great time to relax and leave your responsibilities behind, but this doesn’t include your brushing and flossing regimen. It may be tempting to do a sub-par job brushing in the morning, if you’re ready for a fun-packed day or just want to fall into that hotel bed at night without flossing. However, you don’t want a week or two of fun to negatively impact the smile you’ll have for the rest of your life.

Not to mention that good dental hygiene will make your smile look nice and shiny for those inevitable social media vacation selfies!

3) Pack a Travel Kit

We’ve talked about the braces kit before, but sometimes people stop needing them. If you don’t need wax because your braces never rub, you keep an extra toothbrush and floss in your locker/desk/car, and you use your phone as a mirror, you might be all set in your day-to-day life.

If you’re about to hit the road, however, you may find yourself needing a kit again! Here are the important items to include:

• A Compact Mirror – Vacations are sometimes so go-go-go that your phone might be dead at the end of a long day. Having a tiny compact mirror for checking your teeth in situations like this is ideal.
• Travel-Sized Toothbrush – Since you’re not near your school locker or work desk (yay!), you don’t have that second toothbrush to fall back on. Slip a small, foldable toothbrush into your purse or pocket for those post-meal cleanings on the go.
• Dental Floss – There’s nothing more annoying that having something between your teeth. You don’t want to spend part of a day with your tongue struggling in vain over that stringy bit of cubed mango, so make sure you have some floss and floss threaders on hand.
• Orthodontic Wax – Speaking of things you don’t want, it’s always a bummer if one of your brackets starts rubbing, and you’re stuck without wax. A packet of orthodontic wax is easily slipped into a wallet or pocket for that extra comfort insurance – just in case!
• Water Bottle – Staying hydrated on vacation is important, so having a water bottle on hand kills two birds with one stone. If you’re in a pinch and don’t have time to brush your teeth after a meal or snack, swishing water around your mouth is the next best option.

Your travel kit will help ensure that each vacation day goes smoothly. Make sure to remember your sunscreen, too!

4) Before You Go, Let Us Know

Schedule a pre-vacation appointment here at Blue Ridge Orthodontics before you leave. A last checkup can ensure all your brackets and wires are in place. If needed, we also can make adjustments to the upcoming appointments on your schedule, though this is typically only necessary for longer vacations.

If you do have big travel plans, such as an entire summer abroad, it’s best for us to know as soon as you do.

Conclusion

Most importantly, have an absolutely wonderful vacation! We hope you gained value from these four tips, but we encourage you not to worry too much. In the case of a broken bracket or other urgent problem, you can see an orthodontist who practices in your current area. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 828- 585-6045 if you have any questions or need help.

Here’s to rocking Blue Ridge Orthodontics braces or Invisalign anywhere across the globe! Bon voyage!