4 Secrets About the First Days with Braces

For most, "summertime" invokes thoughts of days at the beach, swimming in the pool, and fireworks!  But for many parents summer means time for a first visit to the orthodontist!  In fact, summer is the most popular time for kids to get braces, and with good reason!  Braces involve a major life change and most kids and teens need time to adjust.  

Summer is a great time to visit CCO!

For those considering orthodontics in the near future and especially for those who are currently getting used to their braces, listed below are four secrets about the first days with braces and some tips on helping you solve some of the most common problems!

1) Braces and wires can feel rough on your cheeks and lips
         Over the past several years braces have become smaller and more comfortable than ever before.  But, they will never be as smooth as teeth!  For that reason, braces can feel "scratchy" or sometimes "rough" to lips and cheeks.  Most patients get used to the feeling of having braces after about 2 weeks, and before that small pieces of dental wax can help buffer any particularly "rough" areas.

          At Coastal Carolina Orthodontics, we utilize the smallest braces available, Speed Braces, to help make them more comfortable to wear.

2) Your teeth will get sore
           The modern technology used with today's braces has greatly decreased the soreness patients experience;  however, because of the biology involved with moving teeth, they will get sore.  Soreness with braces usually starts the evening after you first get them on and subsides of the next 2 to 3 days.  Over-the-counter pain medication (Ibuprofen, Tylenol, etc.) usually is very effective at eliminating this discomfort.

            To help our patients avoid this soreness, we use the very flexible and "soft" wires to align the teeth.  In fact, the initial wires used at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics are manufactured by an international aeronautical company and have been proven to use the lightest forces possible to move teeth!

3) Brushing is going to be more challenging
             Braces have many small pieces and all these pieces can act as traps for plaque.  On average, patients in braces need to spend at least 2-3 minutes twice a day brushing, and floss at least once a day to maintain good dental health.

             Our small Speed Braces don't require elastic ties around them, which makes it easier to maintain optimal dental hygiene during orthodontic treatment.

4) Your teeth will start to move quickly! 
            You will be amazed how fast your teeth will start move!  With the state-of-the-art techniques and appliances we use, most patients start to notice changes in the position of their teeth within a week!

Getting braces certainly does mean a lot to get used to, making summer the ideal time for kids and teens to make that first visit to the orthodontist!   The SmileMakers Team at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics in Morehead City, Jacksonville, and Havelock are the most experienced and trusted orthodontic providers in the area and are ready to help you or your child achieve a beautiful smile!   smilemakersnc.com

Is Invisalign for Kids?!

You may have heard of Invisalign, the clear trays that can be worn on your teeth to correct mild to moderate orthodontic problems, but did you know there's Invisalign for Teens?

Many people assume Invisalign is just for adults but there is a new form of Invisalign available specifically designed to treat teenagers.

How is it different than normal Invisalign?

Invisalign Teen has several unique benefits designed to make it more suitable for treating teenage patients.
First, it contains a compliance indicator.  Some parents worry that if their child were to use Invisalign to straighten their teeth that they may not wear the aligners as much as is needed to have a good result.  The Invisalign Teen system Compliance Indicator allows you and the orthodontist to check the number of hours your child wears the aligners.

Second, Invisalign Teen has 6 free replacement aligners!  If your child loses an aligner, a new can be ordered at not cost to you and without a compromise in results!

Why would I Consider Invisalign Teen for My Child?

Not all teens are great brushes!  Because the Invisalign Teen aligners are removable, oral hygiene is usually better than with braces.

Also, some teenage patients can be self-conscious about wearing braces or perhaps they are involved in activities that may make wearing braces difficult.  Clear aligners can make getting that perfect smile a more comfortable process for these patients.

Finally, some teens just refuse to wear braces, even though we as orthodontists and you as parents know they could benefit from treatment.  For these patients Invisalign Teen is often a treatment option they are willing to consider.

What Types of Conditions Can be Treated with Invisalign Teen?

A lot of different types of crowding, spacing, and some bites can be corrected.  As the most experienced providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen in Morehead City, Jacksonville, and Havelock, the Orthodontists at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics are uniquely qualified to assess whether or not your child can be treated with this appliance.

Call one of our offices today for a free Invisalign or Invisalign Teen consultation or check us out at smilemakersnc.com!

Morehead City:  252-726-1137
Jacksonville: 910-353-5234
Havelock: 252-447-1181

Is Invisalign For Me?

A lot of people have heard of Invisalign, but have you ever wondered what it really is, or how it works?  The doctors at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics are the most experienced Invisalign Doctors in the area, and have used this appliance to create beautiful smiles for lots of patients, INCLUDING A RECENT MISS NORTH CAROLINA!

So, what is it? 
Invisalign is an appliance for moving teeth made out of a clear plastic material.  The clear trays, called "aligners," are custom made to fit your teeth and produce tooth movements prescribed by the doctors at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics.

How does it work? 
To create the aligners, an impression is taken of your teeth and shipped to Invisalign. The impressions are then used to create a 3D digital model of your teeth.  Using this virtual model our doctors will prescribe the needed tooth movements to correct your crowding or bite.  Small movements of the teeth are accomplished with each aligner, so multiple aligners are needed to complete the full treatment.

Who Can Have Invisalign Treatment?
Invisalign and Invisalign Teen are great for certain types of tooth movement and bite corrections and for some patients they are a good alternative to braces.  Only an orthodontist with as much experience as our doctors can accurately tell you if Invisalign will be right for you.

There are many other companies that try to copy the Invisalign process, but they don't have the same record of success.  Invisalign is the exclusive clear aligner appliance we use at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics.

To find out more about Invisalign and all the services offered by the doctors and staff at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics in Morehead City, Jacksonville and Havelock, visit us at smilemakersnc.com or call to schedule your FREE Consultation!

The Benefits of Smiling

The goal of orthodontic treatment at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics is to establish a good bite while optimizing aesthetics and achieving a beautiful smile that is in harmony with the rest of the face. 

A good bite makes it easier for you to  chew and, in some cases, speak. This can enhance your dental health and your overall health, and with good comprehensive dental care teeth can last a lifetime.

The benefits of a beautiful, healthy smile are limitless, but here are a few!:

• It makes you more attractive:  We are drawn to people who smile!

• It can Change your Mood: Smiling can trick you body into changing your mood!

• It boosts your Immune System: When you smile, you immune system improves due to increased relaxation

• It relieves Stress: That same relaxation that boosts your immune system can also help relieve tension

• It's a natural medicine: studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, serotonin, and natural pain killers

• It Makes you Look Younger: The muscles your body uses to smile actually lift the face and make you look younger and healthier

• Smiling Makes You More Successful: Smiling in a job interview can make you look more confident and maybe more likely to land you the job! 

At Coastal Carolina Orthodontics in Morehead City, Jacksonville, and Havelock, you can rely on our orthodontists’ expertise, which comes from their extensive education and more years of clinical practice than any other orthodontist in the area. 

Visit us at smilemakersnc.com to schedule your free consultation today.

Back to School With Braces

Going back to school is a busy and exciting time!  It is a time to reconnect with old friends and rehash your summer adventures. You have new teachers, new classes, and some will even have a new school.  It’s normal to feel nervous butterflies, but we at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics don’t want your braces to be a reason a stress! 

The Smile Makers Team at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics in Morehead City, Jacksonville, and Havelock want to make your back to school experience pleasant and fun. Here are some tips to help you deal with your braces at school.

1) Pack Braces-Friendly Lunches

Packing a braces-friendly lunch for yourself or your child can be a challenge, but there are many great foods to choose from.

Remember, raw carrots, pretzels, nuts and corn chips may cause your teeth more pain and they may even damage your braces, and gummy foods such as taffy and fruit roll-ups get caught in braces and create a brushing nightmare or potentially embarrassing situation! 

Some fruits, like apples, are hard to eat whole, but they can be eaten easily when they’re sliced thinly.

Yogurt is a great option for kids with braces. Our Coastal Carolina Orthodontics patients also like muffins, pasta, quinoa, soup, pudding, avocados, mashed potatoes, applesauce, coleslaw and soft fruits like strawberries or blueberries. Add protein to your meal with beans, meatloaf, tofu, pulled pork, meatballs and tuna. Salsa and hummus are good snacks to bring to school, too, but bring softer pita slices instead of hard tortilla chips for dipping.

Watch out for sugary foods; you don’t want the sugar to stay on your braces and breed bacteria.

Slow-cooking food in a crockpot will make basically anything soft and easy to eat. You can also cook in bulk this way and freeze meals for later.

For some great braces-friendly recipes check out our Pinterest Page: http://pinterest.com/coastalcarortho/boards/

2) You’ll want to clean your teeth thoroughly after you eat. 

It’s helpful to have all the supplies you need for your braces in one place. Make your own braces survival kit, or browse already assembled kits online. Keep the kit in your backpack or in your locker so you can access it easily.

Here’s what you need:

•Dental wax for sores and scrapes

•Floss 

•Toothpaste and a toothbrush

•A small mirror to check for trapped food

•A small (or collapsible) cup for rinsing

•A spiral dental brush (a "Christmas Tree Brush")

•Lip balm

You may prefer a toothbrush made for braces, but a regular toothbrush will be effective too. Lip balm keeps lips from drying out. 

3) A Few More Tips!

If you are using Invisalign or Invisalign Teen to straighten your teeth, remember to remove your aligners before you eat. You should brush your teeth after your meal and put your aligners back in as soon as possible!

Remember to bring a protective mouth guard if you play sports during or after school.  If you need a mouth guard, contact one of our offices!   And, as always, contact your parents and your orthodontist if your braces or Invisalign need repairs

Whether you are in Morehead City, Jacksonville, or Havelock we at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics are always here to help you!