Baby Teeth and Gums Need Special Care! -- From Vardy Orthodontics

One question we hear all the time at Vardy Orthodontics is “When should I start brushing my baby’s teeth?”

You should begin regular cleanings even before your baby has teeth. After each breast feeding – or bottle-feeding – use a clean, damp washcloth to gently rub your baby’s gum tissue. You can wrap the material around one finger to make it easier to remove any food bits from your baby’s mouth.

When your baby’s first tooth comes in switch to a baby toothbrush. Look for special baby toothbrushes in your drugstore – they have just a few bristles and are very soft. There are even brushes shaped like finger puppets that fit over the tip of your pointer finger! All you need at this point is water – no toothpaste yet.

After a few more teeth appear, you can start using toothpaste, but you only need a tiny bit, and make sure it doesn’t contain fluoride for the first three years. From the beginning, have your little one practice spitting the toothpaste out after brushing. That way, he or she will already have the good habit of spitting when you switch to fluoride toothpaste, which should never be swallowed.

If you have any questions about caring for your baby’s teeth, please contact Dr. Vardy.

Gummy Tummy -- Vardy Orthodontics

We know the rumors going around – mostly among young people – that once you swallow a piece of chewing gum it will stake a claim and take up residency in your stomach for at least seven years! We really hate to take all the fun out of the mystery, but the truth is that chewing gum, when swallowed, will enter the stomach and move through the digestive system just like any other piece of food and leave the body long before seven years! So, if you ever have accidentally swallowed a piece of gum, there is no need to worry!

This being said, gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are a gum-chewer, make sure you chew sugarless gum, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but with less cavity causing ingredients. You see, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!

Happy (sugar-free) gum chewing from Vardy Orthodontics!

Straight Talk About Invisalign from Vardy Orthodontics

More than half a million patients can boast experience with Invisalign treatment. While this invisible method of moving teeth is proven to be effective, many would-be candidates for Invisalign treatment have confusion about whether it’s right for them. Here are some common questions and concerns about Invisalign, with straight answers from Vardy Orthodontics.

Have you been told that Invisalign won’t fix your bite?

There are certain movements that are more successful with Invisalign than with braces – it just depends on the type of bite that you have. Invisalign statistics show that over 80% of bad bites (malocclusions) can be corrected by Invisalign. The other 20% can be corrected in conjunction with Invisalign by using braces that are hidden behind the teeth, iBraces.

Are you worried that Invisalign is expensive?

The cost of Invisalign in most cases is comparable to traditional orthodontics. We do offer affordable financing options with low monthly payments. If it’s important to you to have straight teeth and a more confident smile, we will help make Invisalign affordable for you.

Have you heard that Invisalign doesn’t work?

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that requires special technique and product knowledge. At Vardy Orthodontics, we are trained in this system and we have successfully treated a broad range of patient types.

Are you concerned about your speech being affected?

Most patients will not notice a significant change in their speech. Certain patients may take a couple of days to a couple of weeks to become accustomed to their aligners. The tongue typically adapts more quickly in patients who speak two languages.

Have you heard that you can’t drink liquids (including alcohol) with Invisalign?

You can certainly drink liquids while you’re in treatment. However, we recommend that when you do, you take the time to brush your teeth and clean your aligners afterward. If you’re away from home and don’t have access to your toothbrush, it’s best to rinse your aligners with water when your drink is finished. You can drink coffee and tea, but stay away from drinks that are too hot and drinks heavy in sugar.

Have you been told in the past you are not a candidate for Invisalign treatment?

Come in for a consultation. We have treated a wide variety of Invisalign cases and are comfortable with the technique. Most likely we can show you an example of a case similar to yours that we have treated successfully.

Age 7 is the Magic Number for an Orthodontic Check-Up -- Vardy Orthodontics

Many parents assume they must wait until a child has all of his or her permanent teeth, only to find that treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct while the jaw is still growing. Consequently, the American Association of Orthodontists and Vardy Orthodontics recommend that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven.

What’s so great about age seven? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for an orthodontist to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites, and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and detrimental to good oral hygiene.

If you have any further questions or would like to bring your child in for a consultation, give us a call at Vardy Orthodontics.

Behind the Scenes Braces: Lingual Braces Hide Behind Your Teeth -- Vardy Orthodontics

Who says braces are just for kids? Certainly not the estimated 1 million adults in the United States and Canada who have chosen orthodontic treatment as the route to better oral health and emotional well-being.

According to the American Association of Orthodontists, there are about 5 million U.S. and Canadian orthodontic patients; of that number, the AAO estimates that one out of five of these patients are over the age of 18.

Which means you probably know an adult who is wearing braces – but you wouldn’t know it from looking! Many adults today choose to undergo treatment via lingual braces, which are attached to the backs of the teeth and, therefore, are less visible than traditional braces. If you are interested in lingual braces, or iBraces, stop by Vardy Orthodontics.

Though lingual braces aren't for everybody – they don't solve all orthodontic problems – they represent one of the treatment options now available to adults considering braces. Dr. Vardy is happy to answer any of your iBraces questions at your upper west side community orthodontist!

Top Ten Ways To Save Face from Vardy Orthodontics

Spring is officially here and with it comes the start of so many sports. To remind you to keep your face in top shape, April is National Facial Protection Month. Dr. Vardy advises everyone to follow these tips from the American Association of Orthodontics:

1. Wear a mouth guard for any contact sport (soccer, yes; chess, probably not). Mouth guards can help prevent jaw, mouth and teeth injuries and are less costly than recovering from the injury.

2. Wear a helmet and it will protect your head by absorbing the energy of an impact. You don't have to lose your head because you take a spill when cycling, snowboarding, rollerblading or horseback riding.

3. Wear protective eyewear so your mom won't have to say, "You'll poke your eye out." More importantly, you'll be able to keep your eye on the tennis ball, baseball, football, etc.

4. Wear a face shield to keep your skin free from scratches and bruises. Hockey pucks, baseballs, and racquetballs can do severe damage.

5. Keep babies and toddlers safe. They crawl and climb, so pad sharp corners of tables, use safety locks on cabinets, install stairwell safety gates, and secure windows. They also teethe, so hide the sharp pencils.

6. Buckle up and use appropriate child safety seats. Passengers who don't buckle up are more likely to have a brain injury in a crash than the buckled driver. Air bags also save lives!

7. Be alert. Alert spectators can avoid foul baseballs and flying hockey pucks. Watch your step when climbing up bleachers.

8. Be aware of family pets. Each year roughly 44,000 people incur facial injuries from dog bites. Children should be supervised when playing with family pets (cats and rabbits too).

9. Use common sense. If an activity carries risk of dental or facial injury, wear the right protective gear. Without it, even a pickup basketball game could result in a trip to the emergency room.

10. Ask the experts. If you have any questions about keeping your teeth and face safe, please give us a call at Vardy Orthodontics. Now Play Ball!

Cool Kids Wear Braces at Vardy Orthodontics

Braces today are “cool” and even “fun.” These are among the findings of a new nationwide survey of mothers whose children are having or have had orthodontic treatment. New technologies in treatment, advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities sporting stylish braces are making orthodontic treatment more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s youth.

The study, conducted on behalf of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) for February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, finds 86 percent of mothers reporting that braces are cooler today than when they were children. Sixty-nine percent also said wearing braces makes their children feel cool, and 81 percent reported their children’s experience with orthodontic treatment as either positive or extremely positive.

Different color options and the ability to change colors, for example, provide exciting ways for young patients to customize appearances. That enthusiasm helps them to feel good about their orthodontic treatment, and may contribute to the success of treatment. Give us a call today at Vardy Orthodontics to bring your child in for a consultation and see how braces can improve not only your child's oral health, but their confidence as well.