The Irvin Orthodontics Blog

“Am I Too Old for Braces?”

irvin.sesame90@gmail.com — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:13:43 +0000

Absolutely not! Orthodontic treatment for adults is becoming more and more common. In fact, the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! More adults than ever are realizing that orthodontic treatment is not just for kids, and can help improve the aesthetics and health of a smile of any age! In a society where appearance matters and can help make the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing wisely to invest in orthodontic treatment.

Some of the most common reasons our adult patients come to us considering orthodontic treatment include:

Teeth that are crowded or spaced apart, sometimes as a result of tooth decay or gum disease
Pain or pressure from crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw
A bad bite or malocclusion, causing teeth to fit together incorrectly

Most of all though, adult patients come to our office seeking a healthier mouth and a more confident smile! Orthodontic treatment at our office can be successful at any age, and adults especially can appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

As an adult patient, we recognize that you have different needs than our younger patients, and we will work with you to ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment and that your needs are met with understanding and respect from us.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you visit for a consultation. We understand you have a busy schedule, and will work with you to find a time that is convenient for you. Please visit our website or give our office a call to schedule your appointment today!

National Nurses Week – May 6-12

irvin.sesame90@gmail.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:33:59 +0000

National Nurses Week always begins on May 6 and ends on the 12th because of Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Who is Mrs. Nightingale? Florence was dubbed “The Lady of the Lamp,” after her habit of making rounds to the wounded solders during the Crimean War. She dedicated her life to nursing and established a school for nursing in London. During this week, take time to celebrate your favorite nurse(s) and all they do to help us. They all serve with passion for the profession and a strong commitment to patient safety. Thank a nurse this week!

May Is Really Such a Lovely Month!

irvin.sesame90@gmail.com — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:26:17 +0000

During May, the school year is starting to wind down and families begin making plans for the summer holiday. It is one exciting and marvelous month! Here are just a few facts you might not know about the month of May: May’s birthstone is the emerald, which symbolizes patience, understanding and foresight.Throughout time, the emerald has always been a sign of wealth and legend states that when placed on the head, it will cure headaches and sooth fears. May’s birth flower is the Lily of the Valley, which means sweetness and humility. The Lily is known for its delicate, beautiful white trumpet shape and fragrant smell. It is a popular flower at weddings. And, May 1st is considered MAY DAY. May Day has always been celebrated with flowers, festivities, and the celebration of summer.

In some parts of the United States, small baskets are filled with flowers or treats and left secretly on someone’s doorstep. The person giving the basket rings the door bell and runs; if the giver is caught, they must give them a kiss. Give it a try! Here’s to your marvelous month of May!

May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month!

irvin.sesame90@gmail.com — Fri, 04 May 2012 21:02:06 +0000

At our office, we know image can be everything. At an age when image is so important, the thought of having braces may intensify the already-delicate confidence of today’s teens. Well, May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month, and during this time, parents are encouraged to act as positive role models, help stop negative self-images, and improve confidence and security among teenagers.

One of the great ways to improve your confidence is to improve your smile. And that begins with a consultation at our office. After all, what better time to avoid having crooked teeth in your adulthood than coming in for a consultation?

We invite you to give us a call to schedule a consultation or ask us on Facebook!

Pig in a Blanket Day!

irvin.sesame90@gmail.com — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:07:11 +0000

Pig in a Blanket Day is a day to eat a sausage wrapped in a pancake. Why? Because that’s what “Pig in a Blanket” is. Somebody somewhere decided that this was a very special treat to them. So, they created a special day to celebrate this culinary delight. Aren’t you glad that they did? Who doesn’t love them? How does one go about celebrating Pig in a Blanket Day? Cook up some sausage. Make some pancakes. Wrap the sausage inside of the pancake. Add maple syrup. Then, chow down. If you didn’t have them for breakfast, why not have them for dinner? After all, it is Pig in a Blanket Day!

Top ten tips for keeping your BRACES sparklin’ clean

irvin.sesame90@gmail.com — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:20:14 +0000

Keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever when you have braces. Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you’ll experience better results and shorter treatment time. Keep plaque at bay with these top ten tips:

1. One tooth at a time. When you brush, take time with each individual tooth – at least 10 seconds each – and pay careful attention to the spots where your teeth touch your braces.

2. It’s all about the angles. Brush the tops of your teeth and braces with your brush angled down toward where they meet. Brush the bottoms of your teeth and braces with your brush angled up.

3. The tooth, the whole tooth, nothing but the tooth. While the front surface of your teeth may seem like the most logical to clean, it’s equally important to clean the inner surface of your teeth (tongue side) as well as the chewing surface. And be sure to clean along your gum line – a key spot for plaque buildup.

4. Step 1: eat, step 2: clean. While you’re in treatment, it’s important to brush after every meal. Bits of food can easily get caught between braces and teeth, and these food bits interact with bacteria in your mouth to cause decay. The longer food is in contact with your teeth, the greater opportunity for plaque to form. If you are eating somewhere that you can’t brush, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.

5. Like a Boy Scout, always be prepared. The easiest way to be sure you can brush after every meal is to get in the habit of taking a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss with you wherever you go. Designate a special container just for your teeth-cleaning tools and keep it in your purse, backpack, or laptop case.

6. Remove the moving parts. If you have elastic bands or headgear, remove these parts before you brush or floss.

7. Fluoride is your friend. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Be sure to brush with fluoride toothpaste, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash.

8. Pointy brushes reach tiny places. Interproximal brushes (sometimes called proxa brushes or interdental brushes) are cone-shaped and come in very handy for reaching spots around your braces that standard brushes can’t.

9. Find the floss for you. Regular floss works for some patients, but others find it easier to work with a floss threader, which helps you get the floss into tight places. Other patients like an all-in-one product called Superfloss, which comes with a stiff end for easy threading, a spongy section for cleaning wide spaces, and regular floss for narrow spaces.

10. Make time for the pros. It’s your job to take care of the everyday cleaning. But make sure to visit your dentist regularly while in treatment, to get the deep, thorough cleaning that only a professional can provide. If you need help finding the right Dentist for you, feel free to contact our office – we’d love to help!

Hope this helps!

Spring is here! Do we have your current contact info?

irvin.sesame90@gmail.com — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:42:32 +0000

Spring is in the air! As you probably know, you can always connect with us on our Facebook page, but we invite you to please contact our office with any updates to phone numbers and addresses, so that we may be able to reach you.

We also encourage you to call us and let us know if you have any new phone numbers or if your contact information has changed!

Thank you! Have a great week!

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

irvin.sesame90@gmail.com — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:52:17 +0000

Visiting your dentist during your orthodontic treatment will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy while you have braces, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy. The fact is, every hour of every day in the U.S., someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved. Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our patients about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene while you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Your dentist is specifically trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health problems. Please let us now if you have any questions about your oral health during your next adjustment appointment. Take care of your teeth!

“Am I Too Old for Braces?”

irvin.sesame90@gmail.com — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:41:32 +0000

Some of the most common reasons our adult patients come to us considering orthodontic treatment include:

• Teeth that are crowded or spaced apart, sometimes as a result of tooth decay or gum disease
• Pain or pressure from crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw
• A bad bite or malocclusion, causing teeth to fit together incorrectly

The First Day of Spring!

irvin.sesame90@gmail.com — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:56:52 +0000

Ah… the first day of spring! Spring officially began in the Northern Hemisphere today at 1:14 A.M. (EDT). It is a season that brings increased daylight and warmer weather. Spring is also the time when worms begin to emerge from the earth, ladybugs land on screen doors, birds chirp, and flowers begin to bloom. The vernal, or spring, equinox signals the beginning of nature’s renewal in the Northern Hemisphere. To learn more about the Vernal Equinox, check out Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox.

But first, tell us what it is that always makes you feel that spring has sprung . . . we’d love to know!