New Year Means New Smile

new year means new smile

new year means new smileJanuary is an ideal opportunity to set your resolutions and make goals for the year. Many of us tend to focus on resolutions that involve improving their waistline or quitting bad habits, like smoking. However, there are a number of other areas involving your health that you can work on improving, including your dental health. Take the brand new year is your chance to get the healthiest smile that you deserve. Whether you’re in need of bridges, implants, or an orthodontic treatment like braces, this year is your year, and we couldn’t be more excited for you.

Establishing and Improving Home Dental Hygiene

If you’re honest with yourself, how often do you brush and floss your teeth? You should be brushing your teeth at least twice each day, and you should be flossing once a day. When we eat, bacteria and food debris can build up and go between our teeth, which can create an environment perfect for cavities.

Switch out your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. Be sure to use a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Use mouthwash that will rinse and clean your mouth after brushing and flossing.

Straight Smiles Are Smiles You’re Proud to Show Off

Are you dissatisfied with the way that your teeth look? Misaligned teeth can lead us to feel self-conscious about our smile. Meet with your Fair Oaks orthodontist for a free, no-obligation consultation. Find out if Invisalign or traditional braces are the best fit for you.

Whether you’re looking for braces for teens or braces for adults, you’ll find that a brand new year is the best time to get on the calendar at your orthodontist’s office. So, if you’re interested in starting your orthodontic treatment, contact Lyons Orthodontics in El Dorado Hills or Fair Oaks today!

Dental Health Can Equate to Confidence Boosts

Whether you’re taking care of cavities or gaps in your smile, you’ll find that taking charge of your dental health can lead to a boost in your confidence. This is definitely the case when you get orthodontic treatment for teeth that are crooked or otherwise misaligned. Straightened teeth are teeth that you’ll be proud to show off at every opportunity. Many of our Lyons patients feel much more confident after getting their braces off! Check out some of our patient’s reviews to hear about their Just Smile journey.

Options in Braces

If you do need orthodontic treatment, you may be feeling a little nervous. That’s totally normal! Many teens and adults don’t want a mouth full of metal braces for months on end. What you may not know is that during your visit to the orthodontist, Sacramento patients will be presented with a number of treatment options for braces. This could include the Invisalign clear aligners, which is a way to discretely correct your smile without the need for the traditional wires and brackets.

When it comes to Invisalign El Dorado Hills, patients will find that these clear aligners can get them the results they want in much less time than traditional braces.

The start of a new year is your chance to do something to help you and your health. Use January as your opportunity to make those appointments with your dentist and your orthodontist so that you can take control of your dental health. Call Lyons Orthodontics to get on the schedule. Your new smile could just be an appointment away!

Best and Worst Halloween Candy for Braces

Best and Worst Halloween Candy for Braces - Lyons Orthodontics

Best and Worst Halloween Candy for Braces

Who here absolutely loves candy? We know a majority of you answered yes! Candy may be a yummy treat, but it’s one of the leading causes of broken/bent wires. If you have braces, you should avoid eating candy. That may be a little tricky to do since Halloween is coming up. No need to worry, you can still celebrate Halloween! In this article, we discuss the best and worst Halloween candy for braces. Happy Halloween!

Worst Candy for Braces

  • Chewy Candies. For the good of your braces, orthodontic professionals at Lyons Orthodontics in El Dorado Hills, CA, recommend avoiding any chewy candies this Halloween. If you aren’t sure what candies we’re referring to, then think of Tootsie Rolls, Skittles, Airheads, Starburst, Jelly beans, Laffy Taffy and Air Heads. When you eat chewy candy, you risk having your braces bent or broken.
  • Hard Candies. Sorry to break this to you, but hard candies aren’t good for your braces! Their adverse effects include staining the elastics of your braces, bending the wires, breaking the brackets, and causing tooth decay. Hard candies include, but are not limited to: jolly ranchers, jawbreakers, and butterscotch. Eating hard candy could do serious damage to your braces and your dental health. At Lyons Orthodontics, we want you to have the best Just Smile experience possible! So, please skip the hard candies this Halloween!
  • Caramel. Now this will break a lot of hearts among kids and teens, but caramels, regardless of whether they are hard or soft, aren’t good for anyone wearing braces. These candies could tear your brackets, and they can get stuck in your braces. Sugar Babies, Toffees, candy apples, and caramel apples are not recommended for people with braces.
  • Candies and Candy Bars with Nuts. Our friend Dr. Jordan Smith, a dentist in Georgetown, Kentucky, says that any candy that contains nuts are not for people with braces. At Lyons Orthodontics in El Dorado Hills, we have seen way too many braces that have been damaged by candies and candy bars containing nuts. For that reason, we urge patients to confiscate candies like Snickers, Payday, Babe Ruth, Almond Joy, Hershey’s with Almonds, and any other candies that have nuts in them.

Best Candy for People with Braces

  • Pure Chocolate. If you have braces, one of the best things that you can eat during Halloween is pure chocolate. Pure chocolate won’t damage your braces; it is easy to chew and is less likely to cause tooth decay like other candies. As long as the chocolate doesn’t have any nuts or caramel, go ahead and give yourself a treat! Hershey’s Kisses, Dove, Hershey’s bars, and any other brand of pure chocolate is okay to eat if you wear braces.
  • Mint Patties. Our orthodontists in El Dorado Hills condone mint patties! They freshen your breath and are incredibly tasty. Since they don’t pose any danger to your braces, you can go ahead and enjoy them during Halloween. However, it is advisable to brush your teeth after eating mint patties since they contain lots of sugar.
  • Peanut Butter Cups. Peanut butter cups are a perfect choice for people who love eating candy with nuts. These candies are highly unlikely to damage your braces, yet they allow you to enjoy chocolate with a touch of protein in it.
  • Milky Way and 3 Musketeers. For all of our sticky candy lovers, Milky Way, and 3 Musketeers can make a safe candy choice. For example, the caramel found in Milky Way is not so hard that it would damage your brackets and wires.

Now that you know what candies to eat and what to avoid this Halloween, you can enjoy this spooky holiday! Keep in mind that our recommendations above are only for people who have braces. If you’re in doubt, give our El Dorado Hills or Fair Oaks orthodontic office a call, and we will answer any questions you have. We hope you have a fun and safe Halloween!

How to Eat With Braces

eating with braces - lyons orthodontics

eating with braces - lyons orthodonticsFor most people, adjusting to eating with braces is the biggest challenge they have yet to face! If you are one of those people, this brief guide compiled by the dental care experts at Lyons Orthodontics in El Dorado Hills is perfect for you! 

How to Eat With Braces

  • Opt for soft foods.
  • Avoid sticky or crunchy foods that could damage the brackets of your braces.
  • Cut your food into smaller pieces.
  • Take smaller bites of food.
  • Eat slowly and chew your food carefully.
  • Avoid biting into corn on the cob, apples burritos, and other similar foods.
  • Use your back teeth to chew.
  • If sensitivity develops while you eat, ask Dr. Tim Lyons for pain relievers.

You may notice that your teeth no longer fit together like they used to before you got the braces. Lyons Orthodontics experts explain that this feeling is due to the changing position of your teeth, and it can make the act of eating feel awkward. Eating slowly is the best solution to still enjoy your meal without putting your oral health and the orthodontic devices at risk.

What Are the Recommended Foods For When You First Get Braces?

If you just got new braces, or your current set has just been tightened, you are better off eating liquid or soft foods, like mashed potatoes, yogurt, meal replacement shakes and soup.

Dr. Tim Lyons, a Folsom orthodontist, recommends that you eat cold foods, like ice cream, to ease any discomfort or pain you may be experiencing. Make sure that those cold foods don’t have anything crunchy in them and avoid biting hard into them while you eat.

As you get more used to having braces, you can gradually shift back to your normal favorite foods. Talk to your Fair Oaks orthodontist for advice about when and how to make this transition.

As you decide what food to eat, remember that sections of your braces, such as the ligatures, may be stained by pigmented foods (beetroot, curry sauce and blackcurrants, for example). Try your best to avoid these foods as much as possible.

What Snacks Are Okay for People With Braces?

The professionals at Lyons Orthodontics in El Dorado Hills advise patients to refrain from eating snacks like crunchy chips and popcorn when they start wearing braces. 

Softer snacks, such as applesauce, soft cheeses, soft cookies, and muffins are safe to eat if you wear braces. Although, don’t overdo the sugary snacks as a way to compensate for missing out on the crunchy snacks. Excess sugar isn’t good for your teeth and overall health, and getting braces can be a good time to adjust your sugar intake accordingly!

To make it easier to avoid overconsumption of sugary snacks, stock up on healthy snacks, like bananas, blueberries, and yogurt. 

Recommended Eating Habits for People With Braces

Our busy lives have forced us into the habit of taking big bites of food eating in a hurry. However, if you wear braces, this style of eating will not only cause you pain, but it will also endanger the different components of the braces, like the brackets.

Dr. Tim Lyons recommends that you make a deliberate effort to bite small pieces of food and then chew them slowly so that you don’t put your braces at risk. Eating slowly can help you enjoy your food more and digestion! 

Sterling Heights dentist, Dr. Farhart, suggests that another helpful eating habit is consuming plenty of water with your food. This habit is good for two main reasons. The first reason is it will help you swallow the small bites of food if you are finding it difficult to chew the food thoroughly. The second reason is the water you drink will rinse the mouth so that any food particles stuck on your braces are washed away. This makes maintaining oral hygiene even easier!

You must check your braces each day to see if anything is out of sync. If you see anything abnormal, contact us at Lyons Orthodontics immediately regardless of having a scheduled visit planned within the coming days. Prompt attention to any defect will prevent any injuries by damaged braces and allows your orthodontic treatment to stay on course!

 

Brushing with Braces

lyons orthodontics brushing with braces - Lyons Orthodontics

lyons orthodontics brushing with bracesSo, you have your new set of braces? Congratulations! Our Lyons Orthodontics Team couldn’t be more excited for you to get the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. Now all you have to do is take good care of your teeth. We’re happy to help you along your journey, just follow the steps below if you’re brushing with braces. 

How to Brush Your Teeth with Braces

Pick the Right Toothbrush. Brushing with braces can seem tricky at first. Don’t worry, we’re here to help. You may need to have two kinds of toothbrushes for this task. First, you will need an ordinary soft-bristled toothbrush, and you will also need a proxabrush. A proxabrush resembles the structure of a Christmas tree, and this unusual toothbrush design is helpful when you are cleaning around the wires of your braces. Orthodontists in El Dorado Hill, CA, suggest that you use the ordinary brush first. You’ll clean your teeth using up and down motions. You can then use the proxabrush to clean the surfaces of the teeth that have wires. In this way, all parts of your teeth are cleaned during each session.

Floss Thoroughly. Dr. Tim Lyons explains that people who wear braces have to be more vigilant when flossing because the wires and brackets add to the places where food particles and plaque can accumulate. So, make sure you pay extra attention while flossing each day so that you remove any accumulations. Any type of floss, such as a Waterpik or a reusable floss threader, will work best.

Rinse Your Mouth and Teeth. The orthodontists at Lyons Orthodontics recommend that you add to your oral care routine is rinsing your teeth. Rinsing is not only a quick and easy method but also effective. It is best to use an antibacterial mouthwash since this can ward off gingivitis while helping to flush any accumulations on your teeth and braces.

Clean Removable Devices. If you have Invisalign clear aligners, then your oral health care routine will be a little different. You’ll want to remove your aligners daily so that you can clean out the bacteria and plaque. Use the denture-cleaning solution recommended by your orthodontist in El Dorado Hill, CA.

How Frequently Should I Clean My Braces?

Even without braces, it is appropriate to brush and floss daily. People with braces are particularly advised to have a toothbrush with them at all times, if possible. This will allow them to brush after every meal.

If that isn’t possible, Dr. Tim Lyons recommends that you rinse your mouth with plain water to remove food particles caught between the wires of your braces.

Foods to Avoid If You Wear Braces

Yes, wearing braces imposes some restrictions on your food choices, but these are intended to safeguard the braces and your oral health from preventable problems. Generally speaking, you should refrain from eating any hard or sticky foods since these pose the biggest risk to your braces and teeth. Such foods include caramel, hard candies, gum, popcorn, and nuts.

Dr. Long Luu, an orthodontist in Folsom, CA, cautions that care regarding what you expose your teeth and braces to extends to non-food items, such as ice, pencils, and fingernails. Don’t chew these objects because you may damage your braces and teeth.

Final Thoughts

Dr. Tim Lyons and his team will give you specific care instructions to follow once you get your braces. Make sure you follow those instructions so that you can get your beautiful smile within the expected treatment time. We strongly urge you to attend every follow-up appointment as scheduled. Lyons Orthodontics looks forward to the day you complete your treatment so that we can celebrate together once your braces are finally removed! If you ever have any questions, contact Lyons Orthodontics, and we’ll be happy to assist you.