Category: Braces

So it’s your first night with braces! You’re excited to be undergoing a life changing transformation, but you also know that the first week with braces requires some minor adjustments.

Maybe you’ve filled your fridge with some braces-friendly snacks and took a temporary hiatus from the not-so-friendly snacks. You have orthodontic wax on hand, just in case, and you even have some specialized floss threaders to help you floss under your braces.

Sounds like you’re prepared! Is there anything else you need to consider? Do you have to switch up your sleep routine to adapt to your treatment?

Your favorite team here at Jupiter Orthodontics has all the answers for you. Don’t lose sleep! You can still count sheep with these top 4 tips for sleeping with braces.

How to Sleep with Braces: Top 4 Tips

Tip #1: Keep your teeth and gums clean.
Committing to a thorough oral hygiene routine is more important than ever when you have braces. It’s crucial that you clean your gums, clean between each tooth, and clean the spaces between your teeth and braces before you go to bed. By keeping your teeth and braces clean, you prevent any unhealthy symptoms from developing.

Symptoms like inflamed gums, tender gums, yellow teeth, toothaches or bad breath due to poor oral hygiene can be pretty uncomfortable and distracting when you’re trying to sleep. Keeping your teeth and braces clean will serve you in many ways.

Tip #2: Try sleeping on your back.
If you tend to sleep on your side or stomach, try sleeping on your back for a few nights. When you lay on your side and stomach, your cheeks are pressed against the pillow, which can irritate your mouth. By sleeping on your back, the contact between your braces and mouth is minimized, so your cheeks can relax without being pushed against your braces.

If you continue to sleep on your side, that’s okay! You don’t have to worry about any considerable dangers when it comes to sleep position. You may just wake up with a bracket imprint on the inside of your cheeks and some minor soreness that goes away pretty quickly.

Tip #3: Use dental wax if needed.
Dental wax, or orthodontic wax, can come in super handy with tender cheeks or gums. Wax can be placed over any brackets or wires that tend to irritate your cheeks. Before you go to bed, simply pull off a few pieces of orthodontic wax, place them over any brackets or wire ends that need attention – or place some wax on all of your brackets – to give your cheeks some relief.

While you sleep, the wax will provide a comfortable barrier between your braces and your mouth, so you can sleep soundly and wake up rested.

You don’t have to worry about swallowing any wax while you sleep too. Most brands use non-toxic, natural substances, like carnauba wax, beeswax or paraffin wax. Make sure that the brand you choose uses non-toxic ingredients, so if you dream of a juicy burger and mistake the wax for your next bite, you won’t get sick… you’ll just be a little disappointed.

Tip #4: Use Tylenol if you have to!
During your first week with braces, it’s normal to experience some soreness in your gums. If you’ve been eating soft foods and taking it easy on your braces to prevent discomfort, but you’re still feeling some soreness before bed, you can take an over-the-counter acetaminophen medication, like Tylenol.

We suggest Tylenol or another acetaminophen medication, because ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can actually slow tooth movement (NCBI).

After the first week or so of your treatment, you should feel good enough to sleep without pain medication!

Sleeping with braces isn’t difficult, and many people don’t have to make any adjustments whatsoever! It really depends on your personal experience and whether or not you experience soreness with your braces.

Need more tips?

At your first visit, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to prepare for your orthodontic treatment! We’ll give you the tips and tricks you’re looking for to help you get a good night’s rest every night.

We provide a number of different types of braces, including traditional silver braces, clear ceramic braces, lingual (behind-the-teeth) braces, Damon self-ligating braces, and Invisalign® for teens and adults.

If you’re looking for a top orthodontist in Jupiter, we’d love to meet you! We have two highly experienced orthodontists, Dr. King and Dr. Welch. Request a complimentary exam for you or your child today.

The InBrace system is truly a revolutionary form of braces. There’s nothing else on the market like them!

InBrace braces are the only genuinely invisible type of braces. When you smile with these braces, it’s impossible for anyone to know that you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment.

The surfaces of your teeth that people see when you smile will look just as they always have—braces-free. But how’s that possible? Is it magic? Kind of…

Here’s what you need to know about InBrace lingual braces!

A Unique Innovation: InBrace Lingual Braces

InBrace braces are a form of advanced lingual braces. “Lingual” is derived from the Latin word, “lingua”, meaning tongue. So, unsurprisingly, lingual braces are bonded to the back surfaces, or the tongue-side surfaces, of your teeth.

How do InBrace braces work?

InBrace treatment uses custom-made Smartwire technology loops, instead of traditional, straight archwires. Used in combination with GentleForce technology, Smartwire enables friction-free tooth movement, allowing the teeth to move individually of each other.

This enables Dr. King or Dr. Welch to move teeth efficiently and according to your orthodontist’s pre-programmed treatment plan. The InBrace loops are designed to allow for optimal movement in each individual tooth—not moving all teeth together as traditional braces do.

GentleForce technology applies gentle, but persistent force to create a perfect alignment among the teeth and between the upper and lower jaw bones.

Are InBrace Lingual Braces right for me?

How do you know if InBrace braces are right for you? The best type of orthodontic treatment for you depends on the lifestyle you live, and the look you want to maintain throughout your treatment.

If having an invisible treatment is important to you, lingual braces may be the right treatment for you! Try asking yourself these questions when considering InBrace braces:

1. Are you looking for a truly invisible treatment? With InBrace, no matter what your day holds, you can go about it confidently without worrying that your treatment is detectable by others. You don’t have to hide your smile or remove your clear aligners to be comfortable in the spotlight. InBrace works secretly and discreetly behind your teeth to transform your smile.

2. Is healthy tooth movement important to you? Because InBrace braces move teeth individually, as opposed to all at once, there’s less friction applied to the teeth. This helps to protect the long-term health of the gums, teeth and mouth.

3. Would you prefer fewer orthodontist appointments? Who doesn’t want more time doing what they love? As much as we’d love to see you, we know you’d probably prefer to minimize your visits to our Jupiter orthodontist office. With InBrace braces, you won’t have any adjustment appointments, as traditional braces require. There aren’t any rubber bands to adjust! This also minimizes possible orthodontic emergencies.

Does InBrace cost more than traditional braces?

Generally speaking, InBrace lingual braces can cost more than traditional braces. It’s important to remember that the cost of your treatment will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of your condition and the length of your treatment plan.

InBrace and traditional braces can be pretty close in price. If you have orthodontic insurance, this helps to reduce the cost of treatment too! According to InBrace, most insurance providers cover up to $2,000 with InBrace, depending on your specific insurance plan.

We are a preferred provider for many insurance plans, and we’re happy to file your insurance claims for you!

We also provide flexible financing with a number of options, including 0% interest in-house financing with a low down payment and low monthly payments, pay-in-full discounts, and multi-family member discounts.

We really do everything we can to help our patients manage the cost of braces! If you’re interested in learning more about InBrace braces or you’ve seen some awesome InBrace reviews and want to experience this innovative treatment for yourself, we encourage you to reach out to us.

Still have questions about InBrace braces?

If you’re still on the fence about adult braces, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to speak to you about your hesitations.

Ready to begin your journey toward your most confident smile? Get started by requesting your free exam with Dr. King or Dr. Welch, top orthodontists in Jupiter.

The holidays are right around the corner! The first one up is Halloween—and we all know what that means.

What’s more exciting for children and young teens than the whole neighborhood giving away free candy?! I mean, really…

But how does a child going through orthodontic treatment navigate Halloween? Are all the Halloween candies still on the table? Should you avoid Halloween altogether, buy some braces-friendly snacks, and have your own party? (Actually… that’s not a bad idea.)

At Jupiter Orthodontics, we’re practical. We’re not going to advise that you don’t eat Halloween candy and miss out on the festivities. That would be a crime.

We’re here to give you tips and tricks to help you survive Halloween without a cavity or emergency braces repair! Your ortho treatment gives you a chance to branch out this year and try some different Halloween candy. And fortunately, there are just as many braces-friendly candies as there are braces-unfriendly candies. Check it out:

Worst Candy for Braces

Let’s address the bad news first. These are the candies you should try your best to avoid with braces:

1. Hard candies: Biting into a jawbreaker, Jolly Rancher, Runt or Life Saver could land you right in our exam chair with a broken bracket or loose wire. Not only can some hard candies damage your braces, but they can also damage your teeth! Be extra careful with hard Halloween candy and avoid it as much as possible.
2. Sticky candies: Those sticky candies that require some serious chewing – you know the ones – should be donated to your friends’ bags this Halloween. A Laffy Taffy, Starburst, Now & Later or caramel-filled candy can stick to your brackets and wires, get lodged between your teeth and braces, or pull a wire loose while you’re chewing.
3. Nuts: Snickers, peanut M&M’s, PayDay, Peanut Brittle, and chocolate-covered almonds unfortunately come with some risks when you have braces. Nuts are infamous for getting stuck in wires and stuck between teeth. Similar to hard candy, biting down on a nut can disrupt your treatment and require a replacement bracket.

If you saw your favorite candy (or your child’s favorite candy) on that list, we send our deepest condolences. Take a moment to grieve, then prepare yourself for an even longer list of braces-approved Halloween candy!

Best Candy for Braces

1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
2. Hershey’s chocolate bars
3. Hershey’s kisses
4. Three Musketeers
5. Ice cream
6. Ice cream sandwiches
7. Soft cookies without nuts: Sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies
8. Cupcakes
9. Kit Kat bars
10. Milky Way
11. Jelly beans

There are tons of different candies out there! Don’t limit yourself to old habits and favorites. If you aren’t sure whether your favorite candy is a braces-friendly snack, we encourage you to reach out to us or ask us at your next check-in appointment.

Oral Hygiene Tips for Halloween

It’s no secret that candy is damaging to our dental health. Our mouths are home to over 6 billion bacteria at any time. While a lot of these bacteria are considered good bacteria, and they won’t harm you, there are some bad bacteria just waiting for a chance to grow.

When sugar comes in contact with these bad bacteria, this creates acid in the mouth. The mouth becomes an acidic environment, meaning the pH of saliva drops below 5.5. – the normal pH range for saliva is 6.2 to 7.6.

When the pH levels in your mouth dip, this increased acidity starts to break down the protective enamel on your teeth and places you at a higher risk of developing cavities (tooth decay).

Yikes—that’s scary to think about! If you’re looking to minimize the damage done to your teeth and braces during the holidays, we’ve got tips for you.

• Rinse your mouth & brush your teeth!
  After you enjoy a handful of candies, give your teeth a break! Go rinse your mouth out with water and brush your teeth. Rinsing your mouth out and cleaning your teeth can prevent the sugars from building up and creating a highly-acidic environment in your mouth.

The longer you leave sugar on your teeth, the more damage it does. Even a mouthful of water can cleanse your teeth and reduce the acid damage.

• Don’t go to sleep without flossing.
  Of all nights, Halloween night is especially critical for cleaning your teeth! After you’ve filled your stomach with candy and your teeth have gone through the wringer, they’ll need your support.

Brush your teeth, then give them a thorough flossing. You want to make sure you’re not leaving any sugars between your teeth to build up overnight. This is how cavities form!

• Consider Invisalign®.
  If you haven’t begun orthodontic treatment yet, or you’re doing some reconnaissance before your child begins treatment, consider choosing Invsialign instead of braces. We’re proud to offer Invisalign for teens and adults!

Invisalign is removable, which means no dietary restrictions—no Halloween candy restrictions! Your child can simply remove his or her aligners to chow down, then clean the aligners, clean their teeth thoroughly, and place the aligners back in to continue with their treatment.

We just want to help you make the best decisions for your smile, in order to prevent dental damage that can derail you from your treatment, or even worse, require a dental repair.

Happy (almost) Halloween from your favorite orthodontists, Dr. King and Dr. Welch, and your favorite team at Jupiter Orthodontics.

If you have any questions about acceptable candies or you have a question about your child’s treatment, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We love hearing from you.

We’re here to guide you through your treatment process, from your very first visit, to your last appointment— and every holiday that falls in between.

Begin your journey today by requesting your free exam with top orthodontists in Jupiter!

Are you afraid that if you get braces, you will be more likely to get struck by lightning or will no longer be able to travel because your braces will set off metal detectors?!

You may think you know a lot about braces, but there’s a chance that some of the things you believe about braces are not true. We’re here to bust some of the most common myths about braces, so you can be excited to start treatment.

Myth #1 Braces attract lightning.

Statistics reveal that there is a 1 in 500,000 chance that a person without braces will get struck by lightning in any given year (CDC). People with braces also have a 1 in 500,000 chance of getting hit by lightning!

The numbers don’t lie, but staying inside during a storm will significantly reduce your chances of being a victim of a lightning strike, whether you have braces or not. Your braces aren’t lightning rods and won’t increase your chances of getting struck by lightning.

Myth #2 Braces set off metal detectors

You may be worried that you are more likely to get stopped at airport security and TSA will have to investigate your metal braces. You don’t have to worry, because braces are made from titanium and other lightweight alloys that metal detectors will not pick up.

Metal detectors are calibrated to detect larger volumes of metal anyway. Otherwise, they would be lighting up and sounding alarms at every belt buckle and zipper!

Myth # 3 Braces hurt.

People wanting to straighten their teeth are naturally concerned that they will have to endure pain when wearing braces. If this were true, very few people would be going through the treatment! This is one of the more harmful myths about braces that are based on exaggerations rather than reality.

Braces are a new sensation for the mouth, and it will take a little time to get used to them. Some tenderness is expected, but constant pain is not a sacrifice you’ll need to make for a beautiful smile—especially at Jupiter Orthodontics.

Each time you have your braces adjusted, you may experience some minor soreness, but before long, you’ll get used to the new sensations! A beautiful smile is totally worth the small level of discomfort.

Myth # 4 You can’t play wind instruments with braces.

We think this myth about braces may have come about as an exaggeration of the adjustment phase. Musicians who play wind instruments will still be able to play! You can play any instrument with braces.

However, there may be a small adjustment period as you get used to the new position on your mouthpiece. Even though you will need a little practice getting used to the braces, it won’t be long before you are making beautiful music again.

Myth # 5 Braces are only for teens and kids.

This myth about braces has no basis in reality. It may have come about because young children’s and teens’ mouths are still developing, so the teeth are easier to manipulate, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have braces as an adult. It might take a little longer, but we can still straighten adult teeth. A few months of braces for a beautiful smile for the rest of your life is all it will take.

Myth # 6 You need to have a mouth full of metal to get straight teeth

Some patients are concerned about their looks when they consider braces. The truth about braces is – we give you options! Like most technology, braces have advanced over the years. Thin but strong brackets mean that even traditional metal braces are less noticeable than ever before.

At Jupiter Orthodontics, we offer self-ligating, tie-less braces and clear braces that work without elastic or rubber bands. We also have InBrace braces that are positioned to the back surfaces of your teeth for a completely incognito look!

Myth # 7 You can only get straight teeth with braces

While traditional braces are a popular option, they are not the only teeth-straightening solution available. You can brighten your smile with Invisalign® clear aligners, custom-made from high-quality transparent plastic and almost invisible when they’re in place.

We’ll help you make the best decision for your smile when you book your complimentary consultation.

Ready to explore your options?

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions! We love to hear from you. We’re here to guide you through your treatment process, from your very first visit, to your last appointment.

If you’re looking for a top orthodontist in Jupiter, FL, we’d love to meet you! Request a complimentary exam for you or your child today.