Most people won’t need orthodontic care until they are in their early teens or young adult years. But some children will need early orthodontic care because of genetics or problems that appear in their childhood. The AAO (American Association of Orthodontists) recommends that all children be seen by an orthodontist at age 7.  This will help the orthodontist monitor your child’s growth and development and catch any major problems early, saving you time and money. There are some common signs that you can watch for that will help you know if your child needs early orthodontic care. These signs can help you get them the care they need before their oral health is permanently affected. 

Many teens and adults get braces to help straighten their teeth and correct other oral problems. But many new patients wonder how braces actually move your teeth. Some people get braces to straighten teeth, but they can also help avoid additional problems in the roots of teeth, gums, or jaw. Braces are made of metal or ceramic, wires, and bonding materials. The process of braces looks different for different patients and depends on the patient’s ability to follow the instructions of the orthodontists. 

Deep cleaning your teeth and cleaning around all the small parts of your braces can be difficult. Proper cleaning of your braces will ensure that you avoid staining, tooth decay, and cavities. Thoroughly cleaning braces will save you time on your orthodontic treatment and unnecessary dental procedures. Bailey Orthodontics wants to help our patients properly clean braces while working with our office. Below are some tips that can make cleaning around braces much more manageable. 

Dental anxiety is common in children and adults and can be debilitating when you need dental or orthodontic work done. If your children have anxiety about braces, there are some tips you can use to help calm the stress that comes with orthodontic treatment. 

Feeling tightness or slight discomfort while wearing Invisalign is normal, but having an improper fit on your clear aligners will not help you straighten your teeth. If your Invisalign doesn’t fit or feels slightly off, there are some steps you can take to improve the tracking of your Invisalign.

Patients who travel away from their orthodontist for the holidays need to know how to protect their braces from damage and breakage. Dealing with orthodontic problems during the holidays can be annoying, and painful and set patients back on their path of orthodontic treatment. Eating sticky foods, avoiding safety measures, and forgetting to floss can lead you to an extra visit to the orthodontist after the holidays are over. Bailey Orthodontics wants to provide our patients with tips to deal with orthodontic problems during the holidays.