The average woman smiles about 62 times a day! A man? Only 8! Kids laugh around 400 times a day. Adults…just 15.

If you're right handed, you will tend to chew your food on your right side. If you're left handed, you will tend to chew your food on your left side.

50% consider the smile the first facial feature they notice.

80% are not happy with their smile.

83% of people believe their teeth are more important than hair and eyes.

People who drink 3 or more sugary sodas daily have 62% more dental decay.

More people use blue toothbrushes than red ones.

Braces do a lot more than improve your smile. They also play an active role in correcting overcrowded and misaligned teeth. This is important because an abnormal bite (also known as “malocclusion”) may cause other problems, such as impaired plaque removal around misaligned teeth, which can lead to gum inflammation and cavities.

Taking good care of braces can help prevent damage to the braces themselves and the teeth underneath as well as make the braces more comfortable to wear. Learning the basics of orthodontic care will help you follow your dental professional's recommendations to keep your teeth and gums healthy during the time you’re wearing braces.

Careful cleaning is required with braces, because plaque bacteria are easily trapped inside and around them. The following procedure will make daily brushing and flossing both simple and effective.

1. Prepare to brush. Take off elastics and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.
2. Clean your braces. Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush from the top of each wire down to the bottom. Take your time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed, and that you work all the way around upper and lower teeth.
3. Brush your teeth. Clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle the gum line, then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Do this for about 10 seconds. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.
4. Floss once a day. Have your dental professional show you the best way to floss, or follow the instructions on the product package. You may also want to use a flossing product designed for braces and orthodontic work, like a floss threader.
5. Rinse and check your teeth. Rinse thoroughly with water or mouth rinse, and examine your teeth and braces in the mirror.

During the time that you have braces on your teeth, you will need to visit the orthodontist regularly for adjustments to your appliance. After a routine orthodontic adjustment, you may experience some tightness or even a slight amount of pain. If this discomfort or pain does not quickly dissipate, or becomes extreme, you should consult your orthodontist. Concerns about your appliances, and any problems with broken parts, should also be brought to your orthodontist's attention immediately.

It’s also important that you continue with regular visits to your general dentist while undergoing orthodontic treatment. Routine checkups are necessary to spot cavities and signs of gum disease. Your dentist or hygienist may also perform frequent fluoride treatments to provide additional protection to tooth surfaces from decay while you’re wearing braces.

Your home oral care techniques will be monitored by your dental professional and changes will be recommended as necessary. As always, be sure to follow their instructions.

At McBeth Orthodontics we are concerned when a child sucks their thumb or finger for more than 4 hours a day. It can cause serious problems with tooth and jaw development as kids are growing. The most noticeable effect of constant thumb-sucking is to push the upper front teeth outward and the lower front teeth inward. It can also stop front teeth from coming in completely, which results in an openbite or stops the lower jaw from developing the way it should. If thumb sucking goes on long enough, it can cause cheek muscles to press the top molars inward and cause them to bite inside the lower molars, a malocclusion (bad bite) known as a crossbite. If sucking continues past ages 5 to 7, the permanent front teeth will most likely not come in properly.

Thumb sucking can be difficult to stop, especially since it helps some children to deal with anxiety. Watch this excellent video on thumb sucking with helpful hints for parents on what to do.

Listed below are six helpful hints that might help break your child’s habit:

*Praise kids for not sucking, instead of scolding them when they do.

*Work on preventing the cause of a child’s anxiety and providing them comfort in other ways, so they don’t feel the need to suck.

*Distract the child from their habit with a fun activity.

*If a child has older brothers or sister, have them encourage him or her not to suck their thumbs. This may be more effective than if it came from Mom or Dad.

*Have the dentist explain to the child what they are doing to their teeth.

*As a last resort, having a child wear a bandage or glove at night on the finger they usually suck can sometimes do the trick.

We are pleased to provide you with this helpful information and to offer you the finest orthodontic care for you and your family. If you have a child who was a thumb sucker or has a current finger habit, the American Association of Orthodontics recommendations all children be evaluated by age seven to determine if an orthodontic problem is present.

Contact our office today for a free new patient exam to determine if your child would benefit from orthodontic treatment to counteract the effects of their finger habit.

http://www.howdini.com/howdini-video-6650287.html

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recently posted a patient experience blog where past, present, and future orthodontic patients from coast to coast document their (or their child’s) orthodontic journeys. The blog will serve as a source of information and guidance for all ages as patients wind their way through all the different stages of orthodontic care.

Our Team at McBeth Orthodontics encourages you to bookmark the Braces Brigade blog for updated blog posts—who knows what gems and tidbits you will find! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us, we are always here to help.

And FYI – The AAO is looking for patients willing to participate on the Braces Brigade Blog and is now accepting applications from individuals age 14 and over that would like to share their orthodontic journey with others. Send them your story at bracesbrigade@webershandwick.com

Again… Happy New Year! Our entire team wishes all our readers a fun year filled with many joys and bright smiles!

Did you know FSA dollars can be applied to orthodontic care? And if you do, here is a last minute reminder. Before it's too late, now is the time to start thinking about allocating $$$ to your FSA account, for 2011. Not every employer offers FSA accounts. If you are unsure, call your employer's human resource department and find out today.

At McBeth Orthodontics, part of our commitment to current patients in treatment and new patients considering orthodontic care, is providing exceptional customer service. This includes ensuring you understand and apply for all the benefits to which you are entitled, both insurance and FSA.

Call us today at (479) 621-8229 to schedule a free consultation appointment if you would like to set aside funds for orthodontic care next year. If orthodontic treatment is indicated and you or your child is ready to start, we will provide you with the necessary information to take advantage of FSA tax free benefits for orthodontic care.

Year end deadlines are coming up soon for new patients and patients already under orthodontic care in our office. You must submit for the benefit each year. Each employer has a different final submission date. Do you know your company’s deadline date? If not, contact them to find out and we will help you get it done!

Fluoride is a mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay to keep your teeth strong! Fluoride comes in two varieties: topical applied directly on the teeth or as part of your diet in a supplement. The most commonly used is the topical form found in toothpaste or in a fluoride rinse. The team at McBeth Orthodontics recommends fluoride to help maintain healthy teeth for children, teens, and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Fluoride used in an orthodontic or dental office is a stronger concentration than in toothpaste or mouthwash you can buy over the counter at your local grocery or drug store. If your general dentist prescribes a fluoride product, it usually only takes just a few minutes to apply after your regular cleaning. Once applied, it is suggested patients not eat or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride.

Your general dentist will determine how often to repeat the fluoride process; every 6 months – once a year, especially for kids who poor brushing habits. Additional in house fluoride products such as mouthwashes, gels or antibacterial rinses are often prescribed by orthodontists for additional protect ion of your teeth during treatment to prevent decalcification or white marks around the braces due to poor brushing habits. So obviously, when all is said an done… fluoride is your friend during orthodontic treatment.

When choosing your own fluoride product, be sure to check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of approval. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined and have met the criteria of the ADA for safety and effectiveness when using a dental product.

At McBeth Orthodontics, we are pleased to provide you with this helpful information and to offer you the finest orthodontic care for you and your family. If you or someone in your family is interested more information about how we can help achieve the smile you deserve, contact our office for a free new patient exam.

Halloween is a fun time of year for kids of all ages… but can be a “nightmare” for an orthodontic practice if patients are damaging appliances eating the wrong treats.

At McBeth Orthodontics we love Halloween!! However, we also are proactive educating parents and patients of the potential hazards that can occur if orthodontic patients don’t watch what they eat.

October is National Orthodontic Health Month. Dr. Susan McBeth supports the American Association of Orthodontics in their efforts to make patients aware of foods they need to avoid, especially with Halloween goodies.

Patients still can enjoy treats… just orthodontic friendly treats. Click here to download a Do’s and Don’ts Treat List offered by the AAO. As a reminder, print it off and post in on your refrigerator for all to see.

Follow the list and save candy you can eat and give away treats that will harm your braces. A few sweets can be OK occasionally, whether wearing braces or not, as long as you brush and floss after eating.

The team at McBeth Orthodontics wants everyone to enjoy the holiday. However, we also want you to protect the investment you and your family has made in helping us create a beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime.

Click here to find Brace Friendly Recipes offered by the AAO.

Click Here for Tips for Trick – or -Treaters.

Do you think we are being unreasonable asking patients to give up treats that damage their braces? Please leave your comments below. Now is the time to vent….

Watch Taylor’s acceptance speech on YouTube. He gives a nice shout-out to his orthodontist. The Teen Choice Award is positive proof how important a smile really is today. Why else would they be giving out an award for the best smile in the world!!!

A beautiful smile builds confidence and affects how you present yourself to everyone around you… whether it be at home, school, or out in the business world. At McBeth Orthodontics we create beautiful healthy smiles for patients of all ages.

If you or someone you know or love can benefit from our orthodontic expertise, feel free to tell them about Dr. Susan McBeth and have them contact our office for a complimentary new patient exam.

The highest compliment you can pay to our team is recommending our practice to friends and family. We look forward to helping them achieve the smile they want and deserve.

Do you think a smile is important in how your feel about yourself? Please leave a comment below.

The brackets of the braces are the equivalent of the cars of a train, and the track that they follow is the archwire. Once the brackets are placed on the teeth and the archwire is properly adjusted to create a path to great teeth, all that remains for our train is fuel to move in the right direction.

This orthodontic energy is often provided by elastics, the locomotive often commonly referred to as rubber bands. Elastics can be different sizes and strengths according the specific needs of each patient’s orthodontic journey. They are also available in a variety of different colored packets or creatively named animals to make it fun and easy to remember what size you are wearing.

It is important to wear the elastics, as prescribed by your orthodontist, in order to arrive at your final destination. If the elastics are not worn, the braces won’t move and you will not have your braces removed on time or worse yet… achieve a good result. The force exerted by the elastics may cause a bit of soreness at first, but the soreness goes away within a few days, if worn on a regular basis. Fresh elastics provide the most pull, so it is recommended you replace elastics daily to keep everything moving at the same speed for best results.

Traveling the tracks to a healthy smile can be intimidating at first, but understanding how it all works and with the guidance of your orthodontist, you can sit back, enjoy the ride, and be rest assured that you’ll arrive safely in no time at all!

At McBeth Orthodontics, we are pleased to provide you with this helpful information and to offer you the finest orthodontic care for you and your family. If you or someone in your family is interested more information about how we can help achieve the smile you deserve, contact our office for a free new patient exam.