Why You Still Might Need Braces Even if Your Teeth Look Straight

July 25, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

For people who are unhappy with their smile, getting braces makes sense. However, if you like the way your teeth look, you may not think you need braces. While this could be the case, there may also be issues that aren’t as noticeable when you look in the mirror.

Unseen Crowding

Even if you have a good-looking smile, there could be problems you can’t see. When you get orthodontic treatment with braces or clear aligners, it fixes far more than cosmetic issues.

One common issue is crowding, which is caused by a shortage of space between your teeth. When your teeth are crowded, it often affects the appearance of your smile, but some people can have crowding in the back of their mouth, leaving their smile still looking straight. The problem with crowding is food can easily get stuck in between your teeth, making it difficult to thoroughly clean them. This will inevitably lead to tooth decay and possibly worse oral health problems.

Crowding can also cause one or two teeth to be positioned higher than the surrounding teeth. This will cause a disproportionate amount of force to be put on those teeth, which erodes the tooth over time unevenly or causes cracking, both of which you want to avoid.

Underlying Issues

Not all orthodontic issues occur above the gum lines. X-rays often discover problems that need to be fixed but are currently not affecting a smile’s appearance. For example, some patients have adult teeth that have never erupted, either because there wasn’t enough space or the baby teeth never fell out. These trapped teeth can even end up sideways under the gums in an attempt to move into their proper positions.

Braces are often needed to fix these types of underlying issues, either as part of the initial treatment, or after the fact to return the smile to its straight, healthy state.

This is one of the many reasons we don’t recommend mail-order orthodontic treatment. These providers rely on impressions and selfies submitted by their customers, which means any issues hiding under the gums are not addressed.

Misaligned Bite

While your smile may look straight to others, many people have to force their smile to look normal due to an overbite or underbite. Both of these conditions can complicate your oral health by leading to uneven pressure in your mouth, speech or eating problems, or jaw pain. By getting braces or clear aligners, you can get your bite to a normal position and always bite down comfortably while never having to adjust your jaw to make your smile look straight.

To schedule a free consultation and see how braces can improve your oral health, contact Austin Orthodontics today!

Posted in BracesTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

4 Ways to Limit How Much Sugar You Eat with Braces

July 3, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

The process of getting a straighter smile you’ll be proud of includes going through orthodontic treatment. Braces are still the most common method of straightening teeth and setting yourself up for good long-term oral health. This treatment method takes plenty of getting used to, but the results will be far more than worth it. One of the adjustments you’ll need to make during your treatment is cutting back on sugar.

Reasons to Avoid Sugar with Braces

Besides the fact that sugar is something you should always do your best to avoid, you have an increased chance of experiencing tooth decay when you have braces. This is because food can more easily become trapped around the brackets, making it harder to clean off with brushing. Having sugary food become stuck in your braces causes plaque to build up, which will lead to the formation of cavities.

Another problem people often experience if they don’t take good care of their teeth while they have braces is discoloration of their teeth enamel. If you aren’t keeping with cleaning and choose sugary foods, you can end up with darker spots around your braces when they are removed.

1. Cut Out Hard Candy

One type of food you should be avoiding for multiple reasons is hard candy. Not only can the tough texture of hard candy possibly damage your braces, but the sugary residue can hide underneath the archwire and brackets. You should also avoid sugary cereals for the same reasons.

2. Reserve Desserts for Special Occasions

When it comes to typical dessert foods like cookies, ice cream, and cakes, you should cut back on how often you eat these foods. The best practice is to reserve these sorts of foods for special occasions, such as if you are at a wedding or birthday celebration. If you still feel like you need to appease your sweet tooth, you can schedule a “cheat day” one day a week where you can have a dessert to satisfy your craving.

3. Avoid White Bread

One type of food many people don’t think of as being sugary is starchy white bread. While this may not exactly be a dessert food, white bread processes in your body the same way sugar does. The same goes for your teeth. White bread processes into sugar in the mouth, which quickly leads to tooth decay. In fact, the texture and contents of white bread can be even worse for your teeth than cane sugar.

4. Read Food Labels Carefully

It can be surprising just how much sugar gets packed into foods that seem like they are meant for meals rather than desserts. This is especially true in America, where sugar is a common ingredient in foods that are marketed as being “savory.” Many sauces like ketchup and barbeque sauce can have surprisingly high levels of sugar. When you go shopping at the store, be sure to read each label and look for the sugar content.

If you have any questions or concerns about life with braces, feel free to contact Austin Orthodontics.

Posted in Braces, Caring for bracesTagged , , , , , , ,

Why Austin Orthodontics Is the Best Orthodontist for You

May 3, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

There can be a lot of claims that a certain orthodontist is the best of the best, but what backs up those claims? You see, to be among the best in the industry, it takes dedication, skill and the absolute willingness to provide patients with superior treatment plans and top-of-the-line products. There’s no cutting corners when you’re the best solution in orthodontics. When it comes to choosing an orthodontist to help correct the issues with your teeth, don’t you want the best? Here’s why Austin Orthodontics is the best orthodontist for you.

A Step Above the Competition

Choosing an orthodontist can be a daunting task if only because there are so many to choose from. Find an orthodontist who focuses on you. At Austin Orthodontics, our mission is to provide top-level care and help our patients achieve the best smiles possible. Our team offers a state-of-the-art experience in a warm inviting, stress-free environment, so our patients can focus on one thing—their treatment.

Not only is our team among the best in the industry, they help patients get the most out of their treatment, providing them with the necessary guidance and tools for maximum success. Through specialized treatment plans, our staff provides custom solutions for each individual patient, going the extra mile to ensure treatment is comfortable and the absolute best it can be.

Superior Treatment Plans

Our professionals treat a variety of orthodontic issues and address problems with bites, crowding, spacing, alignment and more. We offer custom-designed plans, utilizing numerous products, including:

  • Invisalign clear aligners
  • Self-ligating braces
  • Ceramic braces
  • WildSmiles

Our practice also offers OrthoPulse, which aids in reducing the treatment time for patients with braces or clear aligners. Utilizing low level light therapy, the bone around the roots of the teeth is stimulated, facilitating tooth movement.

Next Level Expertise

Unlike many orthodontic practices, our team has extensive experience with jaw issues, such as TMJ. This oftentimes debilitating condition can cause extreme discomfort and pain, making everyday tasks, like eating and talking, uncomfortable. Our digital radiology and imaging software is used to help achieve lasting results, helping patients suffering from these issues to live a life free from pain.

Our team also specializes in surgical orthodontics to help correct issues, such as jaw bone abnormalities and malocclusions. This complex area of treatment helps to properly align the jaw and allow for proper growth.

Choosing Austin Orthodontics

When you choose our team, you not only get the very best treatment available, you get to work with the brightest minds in the industry. We’re focused on you and your success, and we ensure your treatment plan is tailored to you and only you. When you’re searching for the right orthodontist for you, choose wisely. After all, the fate of your success begins with your orthodontic team. When it’s time to choose a practice that you can trust, choose Austin Orthodontics.

The team at Austin Orthodontics is ready to help you achieve a dazzling smile! Call (512) 331-7900 to learn more.

Posted in About Austin OrthodonticsTagged , , , ,