Our Blog

The Thanksgiving holiday is fast approaching and at Meade Orthodontics, we’re reflecting on the things that we are most grateful for like family, friends, and health. It’s important to take time to appreciate even the smallest of things in life. We may be biased, we believe a healthy smile is certainly something to be grateful for!

During the holidays, we love to start setting up decorations for Christmas. We look forward to spending time with family and friends and to the start our charity drive for Ozone House. Ozone House is an organization that provides shelter, housing, and support for young people living independently, or who have run away from their homes. Generally, they work with people of the ages 10-20 and they help ensure they stay on the path to lead healthy, safe, and productive lives.

One of our patients introduced us to this organization and we are proud to say this is our third year supporting Ozone House of Ann Arbor. Stay tuned for more information on our Facebook page for ways that you can help contribute to the cause!

We hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season and as always, don’t hesitate to give our office a call if you have any questions!

It’s the spookiest time of the year and our team at Betsy Meade Orthodontics could not be more excited! To get in the Halloween spirit, we’re decorating each room and hallway in our office. Expect to find pumpkins galore, spider webs, and all things black and orange.  We also may be indulging in a chocolate or two because who doesn’t love chocolate?

And since Halloween lands on a weekday, we will be dressing up this year! You might remember some of our previous costume themes like the 50s, super heroes, and zoo animals. Last year we even made our own tutus to wear with our super hero costumes! As a result, the building lounge turned into a big melting pot of all kinds of glitter. We had lots to clean up, but we like to think it was worth it. This year we’re happy to announce that we will be dressing up as the adorable and mischievous minions. You know, the little yellow guys obsessed with bananas. We can’t wait for you all to see our costumes!

Don’t forget that we currently have a Halloween contest going on with general dental offices who refer patients to us. We gave them a foam pumpkin to carve and decorate and asked them to post a photo to our Facebook page. Whoever gets at least 20 likes, 10 comments and five shares will be entered to win a Panera lunch for their office! So be sure to keep an eye out for those photos on our page and like your favorite!

Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) refers to a diverse range of disorders that relate to muscular function in the jaw and face — the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). That could mean difficulty opening your mouth, pain in the jaw or face, or any sort of problem with the jaw joint.

TMD can be difficult to diagnose because of the varied causes. Whatever the case, an accurate diagnosis from Dr. Betsy Meade helps make treatment as successful as possible.

Most often, jaw problems will resolve themselves within several weeks or months. Surgeries like arthrocentesis, arthroscopy, and open-joint surgery should be a last resort. More conservative and reversible treatments should come first and are in fact the most critical step in the treatment of TMD.

Less invasive treatments like acupuncture and splints can be helpful, but that will depend on your particular case. It’s worth your while to speak with Dr. Betsy Meade at our Ypsilanti, MI office to learn about solutions that could work for you.

A combination of treatments will most often produce the greatest relief for TMJ patients. It’s a good idea to avoid activities that overuse the jaws, such as chewing gum or clenching your jaws.

You can be proactive in finding relief for TMD by trying the following remedies at home:

• Eat soft food: When you eat soft and/or blended food, your jaw gets an opportunity to rest. Avoid chewy and crunchy food, and food that requires you to open your mouth wide, like apples or corn on the cob.
• Apply moist heat: A hot water bottle wrapped in a moist towel can help reduce symptoms.
• Apply ice: Applying an ice pack wrapped in a cloth or towel for no longer than 15 minutes may also reduce pain and promote healing.
• Do jaw exercises: A physical therapist can help identify the exercises that will work for you. Jaw exercises have been shown to be an effective treatment method that can be performed at home.
• Relaxation: Actively try to relax the muscles of the face and lips, and let your teeth come apart. Many find meditation, yoga, and slow, deep breathing to be helpful for reducing stress and tension.
• Avoid wide yawns: Keep your fist under your jaw when you feel a yawn coming on, to keep your jaw from opening too widely.

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.