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Are you considering orthodontic treatment? We would love to help! Known for compassionate and quality care, Ekim Orthodontics is a unique place that combines the expertise of an accomplished award-winning orthodontist alongside a team that cares for each and every patient. Our goal is not only to deliver the best service but also to educate our patients on how to care for their teeth during orthodontic treatment. In today’s blog, we discuss getting braces with our office and our recommended suggestions on caring for your smile while you have braces.

Upon receiving braces with us, oral hygiene practice will be reviewed at your first appointment when the braces are placed. In your care kit, there are toothbrushes, smaller brushes, floss for braces, and a fluoride mouth rinse. We recommend brushing for a minimum of two minutes--every morning and night, and adding certain angles for brushing around the braces.

It’s not true that your diet has to change too drastically when you start wearing braces as most foods can be eaten by adding a certain amount of attention to making sure you are consuming smaller pieces smaller so as not to make the appliances come loose. We recommend avoiding hard crunchy foods and hard sticky foods such as gummy candies because they can pull on appliances and make them come loose from the tooth surfaces or bend wires. It's important to be mindful when getting used to eating with braces; but overall, most foods are quite simple to eat with braces.

Please note that because braces are designed to be removed upon completion of treatment, they can come loose during treatment as well. In most cases, these situations are not a major concern. Areas that may be irritated can be addressed by using orthodontic wax to smooth the area. Otherwise, call our office for advice.

Always be sure to follow the instructions from your orthodontist and orthodontic team to ensure the best results from your treatment plan. This includes good oral hygiene practice, care of your braces, wearing any additional appliances indicated and coming to regular appointments.

Ekim Orthodontics is proud to serve our community and create smiles that show our beautiful style, we are a trusted part of the Prior Lake, Burnsville, and surrounding communities. We hope to see your beautiful smile in our office again soon.

If this is your child’s first holiday season with braces, here are some tips on how to help children get the most enjoyment from these celebrations without compromising their braces or leaving them feeling left out of the festivities.

Halloween

When you think dental health, “Halloween” is not usually the first thing that comes to mind. Halloween can be tricky, but with some planning and intervention, you can make sure your child doesn’t miss out on the treats that make the holiday a favorite.

Braces present other challenges besides dealing with the scary amount of sugar in every trick-or-treat bag. Certain treats can be a challenge to clean from braces, and can even cause broken brackets and wires. How to avoid these frightful results?

• Go through your child’s treat bag when you get home after neighborhood trick-or-treating. Anything which can damage braces, such as regular gum, candy with nuts or caramel, or hard or chewy candies should be discarded. Perhaps you and your child can choose a selection of soft candy such as plain chocolate and peanut butter cups to trade for those tricky treats. Your child’s favorite soft fruits, cupcakes, and cookies could also be safe substitutes.
• Party time? Candy apples, bowls of candy corn, and popcorn balls are favorite treats at Halloween parties, but very bad for braces. Help your child recognize what should be avoided before attending, and suggest safe options like soft cupcakes.
• Finally, even safe treats will leave more sugar than normal in your child’s mouth and therefore more potential for plaque build-up. Brush and floss more often, if needed, and rinse regularly with water.

Talk candy guidelines over in advance with your child. If you’d like, Drs. Suzan Ekim, and Heather Horton can recommend safe alternatives. With your help, Halloween won’t be a fearsome experience for you or your trick-or-treater.

Thanksgiving

Now, this is a holiday to be thankful for! Almost all of your traditional favorites are perfect for family members with braces.

• Appetizers: Offer soft food options such as silky cheeses and deviled eggs instead of crunchy vegetables, chips, and nuts.
• Dinner: Turkey is a required dish on many tables, and no need to miss out! Just make sure pieces are bite-size and off the bone. Creamy mashed potatoes and gravy and jellied cranberry sauce are also braces-friendly traditions. Any cooked vegetable should be fine, but do cut the corn from the cob first. Dressing is a great side dish if your child avoids any crunchy tops and edges, as are soft, nut-free rolls and muffins.
• Dessert: Pumpkin pie, cheesecake, and apple pie with ice cream are all safe (and delicious) choices. Leave the pecan pie, caramel sauce, and anything nutty or chewy off your child’s menu. And remember to brush and floss carefully after the feast!

If you are concerned that following the usual food guidelines might be a little more difficult during this time of year, talk to us. Drs. Suzan Ekim, and Heather Horton and our team are happy to suggest ways to make your child’s first holidays with braces memorable for all the right reasons. The last thing you’ll want is an emergency visit to our Prior Lake, and Burnsville office!

The team at Ekim Orthodontics loves to help adults achieve straighter teeth and a beautiful smile. If you are considering getting braces, here are some things you’ll need to know.

Can braces work for adults?

The good news is that braces work for just about anyone. There are several different types of braces, howver, and not all of them may work for you. The different kinds of orthodontic treatments include:

• Ceramic braces
• Metal braces
• Self-ligating brackets
• Lingual brackets (braces behind the teeth)
• Invisible braces
• Rubber bands for bite correction
• Headgear and other appliances

Schedule a consultation with Drs. Suzan Ekim, and Heather Horton, and we can help you determine the best option for your needs.

How do I get started?

We understand that braces can be a daunting prospect for many individuals. They may appear expensive and time-consuming; however, the process can be relatively pain-free! Here are the first steps you need to take on the road to straight teeth.

You will probably have a lot of questions and concerns before starting. Here are a few questions you should ask:

• What kind of braces do you recommend for my teeth?
• How long will the treatment take?
• How often will I need to come in for adjustments?
• What is the total cost of the treatment? Do you accept insurance? Will you require the full amount up front, or do you have payment plans?

During your first meeting with Drs. Suzan Ekim, and Heather Horton, we’ll take some X-rays and molds of your teeth to help you determine your best treatment plan. To ensure your treatment is as effective as possible, we may include preliminary dental work before your braces are placed.

After you’ve chosen a treatment plan and undergone any necessary prerequisite dental work, you’ll be on your way to a better smile! Call our Prior Lake, and Burnsville location so you can get started today!

Once you get your braces off, you want to make sure your smile remains straight! This is where retainers come in.

Once your braces come off, you’ll be fitted for a retainer provided by Drs. Suzan Ekim, and Heather Horton to keep those teeth in place. A retainer is a custom-fit device that sits in the mouth and reinforces the new position of your teeth. Wearing it may be annoying at first, but it’s an essential part of the process of keeping your teeth in place over the long term.

For the first few months after your braces are gone, Drs. Suzan Ekim, and Heather Horton will tell you to wear your custom retainers all the time, except when you’re eating, drinking, or brushing. You have the option of having a clear plastic retainer made if you’re concerned about your appearance.

Eventually, we will recommend that you only have to wear the retainer during each night for a full year. After that, you may take a couple nights off from wearing them each week. In order to preserve the position of your teeth for as long as possible, we don’t recommend that you ever fully stop wearing your retainers.

If you’re concerned about forgetting to wear your retainer, and worried that your teeth may shift, a lingual retainer could be a good option for you. This gets placed on the back of your teeth and is not readily visible.

These retainers are permanent, but they could cause issues for you down the road if you don’t maintain good oral hygiene. Plaque and tartar can build up around these lingual bars, which is why we don’t usually recommend this as a primary choice.

Wearing your retainer is extremely vital after your braces come off. Without your retainer to keep them in place, the teeth you’ve taken so long to fix may begin to shift again. Getting braces is quite an investment, which is why you should keep wearing your retainer long after the braces have come off.

If you have questions or concerns regarding your retainers, contact our Prior Lake, and Burnsville office and we can address any problems you may have.