Braces and Sports

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Soccer mom, football dad, baseball parents; you are the ones who sit in the hot sun, huddle under umbrellas in the rain, and cheer on your kids in whatever they do. You are their biggest fans, and on-call nurses. But freeing a lip from a brace is never a fun task for a parent, and can be painful for your kid. While orthodontics has come a long way in adjusting to those with active lifestyles, there are still a few precautions to be taken for kids with a more high-energy lifestyle. While having braces shouldn’t prohibit them from playing with friends, exploring the outdoors, or being active, we have a few tips for kids who participate in sports.

Orthodontic Mouth Guards

Think about the type of case you put on your smart phone, each person’s case suits their lifestyle. The bulky Otter box case is for active (or sometimes just accident-prone) people; mouth guards are the Otter box for your child’s smile. You and your child are working hard with us to ensure that when it is time to remove the braces, your kid’s smile is it’s best. Using a mouth guard is a great way to protect those precious teeth. These mouth guards are different than regular mouth guards, and not only protect teeth from impact, but provide a buffer between your inner lip and the metallic brackets. Unlike regular mouth guards, they do not fit as snug to the teeth, so if a lip gets hit, the brackets won’t get stuck in the guard (trust us, it happens!) It is also important to use an orthodontic guard as opposed to a traditional one because your child’s teeth will be moving and changing on a regular basis. Traditional mouth guards are made to be form fitting and cannot adjust as your child’s teeth move. These guards are perfect for high-impact sports like football, basketball, soccer, and wrestling.

Wax

This is a secondary method of protecting your child’s soft gums from the metal brackets. A great option for afternoons at the park playing catch, running around, and just letting your kid be a kid. The great thing about dental wax is you can keep extra in the car, put it in your child’s backpack, and keep it on hand. Parents develop a sixth sense for accidents. When you take your child to the park and your parental senses start tingling, add the wax. Dental wax is safe if accidentally swallowed, easy to remove and apply, and creates a smooth buffer over the brackets that is almost invisible. Your child’s friends may not even notice the wax has been applied!

Having braces doesn’t have to keep your child from doing what they love. If you have questions on if getting an orthodontic guard is right for your child, be sure to schedule a visit to go over the details of what kind of sports your child participates in, and we can find the right fit.

Now Accepting Medicaid Patients

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At Akridge, we care about each of our patients individually. We know the importance of receiving quality dental and orthodontic care, and how orthodontics can prevent tremendous discomfort in the future. Not everyone can afford orthodontic care on their own, and we are thankful for Medicaid bringing patients to us who otherwise wouldn’t be able to do so.

While many dentists and doctors accept Medicaid, it is not always the case that Orthodontists will. Orthodontics, to some, is still viewed as cosmetic, and as unessential to health. But our years of knowledge and study has shown that the Orthodontic practice, particularly the Alexander Discipline (link to that blog), can prevent great discomfort, unnecessary wear on teeth, chewing and digestive difficulties, gum disease, and more.

We are pleased to accept Medicaid patients and provide treatment that we feel is important for everybody. We love seeing you smile, and doing all we can to make that smile last. If you have Medicaid and would like to learn more about Orthodontic are for you or your children, contact Akridge Orthodontics today to schedule an appointment online.

What to Expect Before Your Kids Get Braces

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Braces have become a trademark of growing up, and have come a long way from the “nerdy” stereotype. But there is great care that will need to happen before, during, and after treatments, and a few things you may want to explain to your child before they go in to get braces.

Braces Make You Sore

While your child may be getting excited about choosing the colors for their braces (as they should!) it is important to remind them that they may feel a little sore for the first week. Let them know this is because their teeth are moving so that they can have a superhero smile. Ask your doctor for recommended children’s pain relievers to keep on hand.

It Can Take a Few Weeks to Get Used to

Even after the soreness fades (which we promise it will) it can be difficult having that extra millimeter of surface between your child’s gums and their teeth. Using dental wax to cover the brackets will help ease this transition.

How to Handle Sports

Basketball, football, hockey, soccer, and other contact sports can provide potential risks for jamming a brace against gums. Packing on some wax before a game may do the trick, but mouth guards usually are the best option.

No More Candies, Gum, or Ice

This is the hardest part of braces for a kid! Chewy and hard candies, along with crunching on ice are just too much for braces, and will get stuck, damage the brace, or cause tooth discoloration over time. This is a tough one for kids to follow, so offering alternatives might be the best way to handle it. Can’t have candy? Go out for ice cream. Maybe even encourage your kids to keep a small braces kit on hand, just in case.

Braces mean minor lifestyle changes for kids, but it is always worth it in the end when they finally get their braces removed, and see their superhero smile for the first time. Keep appointments regular, and those braces will be off before you can say up, up, and away.

Tips for Keeping Braces Clean

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Having braces requires frequent maintenance and attention. No doubt you have probably seen the slightly frightening pictures of people who finally get their braces removed, only to have their teeth stained around each bracket, like removing old pictures from a wall. This happens when the braces and teeth were not properly cleaned, and is easy to avoid by using some of these helpful steps.

On-the-Go

When wearing braces, it is important to brush three times a day (after every meal!). This may seem a little excessive, but anyone who has experienced the embarrassing moment of getting ready for bed and noticing a piece of spinach from lunch still hanging on one of their front teeth knows that cleaning after meals is worth it. Keep a travel toothbrush always in your pocket, backpack, or purse, and if you have room, keep this recommended kit with you on hand:

  • Small mirror
  • Travel mouthwash
  • Travel toothbrush
  • Interproximal (Christmas Tree) brush
  • Floss

Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

We know you or your kid miss biting into apples, eating popcorn, hard candies, and not having to worry about having pieces of cilantro stuck in a front brace. But aside from avoiding certain foods that are more prone to either damaging or getting stuck in braces, eating smaller bites can help you focus on using your back molars so chewing with front teeth is kept to a minimum.

Let’s be honest, braces are just a stepping stone towards you and your future smile. We know that you work hard to always wear your bands, come in for regular appointments, and do all you can to speed up the process. But amidst all this we hope you don’t forget to “embrace” your smile. You work hard to keep your teeth sparkling, so just don’t forget to show it off!

Effort = Results

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At Akridge, we love basketball. Although there is quite a difference between the game and orthodontics, we have found a few lessons that can be applied to our practice. The concept of Effort providing Results is an easy concept to grasp, but where that effort is placed will ultimately make the difference in what kinds of results are produced. Effort alongside education will most likely bring you to positive results. The Alexander Discipline is a method that has been proven to be effective by putting in “over 40 years of trial and error, evaluation, and research.” Through this great effort in educating the orthodontic practice, we can benefit from the results and pass them along to our own patients.

We use the Alexander Discipline and the Effort=Results concept for every individual. Since no two situations are the same, we understand that your treatment will be unique. We make plans, set goals, and keep trying to help get you to where you want to be. For us, the treatment doesn’t end when braces are removed. We do our best to make sure the hard work that is put into your mouth does not get reversed. We are committed to you and committed to making your results last.

We’d love to meet in person if you have any questions about what your process could look like. Feel free to set up a consultation with us today.

Hello!

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Greetings, hello, hi! We just wanted to say hey. Good to meet you, good to have you visit; whatever the case, we want to digitally shake your hand and say, Welcome!

Akridge Orthodontics is excited about our new website launch and blog. We care so much about you (our patient) already and are looking forward to sharing information, tips, and just giving you a little insight to Orthodontic Health and sharing more about us.

Our goal is to provide help not only while at an appointment, but whenever you need us. We want to be a resource, and plan on posting all kinds of information about orthodontic techniques so you have a better understanding on your next visit.

To add to that, we are glad we can use blogging as a medium to show you we are real people. People with families, friends, and smiles; just like you. We are involved in the community and we will keep you posted on new events happening around Akridge.

So check back with us soon, because you haven’t seen the last of us!