Many orthodontic conditions can be caused by something called tongue thrusting. This problem is far more common than you would imagine since all babies are born pushing their tongue forward when they swallow. As a child grows, they need to learn the correct position for their tongue. If they learn too late, it impacts a child in many more ways than orthodontic development. So, what exactly is it and why does it have such an impact on the way the mouth forms? Perhaps more impo

An overbite is completely normal and many people with beautiful smiles have a small overbite. However, when your upper teeth protrude over your bottom teeth more than normal, the overbite may create problems. How can you know when an overbite needs to be treated, and can it be prevented or treated at home? It is normal for your top teeth to overlap your bottom teeth a little bit. When the top teeth significantly overlap or protrude over the bottom teeth, the overbite becomes

Just like people, our teeth, gums and supporting bones are as unique as our DNA. Unlike DNA, teeth, gums, and supporting bones can change throughout a person’s life. Heredity, environment, and certain foods and conditions can affect the position, shape, color, and health of our teeth. That is why it is important to understand that your dental health is, in large part, something you can assume responsibility for and take charge of in order to make sure you are able to keep you

You may have seen ads for ordering invisible aligners online, or your dentist may offer invisible aligners or braces as a service. It seems easier and possibly cheaper to consider one of these options. Is there a reason that you need to go to an Orthodontist if you just want straight teeth? Believe it or not, there actually are a few excellent reasons for having an Orthodontist oversee your treatment when getting your teeth aligned. Education The first reason is that an Ortho

A new year is beginning, and if anyone in your family will need braces in the next year or two this is a good time to begin planning. With a bit of strategic preparation, you may be able to greatly reduce your out-of-pocket costs. You can also plan to gain the greatest tax benefits. Here are a few things to consider in order to maximize your resources so that orthodontic treatment has the lowest impact on your bank account. Insurance Every insurance plan is different so you w

Braces and orthodontic appliances are a common sight these days. They used to be something only seen on teenagers, but now it is common to see children, teens, and even adults in their fifties and sixties wearing braces. Is orthodontic treatment something only found in modern times? Interestingly, no. History is full of strange and interesting Orthodontic facts. 1. Archeologists have discovered evidence that people in many cultures have used various methods of straightening t

Orthodontic problems are more common than you may think. People are becoming aware of the impact that orthodontic issues can have on their health, and this is reflected in the fact that dental braces are a common sight these days. They used to be something only seen on teenagers, but now it is normal to see children, teens, and even adults in their fifties and sixties wearing braces. With a growing number of people seeking orthodontic treatment, it is valuable to ask: what ca

October is National Orthodontic Health Month and it provides an important opportunity to bring awareness to the fact that dental health involves a whole lot more than simply getting your teeth cleaned regularly and filling cavities. Many people may connect braces or invisible aligners to the thought of Orthodontic treatment. However, there can be much more to the process of gaining optimal orthodontic health. Even the process of straightening teeth with braces involves more t

If you have any children, then you know that there is an overabundance of parenting advice floating around. With all this information, it can be hard to discover things that are most important to know. Even when it comes to healthy teeth, it can be difficult to learn what you need to know to help your child’s mouth stay cavity-free. To help you out, we have created this list of important information every parent needs to know so they do not make mistakes that could harm their

Palatal expansion is simply widening the roof of your mouth, which is called your palate. It is a fairly common orthodontic treatment and there are quite a few reasons that an orthodontist would recommend it. This treatment is sometimes needed to correct the bite in ways that braces alone cannot do, and to allow more room for teeth to erupt. Like many orthodontic treatments, there is an optimal age for it, but anyone can get their palate widened if necessary. Why would palata

If you have ever had a canker sore, you know how painful they can be. In fact, canker sores can be so excruciating that part of their medical name, oral aphthous ulcers, comes from the Greek word “aphthi” which means “to set on fire” or “to inflame” (1). Unfortunately, one in five people deals with these painful mouth ulcers. Although more common than dental caries (cavities) or periodontal disease, canker sores are still somewhat of a mystery. They have been observed in othe

TMJ disorders are a common problem. More than 10 million Americans deal with the pain or loss of function associated with TMJ disorders. It seems like people blame its development on many different causes and rely on a variety of treatments. So, what really causes TMJ and can it be healed? TMJ is the abbreviation for the temporomandibular joint, which is the joint where your mandible (jawbone) meets the temporal bone of your skull on each side of your face. Temporomandibular

Have you ever whitened your teeth? If so, you are not alone. According to Statista, more than 40 million Americans used a tooth whitening product in 2018. That means that nearly 1 out of every 5 adults tried to gain whiter teeth last year. Tooth whitening is so common that it may never have occurred to you to wonder if it is safe. You may assume that if it is allowed to be sold in stores that must mean it is harmless. What about for kids and teenagers? Is it safe for your 16-

As with any new situation, if you or your child are planning to get braces you probably have a lot of questions. In the past few orthodontic blogs we have answered some common questions about orthodontic treatments, and about the rubber bands that some people need to wear with their braces. In this article, we are going to provide answers to a few more questions such as whether you can play sports or certain musical instruments with braces, if your braces will set off metal d

We all know that germs can spread a cold or flu and that it is important to wash your hands to reduce your exposure. However, did you know that cavities, gum disease, and other infections are also spread through saliva? Saliva does provide quite a bit of protection. It flushes germs away and contains antibodies, antimicrobial proteins, enzymes, and normal mouth flora (good bacteria) that help protect you and decrease the risk of sharing germs. However, it is not able to elim

A common element of orthodontic treatment for many people is the rubber bands, also called elastics. In our last orthodontic article, we discussed answers to some common questions about orthodontics and in this article, we are going to focus on questions about rubber bands. Why do I need rubber bands with my braces? While creating your orthodontic treatment plan, we carefully map the movement of your teeth. The movement is achieved by using tiny, constant amounts of force whi

If you’ve ever considered orthodontic treatment for yourself or your child, you probably have questions. Some can only be answered by an Orthodontist, because every person is unique, and their treatment will vary. However, we would like to provide answers to some common orthodontic questions. What are my treatment options? Metal braces, which use metal brackets and wires, are the most common orthodontic treatment. Standard metal braces are much smaller than they were a few de