Soreness And Loosening Of Teeth

A common occurrence in the first time orthodontic patient is soreness or tenderness of the teeth after bracket and wire placement. This will usually occur a few hours after your initial appointment. The forces from the wires and brackets create the much needed pressure on your teeth to allow them to move and straighten. This may make it difficult to eat and talk but discomfort should start to subside within a few days. Exactly when the discomfort will dissipate is impossible to predict and differs for each patient. If needed, rinse with warm salt water a few times daily, or in severe cases Tylenol or whatever you normally take for pain, can be used for relief.

Initially the braces may feel rough against the cheeks, lips and tongue. You may place wax around the bracket until the irritation disappears, or the mouth becomes used to the braces. Eventually once you get used to the braces and proper tooth alignment occurs, this will no longer be a concern. If you happen to need more wax than what we have provided at your initial visit we can furnish you with more at your next visit, or check with your local drug store for wax or silicon ear plugs.

It may come as a surprise to some but there will come a time when your teeth feel loose. That is because they are. This is nothing to worry about though, it is a normal process. The teeth must first loosen in their bone sockets so they can be moved. This will occur several times over the course of treatment. Once active movement has ceased the teeth will become rigid again in their new corrected positions.

Early Treatment Benefits For Children

The general consensus is that children have an orthodontic consultation by the age of seven. The permanent first molars and incisors have usually erupted by this time and the child can be evaluated for any overbites, cross bites, or crowding that may be present. Early orthopedic intervention guides growth and development, and may prevent serious problems that may require jaw surgery.

Advantages of early orthodontic treatment:

* Reducing treatment time
* Increase self-esteem early
* Shorten/improve second phase of treatment
* Possibly eliminate the need for future jaw surgery
* Avoid permanent tooth extraction
* Correct abnormal speech or swallowing problems
* Alleviate thumb sucking habits

Although early treatment can be a great preventative measure, it is never too late to improve your smile.

Halloween Skate Party!!!

Dr. Montano's

ANNUAL HALLOWEEN SKATING PARTY

Montano Orthodontics is inviting YOU and your Family and Friends

Where: Rollerama West
7850 Brimhall Rd.

When: Saturday October 25th
Time: 4:30 - 6:30pm

Come join the whole Montano
Orthodontic staff for Fun!

Costume Contest! Prizes and Fun & Games!

Toothbrush Trivia

Before the toothbrush was invented, many people actually brushed their teeth with sticks!

The first time in history that people actively cleaned their teeth was between 4000 and 3000 BC in ancient Babylon (the site where Iraq is now). The Babylonians used “chew sticks” – thin twigs or tree roots that were chewed at the end to loosen the fibers and then used like brushes.

Between 2000 and 1000 BC the ancient Chinese used similar twigs to clean their teeth. But the Chinese took it one step further and used twigs from trees with a nice smell. (Perhaps this was an early attempt at breath freshening?)

The next time you brush your teeth, take a moment to be thankful that you have a nice, clean toothbrush with soft bristles – instead of a stick!

Gum Disease Can Sneak Up On You

You can feel it when you have a cavity. But unfortunately, gum disease can exist in your mouth without you realizing it. In fact, you can have the beginning stages of gum disease without noticing any pain or discomfort. Because of this, it’s very important to watch for the warning signs of the disease:

• Gums that appear red or swollen
• Gums that feel tender
• Gums that bleed easily (during brushing or flossing)
• Gums that recede or pull away from the teeth
• Persistent bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Any change in the way teeth come together in the biting position
• Any change in the way partial dentures fit

If you or someone in your family is showing these signs, make an appointment right away by calling us. We can diagnose the problem, find out how far the disease has advanced, and start treatment.