How to Floss Your Fixed Retainer

How to Floss Your Fixed Retainer

 



 A very common retainer given here at Angolkar4Smiles Orthodontics is a permanent lingual retainer. It is a small wire bonded to your lower 6 front teeth with a very strong cement and it requires special care. Retainers that are bonded behind the teeth look nice and do their job pretty much without your help.  

 

One of the most challenging things about having a fixed retainer is keeping it clean as it tends to accumulate plaque and require more time and effort when you are flossing.

 

 

Similar to flossing when you had your braces on, use floss threaders (little plastic needles used to help direct floss between the teeth and under your retainer). Once the floss is under the wire, it can be moved up and down the sides of the adjacent teeth to remove plaque as normal. 

 

Our staff members will show you the flossing technique if you need guidance.  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AkmDIof3EQ

Watch this You Tube Video for further instruction!

Seven Tips for Brushing Your Teeth with Braces

Here at Angolkar4Smiles Orthodontics, we know it is challenging to brush your teeth when you have braces. We have put together some tips that will help you keep your teeth clean so that they will look even more amazing when the braces come off!
 Remember to brush after EVERY TIME YOU EAT as well as in the morning and before bed.  Here's a visual for you to follow as well.

1. Use a soft  bristled toothbrush. Hard and medium toothbrushes can damage gums and should be avoided.

2. Always use a mirror!  It is impossible to see what it is you are doing without looking into a mirror.  Dr. Angolkar always reminds patients to pay attention and focus on just brushing.

3. While using only your wet tooth brush, begin removing debris from around the brackets and under the wire using a picking motion rather than scrubbing. Scrubbing does a decent job on the surface of the braces, but that action will not remove plaque and food that are caught under the braces.

4.Time yourself and spend at least two FULL minutes brushing your teeth. You should spend at least 30 seconds on each quadrant of your  mouth. You might think that you do this already, but most patients who time themselves find that they are brushing an average of only 30 seconds for their entire mouth!

5. The best toothpaste is the one that tastes best to the patient and encourages them to brush for a full two minutes.  When it comes to good oral hygiene it is the TIME SPENT and the technique used and not the brand of toothpaste.

Please let our office know if you have any questions about proper oral hygiene while wearing braces.  Also, Don't forget to floss daily!

 

Tukwila

206-246-9656

 

Issaquah

425-392-0980

 

Seattle 206-523-6327

Proper Diet with Braces During the Holidays

With the holidays upon us... it is tougher than ever to make the right food choices.  Though orthodontic treatments at Angolkar4Smiles are designed to accommodate your lifestyle, chances are you have needed to make some dietary modifications to prevent damage to your braces and prolong orthodontic treatment.

You can eat most foods normally the way you did without braces. However, some foods can damage orthodontic appliances or cause them to come loose. Examples of foods you will need to avoid include:

• Chewy foods like taffy, chewing gum, beef jerky, and bagels
• Hard foods like peanuts, ice chips, and hard candy
• Crunchy foods like chips, apples, and carrots

How to Continue to Eat the Foods You Love Most
Keep in mind that you may still be able to enjoy some of the foods you love by making certain modifications to the way you eat them. For example, steaming or roasting carrots makes them softer and easier to eat. Similarly, you can remove corn from the cob, or cut up produce like apples and pears to avoid biting into them. Other tips include grinding nuts into your yogurt or dipping hard cookies into milk to soften them. If you must eat hard candies, simply suck on them instead of biting into them.
If you have any question whether a food is safe to eat during your treatment, we encourage you to contact our office to get further advise.

 

~ We Wish You A Very Happy Holiday and Joyous New Year! ~

Angolkar4Smiles Annual Food Drive

Help us as we partner with Northwest Harvest in helping our community!  If you have an appointment coming up, please don't forget to donate 2 or more non-perishable items to be entered into our giveaway!

1st winner - $100
2nd winner - $50
Gift cards to Westfield shopping center!!

Nail Biting

 

Also known as onchophagia, the habit of nail biting is one of the so-called “nervous habits” that can be triggered by stress, excitement, or boredom. Approximately half of all kids between the ages of ten and 18 have been nail biters at one time or another. Experts say that about 30 percent of children and 15 percent of adults are nail biters, however most people stop chewing their nails by the time they turn 30.

 

Here are 3 reasons to stop biting your nails:

1. It’s unsanitary: Your nails harbor bacteria and germs, and are almost twice as dirty as fingers. What’s more, swallowing dirty nails can lead to stomach problems.
2. It wears down your teeth: Gnawing your nails can put added stress on your pearly whites, which can lead to crooked teeth.
3. It can delay your orthodontic treatment: Nail biting puts additional pressure on teeth and weakens roots. It is also known to break brackets.

Our team recommend the following to kick your nail biting habit:

• Keep your nails trimmed short; you’ll have less of a nail to bite.
• Coat your nails with a bitter-tasting nail polish.
• Ask us about obtaining a mouthguard, which can help prevent nail biting.
• Put a rubber band around your wrist and snap it whenever you get the urge to gnaw on your nails.
• Think about when and why you chew your nails. Whether you are nervous or just bored, understanding the triggers can help you find a solution and stop the habit.

We are happy to help answer any questions!

Tukwila- (206)246-9656
Issaquah- (425)392-0980
Seattle- (206)523-6327

or email us at:
info@angolkar4smiles.com



Avoid Treatment Delays

Stay on Track!

Here at Angolkar4Smiles Orthodontics, our patients hate the thought of delaying their treatment and we always stress the importance at each appointment if we see you are behind in where you should be.  Patients NEVER want their braces on for longer than needed but there are some cases in which it does happen. Our team has put together some tips on how you can stay on track in regards to your braces off appointment.
1. Keep your adjustment appointments! Each visit at Angolkar4Smiles is carefully planned to move your teeth a specific way in a certain time frame. It’s important to note that missing an appointment can add weeks or months to your treatment time.  Our office tends to fill the schedule far in advance so if you miss your appointment we may not have another one for some time as well.  
2. Let our team know as soon as possible if you experience any problems with your braces or appliances. A missing wire, rubber band, or broken bracket can delay treatment time, so we ask that you please give us a call right away to report any issues rather than waiting until your next visit.

3. Make sure you wear your rubber bands as prescribed. Most of our patients will need to wear elastics or rubber bands at some point during their treatment. Not wearing the bands or elastics, or not wearing them enough, can delay your treatment time. Rubber bands are critical in aligning your bite. Because of this, our doctors can always tell if you are wearing them enough.  When we check to see how your bite is progressing... we will have seen no change in your bite!  This is the most common delay in treatment as compliance can be hard for some patients. 

4. Finally, we want you to maintain good oral hygiene, just as you did before your treatment began. In addition to flossing regularly, we encourage you to brush your teeth after every time you eat. Not brushing will allow sugar to wear away the cement on the braces, making them less effective in moving your teeth, as well as elevate your risk of developing cavities or tooth decay, which will inevitably delay treatment time.
We hope that you don't experience a delay in your treatment!  Please let us help and guide you from the start to the finish which always results in a beautiful brace-free smile!

We love to hear from you!  Please call us if you have any questions!

Tukwila- (206)246-9656

Issaquah- (425)392-0980

Seattle- (206)523-6327

Visit Your Dentist

 



If you just got your braces on, or have been in treatment with us for some time, and you're wondering if you should continue visiting your general dentist since you’re seeing Dr. Angolkar regularly...  the answer is...YES PLEASE!  Our office specializes only in orthodontics (braces) and nothing else.  That is how you know that we are top notch in what we do because that is all we concentrate on!  Our doctors have you in mind when they stress the importance of your regular dental checkups right from the very start.  The front desk at Angolkar4Smiles take time to send correspondence to your dentist; from your consultation to your initial banding, progress to final braces removal, they have tons of knowledge about you and your orthodontic treatment.  Sometimes you will need to set up appointments to remove brackets or archwires to get the cleaning completed so take time to try and coordinate those appointments with your regular check up here at our office.  Be sure to check with your general dentist to see if we will need to remove anything before a checkup.  Your day may look something like this... come to our office to remove any archwires or brackets for cavities--> go to the dentist to complete the work needed--> come back to us on THE SAME DAY to have your appliances replaced.  Thank goodness this is only required of you 2x a year!

Today, we thought we would share a few reasons why it’s crucial to keep up with your regular visits at your dentist in addition to coming in for your regular adjustments at Angolkar 4 Smiles Orthodontics.

One of the best reasons to visit your dentist while you undergo orthodontic treatment is to remove plaque and tartar buildup. Having braces means you have food traps which particles and millions of bacteria can hide. Eventually, plaque and tartar can form around your brackets, bands or other appliances which can lead to cavities. Having your teeth professionally cleaned can help ensure most, if not all, plaque and tartar is removed.

The next reason to visit a dentist is to help protect your teeth from decalcification... A serious condition which causes white spots on your tooth surfaces, and is irreversible. Decalcification is preventable; patients who cut down on sugary sweets and acidic foods, practice good oral hygiene, and visit their dentist regularly can help prevent decalcification.

Making sure to visit your dentist will help ensure your teeth look their best once your braces come off. If you do not have a general dentist please give us a call or let us know at your next adjustment appointment and we would be happy to refer you to someone wonderful!  Having braces is a team effort between you, your orthodontist and general dentist... we are so happy to be part of your team!