Emergency Care: How You Can Solve Common Problems

Urgent, Urgent, Urgent, Urgent...Emergency!

OK...so you're home from your orthodontic adjustment appointment. Your next appointment is scheduled for six weeks from now. Your mouth is sore, you feel a wire poking your cheek, your teeth are tender. You have an emergency and need these painful issues resolved right now!

Did you know that many things we consider an emergency are really things that are simply causing us temporary discomfort and can be resolved at home?  Most orthodontic concerns, like, poking wires and mouth soreness can be fixed without scheduling an emergency appointment.

Here's How...

Poking Wire - Sometimes a poking wire can be safely turned down so that it no longer causes you discomfort. Try to tuck the wire back in and out of the way with the blunt end of a toothbrush, pencil eraser or Q-Tip. Orthodontic wax can always be used to cover any archwires that might be sticking out. Also...nail clippers can be used to clip a broken archwire that may be poking out if wax doesn't ease you comfort.

Loose Wire - Use Tweezers to re-insert archwires that have slipped out of the molar bracket. Place wax over it if there is any remaining discomfort.

Soreness - Warm salt-water rinses are helpful in relieving soreness. You may also take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Tylenol or Advil as you would for a headache or similar discomfort.
Carefully chewing on a half piece of sugarless chewing gum will help alleviate the pain and help your mouth feel "back to normal" much more quickly.

Even though you are careful, you may occasionally damage your appliances. We want our patients to be informed of problems that may occur, and understand how to solve them, at least temporarily, until it is possible to return to our office.

Please Remember:  If you are involved in contact sports, a regular mouth guard can be fitted over your braces for added protection.

If discomfort continues please give our office a call. After hours, you may contact us with emergencies through our 24-hour answering service 623-207-9179

What's the Most Important Meal of the Day?

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, providing energy needed to focus, whether it be in the classroom or at work. People create many excuses to why they skip out on breakfast like, “I’m not hungry this early in the day” or “I don’t have time to prepare a meal”. But, for those of you who start your day off early you are almost guaranteed to feel a mid-morning energy slump and experience hunger before lunch times.

Breakfast not only provides you with the energy you need for a productive day but it is also helps in maintaining healthy weight.

Here are 3 tips for starting your day the healthy way:

• Buy portable breakfast items such as fruit, yogurt and breakfast bar to name a few.

• Get up 10-15 minutes earlier than you usually do in the morning to eat. Waking up earlier will allow you to make sure you have time to set and eat in the morning.

• Replace drinking a cup of coffee with drinking a glass of milk or orange juice, both are proven to provide natural energy.

Here are 3 braces-friendly breakfast foods:

• Fruit smoothies

• Scrambled eggs 

• Pancakes 

Remember to check Dr. Bailey's Foods to Avoid list if your under orthodontic treatment to be sure what you're eating for breakfast is also good for your orthodontic appliance. 

Get Social with Bailey Orthodontics!

Connect with us on social media and stay up to date with everything involving Bailey Orthodontics.

Since we don't get to see our patients everyday we still want to stay connected with you, and we want to make sure you stay connected with us as well. The best way for us to do this is through social media.

Where Can I Find Bailey Orthodontics on Social Media?

Facebook

Instagram

Pinterest

Twitter

When you follow Bailey Orthodontics on social media you get to stay updated with all of our current events, the chance to participate, receive tips on deal with Orthodontic care and so much more fun and informative content. So be sure to LIKE/Follow us on all of our accounts!

7 is the Magic Number.. For Orthodontic Care

Did you know that the earlier you seek orthodontic care for your child the better it is for their oral health. How early you ask, well according to the American Association of Orthodontist it is recommended that an initial evaluation be done by age 7.

When most people think of braces they have the idea that treatment is for adolescents, but taking your child to see an orthodontist is important to make sure child's oral health is on the right developmental track. By the age of 7, the first adult molars erupt, establishing the back bite. During this time, Dr. Bailey can evaluate front-to-back and side-to-side tooth relationships. For example, the presence of erupting incisors can indicate possible overbite, open bite, crowding or gummy smiles. Timely screening increases the chances for an incredible smile.

What are the signs that my child may need to visit Dr. Bailey?

• Early, late, or irregular loss of baby teeth
• Difficulty in chewing or biting
• Crowding, misplaced, or blocked-out teeth
• Jaws that shift or make sounds
• Biting the cheek or roof of the mouth
• Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all
• Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face

Will my 7 year old have to get braces right away?

At this early age orthodontic treatment may not be necessary, but early examines can determine when it will be best the time to start treatment. Your child may have an examine at age 7 and be asked to return periodically for growth check until we believe it is an optimal time for treatment.

Why can't we wait, what are the benefits of early treatment?

Some of the most direct results of early treatment are:

• Creating room for crowded, erupting teeth
• Creating facial symmetry through influencing jaw growth
• Reducing the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth
• Preserving space for unerupted teeth
• Reducing the need for tooth removal
• Reducing treatment time with braces

Don't worry if your child is older than seven it's not too late for a check-up, especially if you or your family dentist notice a problem. However, the earlier you detect oral problems now and later treatment can be shorter and less involved. Have any questions about early intervention or want to bring your child in for a consultation? Give us a call today. 

Life After Braces: Retention

Think you're all done with orthodontic care because you got your braces off? Not so fast, you're not done just yet. Once you completed the braces phase of your treatment you are ready to move to the phase, retention.

The retention phase focuses on holding your teeth in the position they have been moved to by braces treatment. The retention phase lasts for a minimum of 24 months.During this you only remove your retainer before brushing, and brush your retainer before placing it back in your mouth, if you have a removable retainer. 

There are two types of retainers removable and bonded.

Removable Retainers (Clear or Hawley): Your retainers should be worn at all times with the exception of eating and brushing your teeth. Your retainer should also be removed when participating in activities that require a mouth guard or while swimming. After 12 months of full-time wear, we may revise your retention treatment, allowing the retainer to strictly be worn at night.

Bonded Retainers (Fixed): Bonded lingual retainers are cemented directly to the inside surface of your lower canines (eye teeth). This is one of the best ways to prevent your lower teeth from shifting as it is permanently attached. Patients with bonded lingual retainers must be careful with their bite as the bonding material may break due to incorrect biting and cause teeth to shift quickly. As with removable retainers, it is important to keep them clean. This is done by making sure to carefully clean the inside of your lower teeth as well as the wire while brushing.

Once it's time for your braces to be removed we will discuss which option best suits your treatment plan.Here at Bailey Orthodontics we offer various treatment options you can take advantage of to get the smile you've always wanted.

The retainer plays a special part is achieving the smile you want so be sure to follow instructions given by Dr. Bailey when it comes to your retainer. If you have any questions regarding retainers give us a call today.

Creative Gift Wrapping DIY 101

It is the gift giving season again and many of you will be givers and receivers this holiday. Christmas is the time for family and friends to gather together and spread joy and love. Gifts are used to show love and appreciation during this holiday. Gifts are all different but have one thing in common; they are all wrapped up only to be revealed on Christmas day.

Wrapping gifts isn’t an easy task you have to know how to do it and do it right. It may seem trivial, but how a gift is wrapped shows the receiver that you care and put thought into your gift. If you never put thought into how you wrap your gifts now is the time to.

Here are 5 DIY (Do It Yourself) gift wrapping ideas.

Photo Gift Tags

Chalk Board Packaging 

Using Fabric

Newspaper Wrapping

Arts & Craft Gift Wrap

Put as much effort into wrapping your gifts as you did picking out the gift, your friends and family will appreciate it. Show us how creative you can get this holiday season on Facebook and Instagram (@BaileyOrthoAZ), tag us in photos showing off your DIY gift wrapping skills.

Play For Keeps

Being a patient a Bailey Orthodontics comes with many perks, a beautiful smile being one, but there is an extra benefit. Being a patient at Bailey Orthodontics makes you eligible for tons of cool rewards and prizes.

Patients Rewards Hub is a program that was made specifically for patients. You can access Rewards Hub easily through our website. Before you can get cool prizes you have a patient rewards card.Once
you have your card activated you can instantly began to earn points. You can earn points in fun way, like through contest and simple ways like staying on top of oral hygiene.

Here's the fun part, once you start to earn points you can cash in your points and redeem prizes such as gift cards from your favorite retail stores.

We want to provide our patients with the best possible experience. So log on and being to earn points today! If you don't have a Bailey Rewards Card let us know during your next visit.

Want to earn easy points right now? Follow us on Instagram @BaileyorthoAZ and earn points today!