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Once you get your braces off, you want to make sure your smile remains straight! This is where retainers come in.

Once your braces come off, you’ll be fitted for a retainer provided by Dr. Betsy Meade to keep those teeth in place. A retainer is a custom-fit device that sits in the mouth and reinforces the new position of your teeth. Wearing it may be annoying at first, but it’s an essential part of the process of keeping your teeth in place over the long term.

For the first few months after your braces are gone, Dr. Betsy Meade will tell you to wear your custom retainers all the time, except when you’re eating, drinking, or brushing. You have the option of having a clear plastic retainer made if you’re concerned about your appearance.

Eventually, we will recommend that you only have to wear the retainer during each night for a full year. After that, you may take a couple nights off from wearing them each week. In order to preserve the position of your teeth for as long as possible, we don’t recommend that you ever fully stop wearing your retainers.

If you’re concerned about forgetting to wear your retainer, and worried that your teeth may shift, a lingual retainer could be a good option for you. This gets placed on the back of your teeth and is not readily visible.

These retainers are permanent, but they could cause issues for you down the road if you don’t maintain good oral hygiene. Plaque and tartar can build up around these lingual bars, which is why we don’t usually recommend this as a primary choice.

Wearing your retainer is extremely vital after your braces come off. Without your retainer to keep them in place, the teeth you’ve taken so long to fix may begin to shift again. Getting braces is quite an investment, which is why you should keep wearing your retainer long after the braces have come off.

If you have questions or concerns regarding your retainers, contact our Ypsilanti, MI office and we can address any problems you may have.

We still can’t believe that the new year is officially up and running! At Betsy Meade Orthodontics, we’re all about getting (and staying) organized in the new year. We love making lists and checking things off as we go.

If you’re looking for a new way to keep track of your goals and to-dos, we recommend starting a calendar or trying a bullet journal. Don’t procrastinate and keep yourself accountable by checking it daily.

If you do go the bullet journal route, consider keeping a habit tracker. A habit tracker is a list you create each month with daily tasks that you wish you to accomplish. You can color code it and make it as visually pleasing as you want. It’s a great way to stay on track and see what you’ve accomplished each month as a whole!

We all know how busy the work week can get and how that can affect cooking at home. It can be hard to come home after a long day and have to get straight to an hour or two of cooking. Well, we’re happy to share two of our favorite fuss-free recipes with you: tacos and fettuccine alfredo with grilled chicken. They’re great for leftovers as well which is a plus.

We believe that staying organized is just one part of the productivity equation. The other equally important part is taking care of your physical health. When you feel good you are more likely to have more energy to accomplish everything on your to-do list. You can start doing this by making small adjustments like drinking water instead of pop. Your body will thank you and your teeth will , too!

In 2018 we’re making it a priority to spend more time with family and friends. We’d love to hear about what the goals you’re setting for yourself this year!

We hope you’ve had a great start to the year so far and can’t wait to see you in the office!

We still can’t believe that the new year is officially up and running! At Betsy Meade Orthodontics, we’re all about getting (and staying) organized in the new year. We love making lists and checking things off as we go.

If you’re looking for a new way to keep track of your goals and to-dos, we recommend starting a calendar or trying a bullet journal. Don’t procrastinate and keep yourself accountable by checking it daily.

If you do go the bullet journal route, consider keeping a habit tracker. A habit tracker is a list you create each month with daily tasks that you wish you to accomplish. You can color code it and make it as visually pleasing as you want. It’s a great way to stay on track and see what you’ve accomplished each month as a whole!

We all know how busy the work week can get and how that can affect cooking at home. It can be hard to come home after a long day and have to get straight to an hour or two of cooking. Well, we’re happy to share two of our favorite fuss-free recipes with you: tacos and fettuccine alfredo with grilled chicken. They’re great for leftovers as well which is a plus.

We believe that staying organized is just one part of the productivity equation. The other equally important part is taking care of your physical health. When you feel good you are more likely to have more energy to accomplish everything on your to-do list. You can start doing this by making small adjustments like drinking water instead of pop. Your body will thank you and your teeth will , too!

In 2018 we’re making it a priority to spend more time with family and friends. We’d love to hear about what the goals you’re setting for yourself this year!

We hope you’ve had a great start to the year so far and can’t wait to see you in the office!

It’s true that orthodontic braces can give you a beautiful smile. But did you know there are other benefits of having braces than just getting perfectly straight teeth? Dr. Betsy Meade and our team want you to understand the other positives that can come out of having braces and relate to your oral health.

When teeth are crooked or crowded, it’s hard to brush and floss effectively. When there isn’t enough space in your mouth, bacteria and plaque can build up between these teeth. This can lead to serious issues like tooth decay and gum disease. When braces correct the spacing between teeth, and get rid of the tight spaces, patients are able to brush and floss more effectively and not miss essential areas of the mouth.

Surprisingly, braces can also address speech problems. They can shift problem teeth that may be causing embarrassing speech impediments. When an overbite or underbite gets adjusted, patients can pronounce certain words more clearly.

Spaces between teeth may also cause whistling, which braces can fix by closing off the gaps. Word slurring can also be improved with the help of braces by realignment of the jaw or teeth, which opens room for your tongue to move with greater ease.

Braces can also be helpful in supporting the bones and tissues in your mouth. Braces move periodontal ligaments by stretching the connective tissues and nerves. The bones naturally rebuild once they’re settled in their new spot.

Without support from poorly aligned teeth, gum tissue can erode. Braces help prevent erosion of the gums, and will alleviate pressure from the jawbone by fixing a bad bite over time.

If teeth are misplaced, they may not break down food effectively before it enters your stomach. Teeth aid with digestion when you can thoroughly chew your food. If your teeth are badly placed, braces can straighten them for optimal alignment. Once you can chew properly with the help of braces, your food will be more easily and fully digested.

If you have questions regarding braces and how they can help you, contact our Ypsilanti, MI office and set up a consultation appointment. Braces can help with many oral health problems, and may save you a lot of money and time in the future.

If you’re not sure whether braces would be worth your time or money, consider the benefits above, and how they add to the value of this treatment. You’ll be getting more than just a beautiful smile!