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Braces myths busted!

May 16th, 2012

Some myths being discussed around the web regarding braces…we’re not laughing…they are legitimate concerns people may have…(Ok we’re chuckling just a bit…but that’s only because we already know the answers!) If you kiss with braces your teeth will get locked together…do you know in 25 years of practice we have never had an emergency call for that!  But on a serious note, unless you are really mushing your faces together there is a very very very slim chance of a permanent connection since the modern brackets that we use at MOG are very slim line. Will braces set off the metal detectors ...

Why wear retainers?

May 7th, 2012

You’ve spent the better part of 2 years or more with contraptions on your teeth….hoooray!!! It’s braces removal day.  You farewell the metal  and skippety doo daa happily away!  Only to return a few hours later to have your removable retainer fitted…what? You see when you reach the end of your braces journey your teeth have been subtly shifting over the final few months into their delightfully perfected resting place.  However, if you have read my previous post on “How do Orthodontic Appliances Create Tooth Movement” (click here) you will know that the osteoclasts start to break down bone to make ...

Smoking and Braces

April 30th, 2012

No this is not a ‘you’re naughty ruining your lungs’ smoking rant (although you do know you are don’t you?).  But besides the link between tobacco and heart disease, stroke, emphysema, and cancer (especially lung and throat cancers), smoking leads to the following oral health consequences: Bad breath – when you have braces, there are just more areas for bacteria and contaminants to loiter.  So smoking with braces often leads to more severe odor. Tooth discoloration – smoking stains your teeth, when you have braces it is harder to brush increasing likelihood of obvious tooth discoloration following removal of your braces. Inflammation of the salivary gland openings ...