Blog — Orthodontics

How To Look After Your Retainer 0

Congratulations you have now finished the active stage of your orthodontic treatment!  

You will now be requested to wear retainers to maintain the current position of your teeth.  A variety of retainers are used within orthodontic practice, however at Northenden House Orthodontics we generally use fixed retainers, vacuum formed retainers (Essix retainers) or Hawley retainers.

New Year, New You, New Smile! 0

2017 is here already. New Year’s resolutions abound. Many of us plan to spend more time with friends and family, become more money savvy, and to get healthier. Others think about some personal improvements they would like to make. One of the most popular choices in this area is to take positive action to improve a smile. Of course we all smile, it’s one of the things that make us human, but for some people the act of smiling in front of others or in front of a camera is a constant reminder that they are not happy with their teeth. So if you are one of those people, will 2017 be the year you do something about it? Below are some suggestions. Whether you choose small or larger changes this year is up to you, but by making some changes you will definitely be contributing to making yourself happier with your smile.

New Habits

New Year is a great time to begin new habits. Improving your dental care regime will undoubtedly bring benefits to your teeth and mouth. Make sure that you floss regularly and brush your teeth twice daily with good technique and using a quality toothbrush.

See Your Hygienist

In addition to your own daily regime make sure that your visits to the dentist and the hygienist are booked regularly. A good hygienist can be invaluable at keeping your teeth in great condition, removing plaque and getting into the areas you find more difficult. The dentist will identify areas of concern as they arise, meaning treatment will be timely and prevent damage getting out of hand.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle changes can significantly contribute to your oral appearance. By making sure you look after your body - eating healthy choices, drinking plenty of water for hydration and doing some moderate exercise, you are keeping your health in top condition which does play a part in your dental health too. What you don’t eat and drink is particularly important. Keeping your intake of caffeine (in teas, coffees and cola’s) down low can mean the difference between stained teeth, and much more satisfactory whiter ones.

The above changes are small and achievable. But when something a little more specialist is needed we are here to help you. For most people the perfect smile consists of straight white teeth. If this cannot be achieved entirely naturally, it can still be achieved with the help of our team. These days there are many different methods of straightening teeth such as aligners, or lingual, ceramic and metal braces. There really is something to suit everyone. If you would like to know more about the treatments we offer please contact us on 0161 998 2622 or info@manchesterorthodontics.co.uk. We look forward to helping you achieve a smile you can be happy with.

What You Might Have Missed from the Northenden House Blog! 0

As a dedicated orthodontic practice the team at Northenden House always strive to deliver the best customer care, providing patients with their expert tips and advice on orthodontics and the latest in the industry.

This year we’ve aimed to share key news and guidance with you on our blog, whether you’re considering teeth straightening options, are undergoing orthodontic treatment or simply want to improve your oral health.

As we’re now just over halfway through, we thought we’d round-up some of our top blogs from the year that you may have missed:

Improving your smile with orthodontics

At the start of 2016 we looked at working on those New Year’s resolutions, and how transforming your smile can greatly improve your confidence. Research has shown that the smile is deemed one of the most attractive and first-noticed features of a person, however many adults are self-conscious of their teeth and lack the confidence to smile or laugh in the company of others.

In our blog promoting a ‘new year, new you’, we detailed the variety of treatments to help you get the smile that you desire, from hidden braces to clear aligners.

How can orthodontic treatment benefit children?

Having a great smile through teeth straightening orthodontics can make a lasting difference to a child’s self-esteem, as well as their overall health. But as a parent you may be concerned about what age your child should have orthodontic treatment, what type of treatment will be best for them and what’s involved.

Read our advice on when to take your child to see us, why they might need orthodontic treatment and the ways we can help to improve their smile.

The help of celebrities and social media are making dental braces more popular

Despite being very effective we know that traditional metal braces have never been a massively popular thing – in fact many adults chose not to wear braces as teens through fear of being seen as a ‘metal-mouth’.

Luckily though nowadays dental braces are much less bulkier and a good deal more comfortable. And the number of people opting for braces has significantly grown with the help of celebrities and advocacy on popular social media sites. We report on the growing trend of people sharing their orthodontic journey online, and how one celeb in particular made dental braces seem a lot more viable for adults in the UK.

Looking after our oral health – National Smile Month

From the 16^th May to the 16^th June, The British Oral Health Foundation ran its annual National Smile Month campaign, aiming to increase awareness of oral health and get us smiling!

We provided some top tips on looking after your oral health, including maintaining a good oral routine and teeth-friendly diet.

How to take care of your braces on holiday

If you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment and will be going on holiday this year, you can still relax and fully enjoy your time away. However, it’s always best to be prepared, and by reading our blog you’ll be able to know what to take away with you to keep your braces, teeth and gums in top condition, as well as what to do should your braces become damaged.

If you’d like any more guidance or to speak with one of our expert orthodontists, call us on 0161 998 2622, email info@manchesterorthodontics.co.uk, or alternatively use our online contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Holiday Care for Your Dental Braces 0

The summertime is here which means that many of us will be packing our suitcases and jetting off to more exotic locations. However, though your holiday is a chance to take a well-earned break from your day-to-day home life, it doesn’t mean you can take a break from your braces.

The temptation may be there, but it’s important to take the proper care of your braces wherever you may be - after all they’re an investment to help you achieve the perfectly straight and healthy smile you want! Not taking the proper care could prolong your treatment time

Additionally, you may not have access to your orthodontist or orthodontic provisions should a problem arise with your braces or oral health, so it’s best to make sure you’re prepared before you travel. Here are our top tips on what to do if you’re going away and how to take care of your braces and oral health:

Your holiday orthodontic packing list

There are a few essentials you’ll need to pack to take away with you. Be sure to keep these wherever you go on your holiday, in a waterproof bag if you’ll be by the pool or on the beach:

• A travel-sized toothbrush
• Orthodontic wax to help with any discomfort from your braces
• Travel-sized mouthwash
• Dental floss
• A compact mirror to help resolve any issues

These items will help you keep your teeth clean and your braces in top condition throughout your holiday. However, it’s a good idea to be careful about what you eat to avoid any potential damage to your brackets and wires which will be difficult to manage whilst away.

Your orthodontist should have advised you on the certain foods that should be avoided whilst wearing braces, such as hard foods like nuts or raw vegetables, and chewy or sticky foods like caramel or sweets. Being sensible whilst you’re on holiday will minimise the risk of damaging your braces as you may not be able to get them fixed immediately.

If anything should happen to your braces whilst you’re away, you’ll need to visit your orthodontist as soon as possible in order to get them repaired. If you’d like any more advice on caring for your braces, you can call the Northenden House practice on 0161 998 2622 or email us at info@manchesterorthodontics.co.uk. Alternatively you can use our simple online contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

National School Sport Week – Looking After Your Teeth and Braces Whilst Playing Sports 0

National School Sport Week, running from the 20-24^th June, is an important event inspiring children’s health and wellbeing. Organised by the Youth Sport Trust, this year’s event is based around the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, encouraging pupils to be more active and take part in more PE and school sport.

Playing sports and healthy teeth

Studies have found that people who maintain a healthy weight and have high levels of physical fitness, have a lower occurrence of gum disease. It’s a major cause of tooth loss in adults, and research suggests that it’s linked to health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.

So, it’s important to ensure that from a young age people are aware of the overall health benefits of staying active, which National Sport Week hopes to achieve. However, for children wearing braces, it may be more difficult to participate in sports and in fact some physical activities could damage the health of their teeth and gums.

The dangers of wearing braces and playing sports

It’s been reported that between 13% and 39% of all dental injuries are sports related. Contact sports in particular, can be dangerous for children wearing either fixed or removable braces. The metal appliance could cut the mouth with impact, or impact from contact or a fall could lead to trauma of the teeth and mouth.

To avoid damage to the brace, or worse injury to the mouth, there are a few measures that children can take whilst participating in school sports and physical activities:

Wearing a helmet

For contact sports or activities where there are high speeds or impact, such as hockey, skating or cycling, wearing a properly fitting helmet with protective caging will prevent trauma should the pupil be knocked or fall over.

However, if a helmet is not an option, protective mouthguards are essential to protect a child’s braces and mouth, and ensure that their orthodontic treatment can be carried out smoothly and efficiently.

Wearing a mouthguard

Although wearing braces can actually help support the teeth during sporting activities, wearing a mouthguard over them will protect the appliance itself and the mouth. Damaging the brace could prolong treatment time or cause injury in the mouth, making it important to protect it and seek orthodontic help straight away should damage occur.

A mouthguard is made from an odourless, tasteless and pliable material, such as polyethylene vinyl acetate (pEVA). It’s a non-toxic plastic which should be of sufficient thickness and impact absorbing, providing resistance to abrasion. Mouthguards are made to be durable so that they can last at least a whole season of sports competition and training. Braces wearers playing sports can either get custom-made mouthguards or ‘ortho-guards’ can be bought ready-made from sporting stores.

• Custom mouthguards can be made by your orthodontist, fitting to the contours of the teeth and offering great protection for the gums, tongue and mouth during sporting activities.

• Ready-made, ‘boil-and-bite’ mouthguards can be shaped to fit the wearer’s braces by being softened in boiling water and shaped. This allows the guard to be remoulded as the teeth move throughout treatment.

Any mouthguard worn should fit well, be comfortable and not dislodge on impact. For those wearing removable braces, it’s still best to wear a mouthguard whilst keeping the appliance in a brace case. Your orthodontist will be able to advise on the most suitable mouthguard, how to take care of it and how often it will need to be replaced.

If you’d like more advice on wearing braces and playing sports, or for any help with brace care, please contact our Manchester practice on 0161 998 2622, or email the Northenden orthodontic team at info@manchesterorthodontics.co.uk.