How Can You Share & Spread Smiles on World Smile Day?

World Smile Day first became a recognized holiday in 1999 by commercial artist Harvey Ball. While many are familiar with the iconic yellow smiley face that is a symbol of the holiday, they aren’t necessarily familiar with the history of the day and how they can celebrate. Read on to learn more about World Smile Day and how you can participate with your friends and family by getting out in the community.

Braces are considered a rite of passage for many children, and as the parent of a child with braces, there are many things you’ll need to consider to make sure their orthodontic journey doesn’t encounter any hiccups or snags. Things like wearing their retainer or elastics, keeping up with scheduled checkups, and at-home oral hygiene probably come to mind first. But what about their diet? It’s important to know what your child should and shouldn’t be eating at school (or even at home) while they have braces; here’s a brief overview and some helpful suggestions.  

For quite some time, traditional metal braces have been one of the most recognizable and tried-and-true methods of straightening teeth and addressing all sorts of orthodontic issues. Many of us have worn braces at some point during our lives, or at the very least, we know someone who has. But if you yourself have just started your orthodontic journey, you might be a little alarmed to notice that your braces have made your teeth feel a little loose. Don’t worry, though – this means that your braces are doing their job! Here’s what you need to know.

From pool parties with friends to BBQs with neighbors, lots of summer activities revolve around food. Since traditional orthodontics come with dietary restrictions, you might initially think that means you have to pass on all of the delicious seasonal treats. Fortunately, that’s not the case! Here are seven summer foods that you can eat with braces (as well as a few that you should avoid).

Whether you’ve been wearing aligners for 6 months or 24 months, you might be wondering what the next step is. More specifically, you might be wondering how long you need to wear your retainer after Invisalign. You can find the answer to this question (as well as why wearing this orthodontic appliance consistently is so important) right here!

There are very few things in life as exciting as approaching the finish line of your orthodontic journey; after years of living with the metal brackets and wires, the day has finally come to have them removed! However, as thrilling as this appointment is, you might not have a clue about what to expect while undergoing this final step of the braces process. Here’s some useful information from your trusted orthodontist about what braces removal looks like as you head forward in life with a straightened, beautiful set of pearly whites!

Braces are perhaps the most iconic and popular orthodontic treatment around, and these days, countless patients continue to turn toward these innovative metal brackets and wires to achieve straighter, healthier, and more aesthetically pleasing smiles. But did you know that for some patients, the orthodontic journey doesn’t end after braces? Sometimes, future treatment is needed to fully achieve your smile goals. Here’s a closer look at why patients sometimes need to undergo a second round of braces and some of the benefits of doing so.

Even though they’re among the most tried-and-true orthodontic solutions, traditional braces aren’t very subtle. In fact, if you flip through one of your old yearbooks, you’re bound to come across several faces awkwardly grinning with bracket- and wire-filled smiles. But did you know that the color of the rubber bands that you wear on your brackets can actually accentuate the color of your teeth, thereby improving the appearance of your smile? Here’s more about how this works, along with which colors you should consider and a few that you should avoid.

From Blockbuster hits and chart-topping music videos to iconic commercials, braces have taken center stage in some of the most memorable moments of recent pop culture history. If you’re considering orthodontic treatment or are about to start your teeth-straightening journey, then read on to learn some of the best braces moments in pop culture!

When patients hear “traditional orthodontics,” they often think “metal brackets and wires.” In reality, straightening your teeth could involve the use of other tools, including rubber bands for braces. To learn the important purpose they serve (as well as a few helpful best practices for patients with them), read on!