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Many patients underestimate the importance of wearing their retainers after their braces come off, but it is one of the most critical post care practices to keep your teeth in alignment. Why spend all that time, energy, and money to straighten your teeth when you don't plan to keep them straightened after treatment?

What is a retainer?

As the name implies, a retainer keeps teeth from moving back to the positions in which they started before treatment was administered; they "retain" your smile and bite. There are many different types of retainers—some are removable and some are permanent. Some retainers are made of plastic and metal (known as Hawley retainers) and others are all plastic or all metal. Some retainers can even be bonded to the back of your teeth!

How long do I need to wear it?

If you've been given a removable retainer by Dr. Betsy Meade, you may be wondering how long you need to wear it. It takes time for the tissues and bones around your teeth to reorganize and set into place after braces treatment.

The amount of time you’ll need to wear your retainer depends on your unique situation, but typically, retainers should be worn at least as long as the time you spent in braces. You might need to wear them full-time for a while, and then transition to wearing them only at night. Dr. Betsy Meade will have a treatment plan especially for you, and if you stick to it, you'll always have a straight smile.

Nothing is forever (at least without retainers!)

Research has shown that there is no “permanent” position for your teeth to remain in. In fact, some studies say upward of 70% of patients will see a change to their bite and tooth alignment as they get older. This applies to people who have had orthodontic treatment and those who have not. Of course, some people's teeth never seem to shift—you can consider them the lucky ones, as most people's teeth do.

And this is precisely where retainers come in. The only way to ensure your teeth stay in alignment long-term is by wearing your retainers. If you have any questions about retainers or your treatment plan, please ask any member of our Ypsilanti, MI staff.

Surveys show that Independence Day is the biggest cookout day of the year. If you’re celebrating with a feast of hot dogs, fresh grilled corn on the cob, burgers, and other traditional treats, we have some tips to help make your holiday dining fun for you and safe for your braces, so you don’t miss out on any of the fun in Ypsilanti, MI! 

• Skip the “Finger Foods”

Traditional BBQ fare like ribs, burgers, chicken legs, and corn on the cob are usually eaten with fingers, not utensils. This means biting into these delicious favorites with your front teeth, which puts pressure on your braces and can lead to bent wires and broken or loose brackets. 

But being careful with your braces doesn’t mean you have to miss out! Use a knife and fork to cut food into smaller pieces or cut the kernels off the cob, and you can chew with your back teeth, protecting your brackets and wires. 

• Edit The Menu

Crunchy, hard, and sticky foods should never be on the menu when you’re wearing braces. These foods can damage your wires and brackets or get stuck between your braces and your teeth. 

A Fourth of July BBQ is the time for clever substitutions. Exchange crusty rolls and seeded buns for softer, seedless versions. Dig into the potato or pasta salad instead of munching on crunchy chips. Skip hard candies, nuts, and sticky smores and enjoy creamy soft desserts like yogurt parfaits, colorful berries, and soft ice creams.

• Water’s Always a Good Choice on a Hot Day

Proper hydration is essential for both your overall health and your oral health. Drinking water helps prevent cavities by washing away food particles and bacteria and reducing acidic conditions in the mouth. A swish can help dislodge food from your braces when you can’t get to a toothbrush. And water, unlike some darker beverages, won’t stain the enamel next to your brackets.

• Keep Up the Good Work

During your busy holiday, whether at home or on the road, be sure to make time to brush and floss as directed after meals and before bed. 

Talk to Dr. Betsy Meade about easy ways to protect your braces and teeth for stress-free holiday dining. Everyone at Meade Orthodontics wants to make sure that, whether you’re enjoying a meal with family and friends, marching in the parade, oohing and aahing at the fireworks, or all of the above, your Fourth of July is filled with healthy, happy smiles!

Healthy teeth make you happy to share your smile with the world. But there’s more to your smile than its beauty! There’s a lot of hard work going on, too. 

Teeth Are Designed for Efficient Eating

Because humans are omnivores, we can eat both meat and plants. That’s why our teeth have different shapes—they’re meant to help us process different types of food. 

• Incisors, our front teeth, have sharpish edges to help cut through meats and other firm foods when we bite.
• Canines, the pointed teeth, help tear food into bite-size portions.
• Premolars are flat topped teeth with two cusps, raised points which help us grind food.
• Molars are the flat-topped teeth in the rear of the mouth. They have four cusps to grind and crush food into a paste-like consistency. 

So: Incisors and canines bite and tear food into smaller pieces, which molars and premolars then crush and grind into a paste. Bite, tear, crush, grind—why all this food aggression? Because that’s the key to healthy digestion. 

Successful digestion begins with chewing. Chewing:

• Starts the process of breaking food down into digestible particles.
• Increases saliva production. Saliva binds food particles so that we can swallow easily.
• Expands the surface area of food particles, which allows the digestive system to extract nutrients more efficiently. 

When biting causes you pain, it can be hard to chew food. Swallowing becomes difficult when food particles are too large, and digestion becomes uncomfortable.

Bite pain can occur when there’s a deep cavity or an injured tooth, but it can also be caused when the teeth and jaws don’t fit together the way that they should. This misalignment is called a malocclusion, or bad bite. And while a malocclusion often makes eating more difficult, it can have further damaging effects as well.

Teeth Are Designed to Be Good Partners

While eating is probably the first thing that comes to mind when we think about dental duties, our teeth also work in coordination with other parts of our bodies. A malocclusion can interfere with these normally smooth interactions, affecting:

• Tooth and Jaw Health

Biting, chewing, and clenching put hundreds of pounds of pressure on our teeth and jaws. A misaligned bite misapplies this pressure, which can lead to damaged and unevenly worn teeth, tooth grinding, headaches, jaw pain, and other problems. 

• Speech

Our teeth work with our tongues and lips to form many of the phonetic sounds which make up speech. Try saying the word “teeth,” and see how your tongue and teeth work together! Misaligned teeth and jaws can affect speech development in children and pronunciation in children and adults.

• Face Shape

Our teeth and jaws help give shape to our faces. Alignment problems can affect facial symmetry and self-confidence.

You Can Help Your Teeth Work Their Best

Daily brushing and flossing, eating a healthy diet, and regular visits to your dentist for exams and cleanings help your teeth perform their many daily duties. But if bite problems are causing troubles with eating, tooth or jaw pain, difficulty speaking, or self-consciousness, it’s time to team up with your orthodontist. 

And just like your everyday dental care, orthodontic treatment works best with your active participation. 

• Make sure your teeth are their cleanest with careful brushing and flossing. You may need to brush and floss more often while you’re in treatment.
• If you wear braces, eat a braces-friendly diet. 
• Wear aligners, bands, or appliances for the hours recommended each day.
• Keep up with your orthodontic visits to keep your treatment on schedule.

Talk to your orthodontist to learn more about how to help your teeth work their best for you—and be ready to share that beautiful, hard-working smile!

Although using mouthwash is certainly not the equal of brushing and flossing, it does have benefits for your dental hygiene. If you use mouthwash regularly, you should find out which type is best suited for your needs. Here are some things to think about the next time you’re at the store.

The first item to weigh is why you want to use mouthwash. If the reason involves a high risk for cavities, you should focus on a mouthwash that contains fluoride. Make sure to double-check the label, because some mouthwashes do not necessarily include fluoride.

If you’re looking for a mouthwash to fight gingivitis, select an oral rinse with antibacterial properties. Make sure to read labels and avoid picking one that contains alcohol. Antibacterial mouthwash would also be best for a patient who has periodontal disease.

Another option is prescription mouthwash. These should be discussed with Dr. Betsy Meade and/or your pharmacist in order to avoid negative side effects. Pay close attention to the directions regarding how much to use and for how long. Keep in mind that some brands may lose their effectiveness if you use them on an ongoing basis.

For children, you can find a mouthwash that changes the color of plaque on their teeth. This is a fun way to help them understand how well they are brushing, and what areas they need to focus on. It can even be a tool for adults who have trouble reaching certain areas of their mouth.

While mouthwash is generally considered as a safe means to improve your oral health, you need to keep certain things in mind. Avoid using any mouthwash that has alcohol in it. If you are using a strong one, it can reduce your sense of taste over time. Be wary of a mouthwash that claims it can loosen plaque; this is not accurate and can mislead consumers.

We hope these simple suggestions will help you the next time you’re at the store. Make sure you pick the right mouthwash to keep that healthy smile! Feel free to contact Dr. Betsy Meade at our Ypsilanti, MI with any questions you may have.