Wearing braces is not typically considered “fun” by most people here in Sioux Falls, SD, or elsewhere, for that matter, but it is something they tolerate to achieve a healthy, straight, beautiful smile. There are a lot of dos and don’ts involved with wearing braces. One of the hardest things for most people is giving up some of their favorite foods and beverages.

In this article, we will focus on beverages. Yes, there are a few beverages one should avoid consuming when wearing braces. Sugary drinks like soda, and sports and energy drinks are ones to stay away from when wearing braces. Coffee and tea should also be just an occasional drink.

Sodas are not healthy for anyone and, therefore, should not be consumed by people with or without braces. These drinks are very acidic, as evidenced by their carbonation and fizz. The acid in soda can break down the enamel of your teeth and can cause tooth decay. If you opt to drink soda (on a rare occasion) while wearing braces, drink it using a straw and be sure to thoroughly rinse out your mouth with water afterward you have finished drinking.

Sports and energy drinks contain high amounts of sugar. Drinking too many of them regularly can weaken the tooth structure. The naturally acidic fruit juices in sports drinks are also high in sucrose, which is the most common sugar to cause decay. Lemon-flavored sports drinks should most definitely be avoided due to its ability to dissolve the tooth’s surface enamel if it is in contact with teeth for long periods of time.

Coffee and tea are two drinks that have staining properties. They can stain not only your teeth; they can also stain the brackets of your braces. If your teeth do become stained, they can be whitened with over-the-counter whitening stripes. The best way to avoid teeth staining is to consume coffee and/or tea on occasion.

If you consistently avoid drinking these types of beverages, your teeth will be straight (AND healthy) when you get your braces off.

Don’t hesitate to ask Dr. Kevin Horner or Dr. Keri Barrow at your next appointment if you have any questions regarding what foods and beverages you should and should not consume while you are wearing your braces.

At Horner Barrow Orthodontics, we are committed to delivering excellent quality orthodontic treatment to each and every patient. To provide a friendly, caring, and pleasant atmosphere that will ensure our patients feel relaxed and confident about placing their orthodontic care in our hands.

Did you know that your mouth can show signs of what is happening to your body, and vice versa? That’s what we here at Horner Barrow Orthodontics mean by the mouth and body connection.

The mouth is connected to the rest of the body by an intricate network of blood vessels, lymphatic tissues and nerves. That means the same blood that flows through your body also flows through your mouth, teeth and gums.

Research done over many years consistently proves the connection of the health of one’s body with the health of one’s mouth.

So let’s discuss gum disease.

It may seem somewhat normal for some of us that, when we brush or floss, our gums bleed, especially those who have it occur easily and/or regularly. Just because it does occur, doesn’t mean it IS normal. For instance: if your hand just began bleeding while washing your hands, you would think something’s wrong. You would most likely go right to your doctor’s office. So when it comes to bleeding gums, why do so many people dismiss it as something normal?

Bleeding gums are the body’s way of telling us that we have gum disease. That sounds serious. It IS serious! Many people haven’t been properly educated about gum disease, which is why we are discussing it today.

Many people are affected by gum disease but many are also completely unaware of it because it is an almost painless disease. Bleeding gums tell us that we have a dental condition called gingivitis, which is the mild form of gum disease. Many people at some point in their lives do have it, but the good news is that it is easily reversible with good oral hygiene.

If gingivitis is not treated, however, it will then get worse and become a more serious form of gum disease known as periodontitis, or periodontal disease. Periodontitis is the inflammation of the gum tissue surrounding your teeth which results in the destruction of the bone and tissues that keep your teeth, and your mouth, healthy. It starts as a space we call a pocket between the gum and the tooth which widens and deepens over time because of poor oral hygiene. This, in turn, allows more and more bacteria to breed and enter your bloodstream. That’s why gums tend to look red and puffy. The bacteria irritates the gums, creating redness, and as the the gums get puffier, the more protected the bacteria becomes, allowing it to spread.

Unless your general dentist is able to get into that space or pocket between the tooth and gum to clean out all that bad bacteria, the gums will become more infected; to the point where the tooth will lose all its supporting structure and fall out.

If there is an infection in your mouth, it can spread through your bloodstream to the rest of your body where the bacteria from the mouth infection can cause, or increase, inflammation in the body. This is particularly a serious problem in someone with joint replacements and people with certain types of heart conditions. But what does that mean for the rest of us who appear to be healthy?

Science has proven that gum disease is linked to:
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Infertility
• Preterm birth
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cancer

Gum disease creates more inflammation which leads to illness and disease in the body, which creates even more inflammation. More inflammation in the body then accelerates and worsens gum disease. It’s a vicious cycle that keeps on going.

In many cases, people don’t realize they have gum disease which is why it is SO very important to always have regular dental care (especially when wearing braces or any orthodontic appliances), including check-ups, screening X-rays and professional dental cleaning, to both assess and tend to your dental needs and treat the condition.

Please see your Sioux Falls, SD general dentist for advice and treatment if you have any (or all) of the following symptoms:
• you have bad breath, or have a bad taste in your mouth
• red gums; especially around the margin of your teeth
• if your gums bleed, or are swollen or tender to the touch
• if your gums are not firm against, and have loosened up around your teeth
• if your teeth are loose, or there is pus present

Now here’s the good news.  With regular dental care and proper home oral hygiene, you CAN get control of the disease and reverse the damaging effects it causes.

So, the next time you think you’re too tired to brush your teeth, or that flossing is just too much trouble, consider the impact it can have not only on the health of your teeth and gums, but on your overall health as well.

Dr. Kevin Horner or Dr. Keri Barrow can show you the proper way to clean and care for your teeth while wearing braces. Just ask us at your next appointment.

At Horner Barrow Orthodontics, we are committed to delivering excellent quality orthodontic treatment to each and every patient. To provide a friendly, caring, and pleasant atmosphere that will ensure our patients feel relaxed and confident about placing their orthodontic care in our hands.

Whether you’re considering getting braces, or you’re currently in orthodontic treatment here at Horner Barrow Orthodontics, there are many things to know about straightening your smile. Orthodontic treatment isn’t just about wires, brackets and elastics. There are many interesting facts to learn about orthodontics and braces, and why straightening your teeth is easier than ever before.

• NASA originally created the wires that are used with braces.
Some wiring used for braces contains nickel titanium, an alloy that NASA originally developed for use in the space program. When used in orthodontic appliances, these light-weight, thin, highly-elastic and flexible wires are activated by body heat and will maintain their shape after being bent and attached to the teeth.

• Braces have been around for nearly 300 years.
Pierre Fauchard, born in 1728, and considered the Father of Dentistry, invented an appliance called a bandeau. The horseshoe-shaped strip of metal had regularly-spaced holes that fit around the teeth to correct their alignment. Fauchard would also operate on patients using a set of forceps called a pelican, to forcibly realign teeth and tie them to the adjacent teeth to hold them in place while they healed. Ouch!

Later, Christophe-François Delabarre (1787-1862) tried to separate overcrowded teeth by inserting swelling threads, or wooden wedges, between each space. In the 20th century, with a better understanding of malocclusion, dentist Edward Angle, considered the Father of Modern Orthodontics, introduced more advanced and modern orthodontic appliances, like brackets, to effectively address issues with tooth misalignment.

• All orthodontists are dentists.
All orthodontists are dentists, but only about 6 percent of dentists are orthodontists. An orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention and treatment of teeth irregularities, such as an improper bite. After graduating from dental school, an orthodontist must then successfully complete an additional two to three years of education from an accredited orthodontic residency program.

• The desire for straight teeth can be traced all the way back to ancient Egypt.
Even though braces weren’t created until the early 18th century, people have wanted straight, beautiful smiles for thousands of years. Several mummies were discovered with cords crafted from animal intestines wrapped around their teeth, similar to modern braces wiring. Archaeologists believe this was man’s first efforts to straighten crooked teeth.

• Retainers are as important as braces.
The long-term success of a patient’s orthodontic treatment depends on how their dedication to wearing their retainer. Approximately 25 percent of patients who wear braces have to get them again at some point in their lives because they failed to wear their retainers as instructed, causing their teeth to revert back to their original misalignment. Remember to wear your retainer as instructed by your orthodontist to maintain a beautiful, straight smile for a lifetime!

• Braces aren’t just for kids.
Just because you didn’t wear braces as a child doesn’t mean your chance for a straighter smile has passed you by. According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), approximately one in five orthodontic patients is an adult, and many of those patients are in their 50s, 60s and 70s. Kids, parents and grandparents can enjoy the benefits of a straighter smile with orthodontic treatment.

• Right now, millions of people in the United States are wearing braces.
According to the AAO, approximately 4 million people in the United States are wearing braces, or some type of orthodontic appliance, to straighten their teeth. 75 percent of those receiving orthodontic treatment are younger than age 18.

• Famous people wear braces to straighten their teeth, too!
Do you ever wonder how celebrities get those Hollywood smiles? It’s not always due to good genetics. Just like the rest of us, many famous actors, singers and other well-known professionals have worn orthodontic appliances to correct dental issues and enhance their smiles. Those who’ve worn braces include Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, Ryan Seacrest, Faith Hill, Gwyneth Paltrow, Faye Dunaway, and Britain’s Prince Harry, as well as many other famous people.

• Don’t believe all the stories you hear about braces.
Many of the rumors you have heard about braces are simply not true. Braces do not set off metal detectors. You cannot “lock braces” when kissing someone who’s also wearing braces. Braces do not interfere with radio signals. Wearing braces will not increase your chance of being struck by lightning. Yes, you can still play a musical instrument, or safely play sports while wearing braces.

• An orthodontic evaluation by age 7 is very important.
The AAO recommends bringing your child in to have an orthodontic evaluation as soon as any tooth irregularities appear; and no later than age 7. An early evaluation will help to determine if problems are present, and to schedule the most appropriate timeframe for orthodontic treatment, if deemed necessary. This is important because many conditions are much easier to treat if they are identified early.

Now that you’ve read these interesting orthodontic facts, you can see how the techniques and tools used by orthodontists to straighten teeth have evolved and improved over many, many years. One thing that hasn’t changed; people have always desired a straight, beautiful smile.

If you want to learn more about improving your smile with braces, call our Sioux Falls, SD office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kevin Horner or Dr. Keri Barrow about the options for orthodontic treatment. If you’re considering getting braces, there are many things you should know about straightening your smile. Orthodontic treatment isn’t just about wires, brackets and elastics. There are lots of facts to learn about braces, and why straightening your teeth is easier than you may have thought possible.

At Horner Barrow Orthodontics, we are committed to delivering excellent quality orthodontic treatment to each and every patient. To provide a friendly, caring, and pleasant atmosphere that will ensure our patients feel relaxed and confident about placing their orthodontic care in our hands.

At Horner Barrow Orthodontics we love creating beautiful smiles for our patients. Just one tiny muscle movement is all it takes to turn up the sides of your mouth, and that smile packs a surprising amount of power!
Smiling stimulates our brain’s reward mechanisms in a way that even chocolate simply cannot match. In a study conducted in the United Kingdom, British researchers found that just one smile can provide the same level of brain stimulation as up to 2000 chocolate bars!
Smiling is a universal, and also frequent, means of communicating. More than 30 percent of us smile more than 20 times a day and less than 14 percent of us smile less than 5 times a day. In fact, children may smile as many as 400 times a day. That’s a whole lot of chocolate bars!
Here are 8 great reasons to flash your beautiful Horner Barrow Orthodontics smile:
1. Smiling Makes YOU Happy
The simple act of smiling sends a message to your brain that you’re happy. When you’re happy, your body pumps out lots of feel-good endorphins. It’s been documented that when people mimic different emotional expressions, their bodies produce physiological changes that reflect that emotion too, such as changes in heart and breathing rate. Psychologists have found that if you smile for just 60 seconds, even fake or forced, it releases serotonin which tricks the body into making YOU feel happy.
2. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure
Believe it or not, lots of smiling can actually make you healthier. Smiling has documented therapeutic effects. It has been associated with reduced stress and anxiety hormone levels (such as cortisol, adrenaline, and dopamine) which in turn lowers blood pressure.
3. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System
Many medical studies have found that smiling lowers ones heart rate, steadies breathing, and relaxes the body, which, in turn, results in a stronger immune system, and could even help you sleep better. So smile more to ward off colds and stay healthy.
4. Smiling Can Make Others Happy
“When you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you.” Remember that song, made famous by Louis Armstrong? Well, it turns out it’s true. Research shows that smiling is contagious. Have you ever been around someone who just had something wonderful happen to them? Seeing their delighted smile, it’s almost impossible not to feel good, too. Studies show that something as simple as seeing a friend smile can activate the muscles in your face to make that same expression, without even being aware that you are doing it.
5. Smiling Will Make You Look More Youthful
News Flash! Smiling is a natural facelift! It plumps up the cells of the facial skin and gives you a warm, radiant glow. In fact, a study conducted found that 69 percent of people find women more attractive when they smile than when they are wearing makeup!
6. Smiling Increases Your Productivity.
Smiling can diminish negativity, which in turn revitalizes and boosts your productivity. Studies have proven that a few minutes of smiling and laughter motivates people to work harder, and can even enhance their creativity.
7. Smiling Builds Trust
It’s been shown that a genuine smile increases the trust that the recipient of that smile feels. In fact, the bigger your smile (a big, approachable smile), the more others will trust you.
8. Smiling May Help You Live Longer
When you are smiling, it’s hard to be negative, and a positive attitude has been shown to increase life expectancy. Studies have shown that you can add up to seven more years to your life by genuinely smiling often. Now, who wouldn’t want that?
Food For Thought:
“A smile costs nothing, but creates much. It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give. It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.” – Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People.
At Horner Barrow Orthodontics, we are committed to delivering excellent quality orthodontic treatment to each and every patient. To provide a friendly, caring, and pleasant atmosphere that will ensure our patients feel relaxed and confident about placing their orthodontic care in our hands. Call our Sioux Falls, SD office today!