Adjusting to a New Lifestyle with Braces

Everything new requires an adjustment period. The same truth applies to braces. You’ll feel different at first – after all, you’ve gone from nothing on your teeth to brackets and wires or invisible aligners. It’s a big change! Though your lips will no longer slide on your teeth the same way they used to, after a few days, you and your mouth will become used to the braces. Any difficulties you encounter at first shouldn’t last.

Opening your mouth as wide as you did before braces may be affected, and articulating your lips to influence certain sounds may also be affected, but again these changes in mouth movement are something that you will adapt to. Consider them temporary inconveniences. And, truly, there is a reward for these minor drawbacks. When your braces are removed and your teeth are in their new permanent position, your pride in your straight teeth and your wider arch and broader palate will lend themselves to a fuller tone and better timbre. You’ll want to show off the smile you worked so hard to achieve.

Think about singers who have gotten braces yet continued to perform with their same amazing voices – Faith Hill and Fantasia Barrino, for example. And, unless we’re mistaken, it looks as though Danielle Bradbery on this season of The Voice may be sporting some invisible aligners during rehearsals! Training with invisible aligners in place is actually a positive exercise for any singer – it forces you to become more versatile.

How to Choose the Right Braces

Not everyone needing orthodontia has to wear traditional metal braces. There are a variety of options available today, including clear braces and the much-lauded invisible aligners. The beauty of the latter type of orthodontic treatment is that you are straightening your teeth just as effectively as you would with brackets and wires, but the aligners are removable, giving the wearer the opportunity to remove them for a speaking engagement, acting, or a singing performance.

Make an appointment with Baum Orthodontics in Los Angeles to learn more about what types of braces are right for you and to ask any questions you may have about how braces could affect a speaking or singing performance.  Contact us today to set up your initial consultation. 

Opting for Subtle Orthodontia

If you are concerned about being photographed with a “metal mouth” or braces of any sort, you can rest assured that, compared to a reality TV personality, you’re not having your picture taken nearly as often as they are. But your discomfort with the idea of braces is no less real. Self-consciousness about braces is one of the things that make invisible aligners and clear braces such popular choices for adults.

While Gwen Stefani went for full-on traditional metal braces – and bravo to her for selecting this option – many adults who live their life in the spotlight (be that as a movie star, CEO, or litigator) want to keep their braces as low-key as possible.

Get Clarity with Clear Braces

Invisible aligners allow for flexibility. Something big coming up in the near future? Need to look your best but preferably without braces? Aligners can be removed occasionally so that you don’t feel like you’re displaying your oral health choices to your colleagues or social crew. The thing to know, however, is that invisible aligners are thin and comfortable and just plain easy to wear. You’ll get used to them soon enough, and seeing their effectiveness will likely convince you that wearing them is far better than not.

Braces aren’t just for kids and teens. If you’re unhappy with your smile or having problems with your teeth, orthodontia can be your saving grace. Learn more about how braces can improve your overall health and wellness with a visit to Baum Orthodontics in Los Angeles. Contact us today to set up your initial consultation. 

Photo Credit: Dr. Kevin Sands

There are plenty of oral health problems that braces can help combat, correct, and prevent:

Gum disease and tooth decay: When teeth are crooked or crowded, they can overlap which creates tight spaces that are difficult to clean. When proper brushing and flossing aren’t possible, this allows for a build-up of plaque and bacteria, which can ultimately lead to tooth decay and even gum disease. Orthodontic treatment, whether you opt for traditional metal braces or clear aligners, aligns and spaces teeth properly to allow for thorough cleaning, keeping your mouth, gums, and teeth healthy.

Bone erosion: When teeth are poorly aligned, there can sometimes be gaps or spaces that place too much pressure on the jawbone because of a bad bite. Braces can correct this problem, making the bones and tissues less likely to erode, supporting teeth in their new, proper alignment.

Speech difficulties: Your teeth play an integral role in speech. Speaking patterns can be affected by teeth that are out of alignment or have shifted too far forward or backward. Anyone with speech difficulties knows that this problem can be frustrating and embarrassing. But there is a solution. Braces for kids, teens, or adults can readjust the positioning of teeth which means clearer, confident speech.

Poor digestion: Your mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body, and it’s where digestion begins. Your teeth have the role of effectively breaking down foods so that they can be absorbed and carried through the rest of the body properly. Aligning your teeth with orthodontic treatment means your teeth will be in the optimal position for eating and chewing.

These examples are just four of the “side” benefits of braces. Learn more about how braces can improve your overall health and wellness with a visit to Baum Orthodontics in Los Angeles. Contact us today to set up your initial consultation. 

The Power of a Proud Smile

It’s a simple and true fact: The more you smile more, the happier you’re likely to be, and the more likely you are to get what you want, influence others, and capture your goals. Just flashing a smile gives the appearance of confidence. You look more approachable with a smile on your face, and that makes you all the more likely to land the promotion, get that first date, or sell your product with barely any effort.

People will respond differently to you when you deliver your message wearing a smile instead of a serious, blank, or tense expression. If you’re unhappy with your teeth and do everything you can to hide them, people will get the sense that you are trying to hide something. However, what you’re actually trying to conceal and what people believe you’re attempting to conceal may be two completely different things – and that definitely won’t be to your advantage.  

The “Right” Age for Braces

While it’s certainly easier for younger people to get orthodontic work, they don’t hold the monopoly on braces. Braces have kind of gotten the reputation of a rite of passage for junior high and high school kids, but that’s not the case. Plenty of adults – celebrities included – are joining the legions of teens and kids who are sporting braces.

The good news is that, if you’re an adult now, the options for braces have expanded considerably since the time you were a teenager. “Metal mouth” isn’t all there is. You can opt for clear braces, which are much less noticeable. You may even be a candidate for invisible aligners, which are embraced most often by adults who still need to make the sale, run the meeting, or teach the class but want their mouths “free” or unencumbered in order to do it.

Still not convinced that braces can fit into your lifestyle and change your life? Contact us at Baum Orthodontics for more information about the type of braces that are right for you.  

Make Your Braces Part of Your Ensemble

Choosing a gown or tux is half the fun of prom. So along with selecting just the right accessories, shoes, and jewelry, decide if you want the rubber bands in your braces to match your ensemble as well. The combinations are many – select rubber bands that match or complement your outfit; opt for clear rubber bands that don’t draw so much attention to your braces; or be completely lighthearted and cool about your metal mouth status by choosing a contrasting color that draws attention to this unique accessory.

Smile, It’s Picture Time

If your braces make you self-conscious, then work on getting used to them before it’s time to pose for an obscene number of pictures. Simply enough, practice in front of the mirror. Smile wide, smile with your lips closed, or test out any number of other poses. Taking a few minutes to give this exercise a try can actually help you become more comfortable with your metal braces and your appearance so that, come prom time, you’ll be more than proud to show off your orthodontia.

Be Prepared

Mortifying teen moment #1: Walking around with food stuck in your braces. If a dinner out is part of your big night, pack a travel-size toothbrush and toothpaste so you can do some quick touch-ups before you head into the next stage of your evening. You’ll feel more confident smiling and socializing knowing your braces are clean and clear.

Choose Your Braces Wisely

If you have yet to get your braces but they’ll definitely be on your teeth before prom time, consider your choices. Are you in need of serious orthodontic work? If so, there are clear braces that are much less noticeable but still do the hard work of metal braces. You may also be a candidate for invisible aligners which can actually be removed for your special occasion (though we don’t recommend leaving them out all night)!

Braces for kids and teens are a specialty at our Los Angeles office. Contact us at Baum Orthodontics for more information about the type of braces that are right for your teen, or tips to help them survive prom season unscathed.

Perhaps you’ve been told that correcting your bite would require having teeth pulled or it might even be necessary to go so far as to break your jaw to reset it. These extreme possibilities are enough to make anyone decide that it’s easier to just suffer quietly with the appearance and discomfort of a bad bite. The reality is that major surgery isn’t necessary – orthodontic treatment can correct your bite problem.

What Is a Bad Bite?

An incorrect bite affects the function of the muscle systems of the head and neck, and can affect breathing and speech. Bite is established around eight years old and affects the cervical spine curve which can dramatically affect posture and head position. When your teeth and jaws are not properly aligned, this unnatural growth and placement can ultimately lead to jaw, neck, and facial pain.

Orthodontics can correct the structural deficiencies that cause a bad bite. If your child is suffering from a bad bite, the earlier you seek treatment, the better their facial growth and development will be. While these painful bite issues are best addressed and corrected in childhood, reaching adulthood doesn’t mean you’ve missed your window of opportunity. It’s never too late for adults to seek a change to their bite with the help of orthodontics.

Bite Classifications

A bad bite is commonly referred to as a malocclusion, and it can lead to crooked, worn, or protruding teeth. There are three types of bite categorizations:

• A crossbite is a misalignment of the upper and lower jaws and can cause gum disease, bone loss, and wear of the teeth.
• An overbite occurs when upper teeth considerably overlap the lower teeth, or the bone supporting the teeth is overdeveloped, and it can cause gum issues, irritation, and painful joint and jaw problems.
• An underbite is an undergrowth of the upper jaw, overgrowth of the lower jaw, or both, and can cause joint and jaw pain and tooth wear.

A Bad Bite Can Get in the Way

It’s also wise to consult an orthodontist before undergoing any sort of restorative or cosmetic dental work in order to ensure that your bite is correct. Restorative dentistry mixed with an improper bite can just cause more oral health problems – and could be a waste if the bite has caused bad habits to develop which could destroy the work that’s done.

Contact us at Baum Orthodontics in Los Angeles to discuss any suspected or obvious bite problems, to have your child’s bite evaluated, or to learn more about how traditional metal braces or clear braces can benefit your oral health.

Dirty Braces Equal a Dirty Mouth

Poor oral hygiene is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to bad breath, and braces-wearers have been known to slack a bit when it comes to cleaning their teeth. Granted, it isn’t easy to get a toothbrush and floss between that hardware, but it’s absolutely necessary to rid your mouth of as much bacteria as possible at least twice a day. This will help ward off bad breath, as will keeping up with your dental cleanings every six months – they’re still important, especially while wearing braces.

Causes of Bad Breath

It’s important to realize that there are plenty of causes of bad breath, besides lack of proper oral hygiene. A dry mouth, medications, gum disease, and various illnesses can cause bad breath. In order to successfully eliminate bad breath, it’s necessary to identify its cause so that you can fix it and prevent it from continuing.

Ironically, the things that people use to try to ward off or cover up bad breath – like mints and chewing gum (which no traditional metal braces-wearer should be eating anyway!) – can actually contribute to the bad breath problem because of their sugar content. The sugar mixing with the bacteria present in the mouth creates a constant acid bath for teeth, creating cavities and bad breath.

Alternatives to Metal Braces

If you have concerns about keeping your teeth and braces clean during your orthodontic treatment, there is an alternative teeth-straightening method that can help you easily maintain good oral hygiene. Invisible aligners are removable, which means that flossing and brushing are as simple as they always have been. There are no wires or brackets to work around or carefully clean.

Invisible aligners do come with their own set of “rules,” however, and it’s important to keep these customized mouthpieces clean. They may be barely noticeable, but allowing any sort of film, grime, or bacteria to build up on your aligner can contribute to bad breath.

Solving the Bad Breath Problem

More often than not, the culprit behind bad breath is easily identified, and then a course of action can be determined to solve the problem. If you have any questions about your braces or unwanted side effects of them, contact us at Baum Orthodontics in Los Angeles to discuss your concerns.

There’s No Right or Wrong Time for Braces

As orthodontists, we understand that braces aren’t always convenient for your lifestyle. But braces are a temporary alteration that provides you with a permanent solution: straight teeth and a properly aligned bite.

Because we’re aware that you need and want more options than just the traditional metal braces, there are other means of getting straight teeth, without having to suffer with a “metal mouth.” Clear braces are a much less noticeable alternative to metal braces, and they work exactly the same way. Many of today’s braces are made from clear or natural tooth-colored materials – that still means an attractive smile, even if you are sporting wires and brackets.

Another popular option is invisible orthodontic aligners. Adults especially have latched onto this straightening solution because it essentially allows you to shift your teeth without drawing attention to your dental work. The aligners are thin, which means they’re not going to get in the way of any speeches you need to give or meetings you need to run or sports teams you need to coach. And they’re removable, so you can take them out for brief periods of time to eat and especially to clean and floss your teeth.

Pass on the Love for Braces

Hereditary and genetic factors can certainly influence how a person’s teeth grow and how their smile forms. So, chances are, if you needed braces – or need them now – your child may be facing the same dilemma in the very near future. Braces are used to address crooked teeth, overbite, underbite, and other jaw and tooth problems.

If you’ve always struggled with dental problems, it’s time to get yourself checked out, and take your kids along too. Braces can mitigate a painful bite, solve chewing problems, minimize spacing issues, and even correct speech problems. And when your teeth are in proper alignment, it follows that your oral health will improve as well – your gums will fit more securely and properly around your teeth, which makes it easier to clean your teeth and gums, warding off decay and gum disease.

Schedule your initial consultation with us at Baum Orthodontics in Los Angeles to discuss your particular orthodontia needs. We will determine whether you’re a candidate for invisible orthodontic aligners or whether you will require traditional braces – metal or clear – to get the straight teeth you want.

A recent dental survey found that more than 87 percent of people consider teeth to be the most important facial attribute, and a potential partner’s smile is the characteristic 62 percent of people notice first. Crooked, yellow teeth and bad breath are the top dating turnoffs. Let’s face it, it’s much harder to reel in Ms. or Mr. Right with a crooked, broken-down smile.

While everyone would like to think that it’s emotional and mental connections that matter the most in a relationship, the truth is that looks do have a role. Being physically attracted to another person is an important element of a love connection. So, it’s time to face the mirror: Are your teeth getting in the way of a successful love life?

The Invisible Effects of Crooked Teeth

It’s not just how you look that affects how others perceive you. Being ashamed of your smile means you’re less confident than you could be – and how you feel about yourself affects the way that other people react to you, particularly potential love matches.

Your less-than-perfect smile may have you grimacing instead of grinning wide, covering your mouth when you laugh or smile, or speaking up less because you don’t want to draw attention to your teeth. The dating game is tough enough without feeling uncomfortable with yourself – and the fix for your smile can be as simple as orthodontia.

Straighten Your Smile on the Sly

You may be thinking that walking around with a metal mouth as an adult isn’t going to help you land dates. The good news is that you don’t have to broadcast your dental “accessories” to the world. Clear braces and invisible aligners allow you to straighten your teeth without drawing attention to your orthodontia.

Almost 70 percent of the dental survey respondents have chosen not to date someone because they had bad teeth. When the solution for your smile problems is simple, why wait to make a change? Remember, you might be able to hide behind a closed-mouth smile in your online dating profile or social media profile photo, but meeting in person is inevitable – will your smile be ready?

Don’t allow a crooked smile to get in the way of a happy romance. A straight smile will give you the confidence to flirt freely and attract the kind of partner you want. Schedule your initial consultation with Baum Orthodontics in Los Angeles today to learn more about the braces options available for your teeth.

Considerations for Your Braces-Wearing Teen’s Lunch

It’s easy to toss prepackaged snacks into a lunchbox, but they’re not the food that’s going to properly fuel your child and keep him going for the afternoon. They’re also not friendly to a teen who wears braces and has to worry about what might be stuck in their brackets for the rest of the afternoon.

There are also post-tightening days to consider, when your child’s mouth will be slightly sore, making eating while wearing braces more difficult. In cases of soreness or sensitivity, soft foods should do the trick. Healthy and tender foods include soup, pasta, pudding, or fruits like a banana, avocado, or mango. Put a hold on sandwiches, crackers, chips, or celery and carrot sticks.

Foodstuffs for Braces-Wearers to Avoid

The American Dental Association recommends that anyone who wears braces – whether metal braces or invisible aligners – should avoid excessive snacking and foods that could damage the braces such as hard candy, gum, popcorn, and nuts. Yet another reason it’s important to pack a filling lunch – it’ll help curb that after-school candy bar noshing.

Keep in mind that maintaining a healthy smile while wearing braces takes extra effort beyond normal brushing and flossing. It’s your child’s responsibility to maintain their smile, but you can do your part by keeping the chewy, gooey, sticky foods out of their lunchbox and away from your kid’s braces.

It’s important to monitor and minimize your pre-teen or teen’s sugar intake too, particularly since teens are big fans of soda. Braces-wearers are not immune to cavities. In fact, they’re even more susceptible because the teeth under the brackets and wires require extra care and diligence to keep them clean.

Best Foods to Pack in Your Teen’s Lunch

So what foods should you pack in your braces-wearing teen’s lunch? Chicken, turkey, beef, and eggs are great for teeth since they contain phosphorous and calcium which enhances the tooth enamel and, in lunch-friendly forms, it can be relatively easy for a braces-wearer to eat these foods.

Sugar-free yogurt works well to neutralize acids in the mouth before they can cause major damage, and there should be no trouble for your child when spooning up this tasty side.

As for beverages, milk and water are the best choices. Juice and soda just aren’t helpful, especially for someone who wears braces. And encourage your child to avoid chewing on ice which could damage their braces.

Plan for Healthy Lunches and Healthy Teeth

School lunches take a little planning when your teen has braces, but thinking ahead is a plus because it also means you’ll be able to provide your child with healthier options as well as foods that aren’t harmful to their orthodontia or teeth. Schedule your initial consultation with Baum Orthodontics in Los Angeles today to learn more about the braces options available for your child’s orthodontia needs, and for tips about the best foods to eat and avoid while wearing braces.