Do Braces cause Puffy Gums?

True or False:  Braces cause gingival inflammation or "puffy gums"

The answer is False

We at Bales Orthodontics are often asked this question.  The gingival or gum tissue does not simply "puff up" automatically because braces are placed.  The gums can become puffy due to the irritation of plaque over a long period of time.  Braces and wires can increase the chance for plaque to stick around the tooth surface so it's important to brush AND floss regularly. 

Our advice for our patients is to divide your cleaning into thirds:  1-Gums 2-Teeth 3-Brackets.  Be sure to check all 3 areas carefully to make sure no plaque or food debris remains after brushing and flossing.  We do not want gums to look like this picture, so please do your best to keep those pearly whites clean!

How long do Braces need to be on?

How long will my braces be on? 

Do you know when I'll be finished with Orthodontic treatment? 

When do I get my retainers?

When do I get my braces off?

These are common questions we hear almost every day in the Orthodontic office.  During our Initial Complimentary Exam, each patient can sit down with our Doctors to discuss the problems we see with you or your child's bite.  After identifying the issues, we will recommend a few options for correcting the problem.  Once we've made a decision together on which treatment plan is best suited for each patient, we will give you an estimate on treatment time and treatment cost.

This estimated treatment time is exactly that:  an educated guess based on the diagnosis and treatment plan.  Everyone is different!  Orthodontic treatment time varies depending on the complexity of the malocclusion and how your teeth respond to orthodontic forces.  Some teeth move faster or slower than others. 

What affects treatment time?

Compliance:  Bite correction plays a big role in treatment time and compliance is a huge factor in bite correction.  If our patients wear elastics or other removable appliances as instructed, the bite will correct in an efficient time.  Teeth need a consistent force in order to move properly, so do as your orthodontist asks and your teeth should be straight in no time!

Oral Hygiene is also a strong contributing factor:  if brushing and flossing are done properly then treatment time should be on track.  However, if poor brushing occurs the gums become inflamed and the tooth movement is delayed.  Healthy teeth and gums move as fast as nature will allow it! 

Can a mouth guard protect my teeth?

Protect your teeth with a mouth guard!

We have many sporty patients at Bales Orthodontics and we want to make sure our important people protect those teeth while engaging in their favorite activity.  The Bales Team ask our patients to wear mouth guards during most sporting activities to avoid a trauma from a flying ball or elbow.  We urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this year, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as basketball, wrestling and hockey
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

 

Thanksgiving dinner: A perfect meal for teeth with braces!

The Bales Orthodontic team have been busy the last couple of weeks perfecting beautiful smiles.  A common question during this time of year is:  "Will my teeth be too sore to eat Thanksgiving dinner?"

Absolutely Not!  In fact, the food you eat during Thanksgiving time is perfect for teeth with braces.  We encourage our patients with braces to eat soft foods.  Turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing is just the recipe for those tender teeth. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

How do Rubber Bands Work with Braces?

Why do I need rubberbands to fix my teeth?

Rubberbands or Elastics are commonly used in combination with Braces or Invisalign to help your Orthodontist achieve the perfect bite.  Elastics provide an additional force needed to move your teeth in the right direction. Rubberbands are typically worn for several months and are to be used in an orientation specific to each patient.  They attach from one bracket to the next and will sometimes cause tenderness to the teeth at first.  There are different types of elastics with many sizes.  Our packages are labelled according to size and strength.  We have names for our elastics:  Bummer, Fred, Gloria, Roger and Cathy.   

It's important to remember to change the elastics each time you eat.  The elastics can be removed for eating and brushing and flossing.  Consistency is key...so wear them as instructed and you will be on your way to a beautiful smile in no time!

Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign can be the "Clear" choice for you! 

Some people have a hard time believing that clear plastic trays can move your teeth like traditional braces. 

The science behind tooth movement is a consistent light pressure to cause changes in the periodontal ligament.  These small changes in the ligament will allow the crown and root of the tooth to move into a new position.  With Invisalign, each plastic clear tray moves your teeth a small amount just like braces and wires. 

Here at Bales Orthodontics, we utilize technologically advanced treatments to get the best results possible. This means that our patients now have more options when it comes to achieving the smile they have always wanted.

Invisalign aligners are removable, which will allow you the freedom to remove them when you eat, clean your teeth, or for a special occassion. 

Each aligner is worn for 2 weeks and it is imperative that you wear them for 22 hours a day in order for  the teeth to move properly.  As a patient, you will receive 3-4 sets of aligners and visit our office every 6-8 weeks until your treatment is finished.  The aligners are very comfortable and your end result is the same as if you had traditional braces! 

The Dr Tom and Dr Katie Bales are Elite Providers for Invisaign, which means they are the top local provider in Marin and Sonoma County.   

Why are they called Wisdom teeth???

Am I smarter if I have them???

Third molars have been referred to as “teeth of wisdom” since the Seventeenth Century and simply “wisdom teeth” since the Nineteenth Century. The third molars generally appear much later than other teeth, usually between the ages of 17 and 25 when a person reaches adulthood. It is generally thought among linguists that they are called wisdom teeth because they appear so late, at an age when a person matures into adulthood and is “wiser” than when other teeth have erupted.
Lately, science has added some credence to the idea that the third molar does indeed erupt when a person is “wiser”. Recent research has shown the brain continues to grow and develop right on through adolescence: in fact, most researchers believe the brain does not reach full maturity until the age of 25. Perhaps, then, our ancestors weren't so far off the mark — that the eruption of “wisdom teeth” is a sign that the carefree days of childhood have given way to the responsibilities of adulthood