Why do I have crooked teeth?

Many individuals wonder why their teeth may become crooked if they never experienced any significant changes to their oral health However, minor alterations that you may not expect, will result in the shifting or crookedness of your teeth.

Genetics play a significant role in the placement of your teeth. The most occurring case is when both parents have crooked teeth, it will be passed down to the child. As a result an irregular bite takes place allowing either an overbite, underbite, open or cross bite to happen. The shape of your jaw will also determine the rotation and shift of your teeth.

Oral habits are very common as we may not realize we are doing them. Thumb sucking and excessive pacifier use for long periods of time, tongue posturing and mouth breathing are prime examples of this. Thumb sucking creates pressure behind the top front teeth which leads to an overjet or open bite. Orofacial (mouth & face)and Myofunctional (muscle function) disorders are present as well. Breathing through your mouth for long periods of time causes issues with face development allowing an irregular bite and crooked teeth to take place. Tongue posturing is when your tongue hits against protrudes in between the front teeth. This starts from talking or swallowing. When your tongue rests in a forward position, the outside of your mouth puts pressure against the teeth while your facial muscles exert pressure that interferes with craniofacial development (poor bite).

The loss of baby teeth is a recurring issue that seems to be dismissed quite often. Baby teeth aid in speech development and chewing while saving space for your incoming permanent teeth. If they are lost before the appropriate time, remaining teeth will move towards the gap and permanent teeth will not go up and they will become impacted (stuck under tissues or bone which leads to crowding).

Trauma resulting in dental injury such as displacement of teeth, or a soccer ball to the mouth cause shifting of the teeth to help make up with the loss of the ‘lost’ tooth.

Not replacing permanent teeth can lead to various complications. It is essential to replace them with a dental implant or restoration as similar issues will happen as losing baby teeth early. The most common problem is your teeth shifting into the available space.

Changes with age are sadly an unavoidable concern. Your bite will deepen and your teeth will start moving naturally. To help prevent this from becoming serious, it is important to wear your retainer or invisalign after treatment.

Improper restorations at the dentist lead to crooked teeth whether it is poor fillings, bridges or crowns. All have a negative influence on the bite and lead to pain, misaligned teeth and reduced function in the mouth.

Handling Orthodontic Issues at Home

March 24, 2020

Due to COVID-19, Vaughan Orthodontics is currently postponing any non-emergent appointments and you may be wondering how to handle potential orthodontic issues at home. While there are steps you can take to temporarily fix or alleviate discomfort and prevent additional damage, Dr. Chen should always be notified. Contact his directly at drchen@vaughanortho.com, if you have any concerns during this time.  Many times, he may be able to handle the issue over the phone or virtually through video communication.

During this time, make sure to stay in contact with Vaughan Orthodontics about when they plan to reopen if you need to have any appointments rescheduled.

Tools + Supplies

With these tools and supplies on hand, you will be prepared to handle the most common orthodontic issues 

• Orthodontic relief wax

• Dental floss

• Disinfected tweezers

• Q-tips

• Salt

• Interproximal brush

• Toothpicks

• Non-prescription pain reliever (acetaminophen or ibuprofen)

• Topical Anesthetic (such as Orabase or Ora-Gel)

Discomfort

It’s normal to have some discomfort during orthodontic treatment as your teeth move however it should not last longer than a couple days. Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water and over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, may alleviate some discomfort.  If the discomfort lasts longer than a couple days, be sure to contact Dr. Chen to discuss.

Mouth Sores

Some patients are susceptible to episodes of mouth sores. While braces do not cause them, they may be precipitated or exacerbated by an irritation from braces. One or several areas of ulceration of the cheeks, lips or tongue may appear. This is not an emergency but may be very uncomfortable. Prompt relief may be achieved by applying a small amount of topical anesthetic (such as Orabase or Ora-Gel) directly to the ulcerated surface using a cotton swab – reapply as needed.  If after a couple days the discomfort does not resolve, contact Dr. Chen to discuss.

Irritation in Mouth

Sometimes braces or wires can be irritating to the mouth, especially when eating. A small amount of orthodontic relief wax makes an excellent buffer between metal and mouth. Simply pinch off a small piece and roll it into a ball the size of a small pea. Flatten the ball and place it completely over the area of the braces causing irritation.  Wax can be purchased at any drug store if you are unable to get some from Vaughan Orthodontics during this time.

Protruding Wire

Occasionally the end of a wire will work itself out of place and can irritate the mouth. Use a Q-tip or clean tweezer and try to push the wire so that it is flat against the tooth. If the wire cannot be moved into a comfortable position, cover it with relief wax. Should changes with your wires occur during this time be sure to contact Dr. Chen to make them aware of the issue.  

Loose Braces or Bands

If the braces or bands have come loose in any way, contact Dr. Chen t to determine appropriate next steps.

These are just a few steps you can take to help keep things on track with your orthodontic treatment. A little extra effort on your end now will pay off big time when you get back into your orthodontic routine. 

Four Ways Your Smile Changes As You Age

It’s no secret, as you age, so does your smile. Teeth wear down as we chew our way through a lifetime of meals. Did you also know, teeth can move and shift well into adulthood? Here’s a roundup of 4 common changes orthodontists see in patients as they age:

1. Bottom teeth crowding

As you age, your jaw bone loses density and shrinks. The mismatched size of the jaw bone with teeth can lead to crowding of the bottom front teeth. Crowding can also occur because other issues such as breathing through your mouth, reverse swallowing, tongue thrusting or facial trauma.

2. Front teeth gap

Space between two front teeth is referred to as a diastema, and it can develop for a variety of reasons. Crowding of teeth or unproportioned jaws and teeth can cause spacing to gradually occur. Swallowing, with the pressure of your tongue pushing against your front teeth, rather than positioning itself at the roof of your mouth, can also cause teeth to separate over time. Gum disease is another trigger for spacing, because of the inflammation.

3. Post-orthodontic teeth shifting

Our bodies change our whole life, and our teeth change, too. After orthodontic treatment a retainer is needed to maintain teeth in position. As we age, if teeth are restored or lost, new proper fitting retainers will be needed to prevent unwanted change.

4. Wrong bite

Do you get headaches, clicking and popping jaw joints, grind your teeth or even back pain? You may have a bite disorder, which occurs when the lower and upper jaw don’t align, called malocclusion.

These changes may be completely normal, but that doesn’t mean you just have to live with them. The number of adults undergoing orthodontic treatment is at an all-time high. An estimated 1.61 million adults underwent orthodontic treatment in the U.S. in 2018. That’s one in four adults!

Whether you’re eight or 80, the biological process of orthodontic treatment is the same. Adults have denser bone tissue than children, so treatment may take a little longer, but age does not keep teeth from moving. Check out the American Association of Orthodontics Adult Guide to Orthodontics for more information.

You can work with Vaughan Orthodontics to achieve a healthy, beautiful smile at any age. Dr. Chen can help with these common teeth problems and more.

What Happens If You Have Braces and Do Not Brush Your Teeth?

Wearing braces is only part of the job in getting that beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. If you want impressive results and a healthy mouth, you must take care of your teeth and braces. This means brushing your teeth properly and taking time to clean all the food particles or plaque that will accumulate around the brackets. At Vaughan Orthodontics, we always emphasize the need for proper maintenance of your oral hygiene.

If you wish to learn the effects of not brushing your teeth while wearing braces, or just want to learn how to keep teeth with braces clean, continue reading below.

EFFECTS OF NOT BRUSHING TEETH WITH BRACES

It is essential to maintain proper oral hygiene, regardless if you are undergoing orthodontic treatment or not. Wearing braces just means you have to take extra care of your teeth, so you reduce any chances of developing other dental problems. Because of their design, braces are traps for plaque and food. Bacteria, food particles, and plaque will accumulate around the little brackets that are glued straight to your teeth. If these are not removed, they may demineralize the enamel around the bracket and form cavities.

If oral hygiene is not maintained when braces are removed, after your treatment, you could end up with a mouthful of cavities that need repairing or the worst case scenario is cavities could progress to the point of pain while you are still wearing your braces. In that case, you will have to see an orthodontic specialist and have the brackets removed, repair any cavities, remove plaque, reglue the brackets, and replace the wires.

When proper oral hygiene is not maintained, it leads to the formation of bacteria in your mouth. If this is not eliminated in time, it can destroy the tissue that supports the teeth. This leads to periodontal disease. Bacteria can also enter your bloodstream and potentially create other health problems. Wearing braces only amplifies these problems as you will have to remove braces with each visit to remove plaque, repair cavities or deal with any other dental issues that may appear due to inadequate oral hygiene.

HOW TO KEEP TEETH CLEAN WHILE WEARING BRACES

Wearing braces will straighten your teeth, fix any malalignment, and provide you with a beautiful smile. However, it also makes your teeth more difficult to clean, and you need to take extra care in order to avoid any unnecessary dental issues. Tooth decay is more likely to happen when you wear braces, as the metal brackets need to be adequately maintained and cleansed from all bacteria and food particles.

In order to keep your teeth clean, there are several thornhill braces care tips you should follow. Remember to rinse your mouth with pure water before you even start brushing your teeth. This will help you remove any loose food particles and will make the brushing a lot easier. When you start brushing, make sure you do not apply too much pressure. Patients with braces usually brush teeth with more force than needed, thinking it cleans the brackets more efficiently. This is not the case and may actually damage your teeth and braces in the long run.

Instead, brush the teeth at about a 45-degree angle. Gently brush the top of the brackets, followed by the bottom of the brackets and the wire. Having special, interdental brushes, will help you reach the tooth’s surface more efficiently and help you navigate around the brackets and wires in order to clean every tooth thoroughly. Try brushing your teeth after every meal and always rinse your mouth after every snack to avoid any possibilities of food sticking to the braces and teeth.

Flossing remains an essential component of proper oral hygiene even when wearing richmond hill braces. Most people are unsure of how to floss with braces because of the wires going across the teeth. Using a floss threader will make this task a lot easier. It will take some practice to thread the floss under the main wire before passing it between two teeth. It can feel like a tiresome chore, but it is a necessity in order to keep your mouth healthy, your teeth clean, and your braces in place. Try flossing at least once a day.

Lastly, try avoiding certain foods that may damage your teeth and your vaughan braces. You will want to avoid sticky foods, like caramel, that may get stuck between your teeth and braces and is difficult to clean. Also, foods and drinks with higher acidic content are not friendly to your teeth, braces or mouth in general. Your orthodontist can provide you with a list of foods and drinks that are best to avoid while wearing braces.

CONCLUSION

You are wearing braces because you want to have straight and healthy teeth. Part of wearing braces is brushing your teeth regularly and maintaining proper oral hygiene. Brush at least twice per day and try to rinse your mouth with water after every snack. Use floss and small interdental brushes to clean around each bracket and between the teeth and wires.

Everyone who wears braces knows how tiresome it is to keep the teeth, brackets, and wires clean, but the alternatives and consequences are much worse, while the results of proper hygiene are quite gratifying, leaving the patient with a clean and healthy Vaughan Orthodontic smile!

What Role do Elastics (Rubber Bands) Play in Orthodontics?

Wearing orthodontic braces may be the best choice for correcting your teeth and improving your smile, and that’s why you’ve come to see Dr. Chen at Vaughan Orthodontics. Braces, which consist of brackets and wires, work by gently applying pressure to the teeth, and that pressure causes them to move into the correct position. In some cases elastics, or rubber bands, are used to apply additional pressure needed to move your teeth.

The Purpose of Elastics Customized for each patient, the rubber bands typically stretch over tiny loops on the top and bottom brackets. If worn consistently, and every day, these tiny elastics will apply the steady pressure needed to guide your teeth into the correct position.

These elastics are crafted from medical-grade latex, which is safe to be in contact with your mouth. It’s common to remove the elastics during meals if opening your mouth wide enough to eat is difficult. Our staff will demonstrate how to affix the elastics so it will soon become second nature to replace them.

The Do’s and the Don’ts

DO – Get in the habit of carrying around extra rubber bands and replace them as soon as one breaks. By consistently wearing the elastics, you may shorten the overall time needed to wear braces.

DON’T – Double up on elastics as this will cause too much pressure on the tooth or teeth and can actually harm the root of the tooth.

DO – Always wash your hands before removing or replacing the rubber bands.

DON’T – Overstretch the rubber band or it will lose its strength and it will be ineffective.

DO – Call us if you run out of rubber bands.

DO – Have fun with your braces and elastics. There are many different colors available that can let you show off your soon-to-be perfect smile.

Rubber bands are a key part of your orthodontic treatment, and learning how to remove and replace them is an important part to maintaining your braces. Before we set you on your journey to a perfect smile, we’ll make sure you understand all there is to know about how to take care of your braces. Of course, if you have any questions about your orthodontic treatment, or orthodontics in general, be sure to contact our Thornhill, ON office, and our staff will be happy to assist you!

Got braces? Here are some great soft foods ideas and recipes you should try!

People with brand new braces from a Vaughan Orthodontist are always full of questions. One of the most common questions we hear at the office is “What can I eat with braces on?”

This is a good question to ask. Certain foods can be hard on your braces. A craving for corn on the cob can quickly cost you a trip back to Vaughan Orthodontics for repairs, or it might just give you a sore mouth and a tough cleaning job to do. Either one is a bad Saturday afternoon, so knowing what you should and should not eat is important.

Soft Foods – Less Sugar

Eating with Vaughan braces is a lot like eating without braces. You want a balanced diet, with a healthy amount of vegetables and fruit. You also need your protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats. You need vitamins and minerals from A to Zinc (especially when you feel like H), and you want to avoid junk food as much as possible.
When you wear Thornhill braces, you want the same things – only softer. Tough foods can be uncomfortable for new braces. So how do we get the best of both worlds?

Steam Cook Your Vegetables

Carrots, broccoli and cauliflower are all healthy snacks with a crunch. That crunch can be tough on your braces, so try giving them a little steam bath to soften up before eating them. Frying, and boiling will also soften them, but the general consensus is that steam keeps the flavor and nutrients locked in, making it the best option for cooking healthy greens.

The Slow Cooker Is Your Friend

When it comes to softening foods, there might be no better way to prepare a meal than by using a slow cooker. Choose your ingredients in the morning, place it on the required setting, and let it stew for the day. Typical stew meat can be quite tough and stringy, so try using the slow cooker with other foods like boneless chicken breast, or softer cuts of beef.

No Pain Grains

Grains are a big part of a balanced diet, but early morning toast will be a bit more uncomfortable to crunch on than it was before. It’s time to explore the alternatives.
If you’re craving some baked goods to start your morning, there’s nothing wrong with a warm croissant or a fresh muffin. Try to skip out on muffins with excessive sugary toppings (that’s a cupcake you’re holding).

Try Something Different

First week of Richmond Hill braces can be quite challenging so why not start of your day with a smoothie.

Breakfast Smoothies - Strawberry, Mango, and Yogurt Smoothie
A fresh fruit smoothie is also a great source of natural fiber. Use banana as a base, and add in a mix of fresh berries. Scoop in some yogurt, and a spoonful of honey, and you’ve almost got a dessert!