Beautiful Smiles That Last A Lifetime

Kelly Orthodontics

It’s time to celebrate! You’ve just gotten your taken braces off and your smile looks amazing!

If you want to keep that beautiful smile for life, you are going to need to make sure you wear your retainer. Your orthodontic treatment does not end once we remove your braces. Wearing your retainer is the final step in keeping your smile perfect.

Your teeth aren't set rigidly into your jawbone like you might think. They are held in place by bands of fibrous tissue called the periodontal ligaments. After your teeth have been moved into their ideal position by your braces it takes time for the periodontal ligaments to adjust. When you’re not wearing your retainer, pressure from your lips and tongue can cause your teeth to shift. Even if your teeth don’t look like they have moved, that doesn’t mean they haven’t. If you go without wearing your retainer for long periods of time, your teeth will continue to move until misalignment is visibly noticeable. If you don’t wear your retainer as prescribed, your teeth will move out of alignment and back into their original, crooked places…it will be like you never went through orthodontic treatment at all.

The retention phase of your treatment begins as soon as your braces are removed and lasts about two years. So, please wear your retainer as prescribed by Dr. Kelly. If you have any questions about the retention phrase of your orthodontic treatment, please don't hesitate to contact our St. Charles orthodontic office. A member of our friendly and knowledge team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Protect Your Enamel

Kelly Orthodontics

Braces provide patients with a spectacular tool for straightening smiles and correcting jaw problems that impact self-confidence and overall oral wellness. Your wires and brackets are fundamental to the treatment process, but they also can make it difficult to remove food particles that get stuck under and between your brackets and wires. Unfortunately, if this food is left to fester, the acidic content of the food can eat away at your tooth’s vital tooth enamel.

If you have braces, your smile can be prone to enamel erosion. Enamel erosion occurs when acid attacks the teeth and wears down the enamel. This can make your teeth vulnerable to tooth fractures and cavities. Pay special attention to cleaning your teeth every day. Permanent damage to tooth enamel can occur if the teeth and brackets are not kept clean.

To prevent enamel erosion, Dr. Kelly encourages you to:

• Avoid Acidic Foods and Beverages: Consuming acidic products can expose your smile to the acid that harms the teeth. So, it’s best to avoid consuming acidic foods and drinks as much as possible.

• Keep Your Teeth Clean: This includes regular brushing, an interdental brush, floss (and floss threaders) and possibly a water flosser to help you use the force of water to rid your mouth of stuck debris.

• Use Fluoride: Fluoride can strengthen your tooth enamel and help you avoid enamel erosion. Use a fluoride toothpaste and fluoride mouthwash whenever possible.

When it comes to taking care of your teeth with braces, one of the best things you can do is pay attention to what you are putting in your mouth. Thinking about what is coming in contact with your pearly whites can protect your teeth from erosion and decay.

Certain foods and beverages are more acidic than others. During orthodontic treatment, focus on eating foods that are both good for your body and your teeth.

Less tooth-friendly foods and drinks include: apples, cherries, oranges, peaches, pears, plums, pineapples, raspberries, tomatoes, pickles, soft drinks, and fruit drinks.

More tooth-friendly foods and drinks include: bananas, mangoes, melons, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, milk, water, meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, crackers, and pasta.

If you like to learn more about how you prevent enamel erosion while wearing braces, our friendly staff at Kelly Orthodontics is available to train you in methods for keeping your teeth clean and strong. Please reach out to our orthodontic team at 630-584-9666. We look forward to talking with you!

Facts About Braces

Kelly Orthodontics

At Kelly Orthodontics, we often get asked a lot of great questions about orthodontic care and treatment. We have also seen a lot of false information on orthodontic treatment. Some are rumors and others are myths that are believed to be fact.

Myth: “Braces and orthodontic treatment are only for children.”

Fact: Braces are not just for kids… orthodontics can be rewarding to adults as well. Teeth provide the support structure for the soft tissue of the lower face, including lips, and cheeks. By repositioning the teeth and jaw, skin can appear tighter, and lips can appear fuller. Adults can often achieve greater facial aesthetics without surgery or the extraction of teeth with a treatment plan utilizing an appliance that can expand the jaw and reposition teeth and gums.

Myth: “I can’t play sports anymore because I have braces.”

Fact: Having braces, does not mean you have to stop living your life! Whether you just received braces or are near the end of your treatment, braces should not be a barrier to playing any type of sport. If you wear a mouth guard, braces should not stop you from playing your favorite sport. If you are unsure which type of mouth guard to use or need more information on mouth guards, ask our staff.

Myth: “My dentist says he can give me braces or Invisalign.”

Fact: Both an orthodontist and a dentist are health care professionals that work on teeth. Both health care professionals help patients achieve good oral health and both are dental school graduates. All Orthodontists are dentists, but only a small percentage of dentists are orthodontists. Orthodontists must successfully complete an additional two to three-year residency program of advanced dental education in orthodontics. Orthodontists specialize in the alignment of teeth and services include treating misaligned teeth, crowded teeth, overbites, and under bites. Only an orthodontist who has been trained and certified by Align Technology can diagnose and treat using Invisalign.

A new smile means a new life change. At Kelly Orthodontics, we understand that a big decision like this is not easy. We will ensure that we answer all questions and make you feel comfortable. If you have any addition questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask us before coming to your first visit.

Straighter Smile Online

Kelly Orthodontics

You may have noticed that some online direct-to-consumer orthodontic companies have been making orthodontic treatment sound cheap and easy. While it may sound great to save money and buy your orthodontic treatment online, the reality is…you are not getting the treatment for less. You are simply purchasing a product and opting out of the many important aspects that make orthodontics work. The money you save today may end up costing you thousands of dollars in future corrective action.

Orthodontic treatment involves the movement of biological material, which if not done correctly could lead to potentially irreversible and expensive damage such as tooth and gum loss, changed bites, and other issues.

Orthodontic treatment is a major medical procedure. This is precisely why orthodontists require extensive training and education before they can begin performing treatments. Proper orthodontic treatment must include: 

• X-rays of your teeth and jaws 
• Clinical examination of your jaw alignment, teeth, bite, and relationship of your teeth to your bone structures 
• Digital scans and/or impressions of your teeth 
• Multiple available treatment options explained by a licensed professional who can provide the best recommended course of treatment for you 
• Regular, in-person consultations to evaluate the progress of your treatment and make any necessary adjustments 
• Access to a licensed professional who can help immediately if you have an issue or emergency during your treatment

Remember…orthodontic treatment is not a product or device. Orthodontic treatment is a professional, medical service. When your care is personally supervised by an orthodontist who is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, you are assured that your orthodontist spent years in a post-doctoral residency program focused on providing orthodontic treatment to patients.

If you are thinking about ordering aligners online without seeing a licensed orthodontist first, we strongly encourage you to schedule a free orthodontic consultation with Kelly Orthodontics before clicking that buy button. Dr. Kelly and his team sincerely care about your smile and will take the time to discuss the pros and cons of all your treatment options with you.

Before making any decision about orthodontic treatment, consider doing some research and having an in-person consultation with Dr. Kelly at our St. Charles location.

 

Is Invisalign Right For You?

Kelly Orthodontics

If you want a straighter smile but don’t want to spend years of wearing traditional metal braces, Invisalign may be the perfect option for you. Kelly Orthodontics is a Certified Premier Invisalign Provider, and our team has years of experience permanently correcting alignment issues in a shorter time with Invisalign clear aligners.

Invisalign takes a modern approach to straightening teeth, using custom-made clear aligners created just for you. These aligners are smooth, comfortable, and virtually invisible. There are no metal brackets to attach and no wires to tighten. Wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements Dr. Kelly has planned out for you.

Not only is Invisalign effective, but the aligners are nearly invisible and can be worn without detection. Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign aligners can be removed instantly and easily. Invisalign makes it easy to eat whatever you want, whenever you want, and you never need to worry about your meals interfering with your orthodontic treatment.

More people are seeking orthodontic treatment with Invisalign clear aligners, and it's not hard to figure out why. The aligners that are barely noticeable have been developed to give patients a more discreet choice when it comes to orthodontic treatment. With the Invisalign System, you’ll achieve a great smile with little disruption in your daily life.

Did you know… Only an orthodontist who has been trained and certified by Align Technology can diagnose and treat using Invisalign. Invisalign is not appropriate for everyone. Only Dr. Kelly can determine if Invisalign treatment is an effective option for you. To see if Invisalign can help you achieve the smile you've always wanted, contact our St. Charles orthodontic office to make an appointment today.

 

Do You Have Gum Disease?

Kelly Orthodontics

More than 80 percent of Americans are living with periodontal or gum disease, which most often than not, goes unnoticed.

February has been designated “Gum Disease Awareness Month” in a national and global effort to raise public awareness of gum disease. The awareness program was launched in 2012 by the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry, a non-profit educational and research center dedicated to providing evidence-based clinical training in advanced laser dentistry therapies.

At Kelly Orthodontics our goal is to continually raise awareness of the prevalence of gum disease while encouraging patients to take an active role in better oral health through prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Gum disease is something that most people will experience at some point in their lives. But because the symptoms of gum disease are so subtle and painless, most people just shrug it off. If gum disease is left untreated, the consequences could be severe.  Gum disease has been linked to a host of general medical problems, including: Heart disease, Endocarditis, Lung problems, Alzheimer’s disease, Colorectal cancer, Diabetes, and Kidney, pancreatic and blood cancers in men.

According to the American Association of Periodontology (AAP), you may have gum disease if:

• Your gums are red, swollen, and sore to the touch. 
• Your gums bleed when you eat, brush or floss. 
• You see pus or other signs of infection around the gums and teeth. 
• Your gums look as if they are "pulling away" from the teeth. 
• You frequently have bad breath or notice a bad taste in your mouth. 
• Your teeth are loose or feel as if they are moving away from the other teeth.

A great oral hygiene routine and regular dental visits are the absolute best way to take a preventative measure against gum disease. The American Dental Association (ADA) site recommends brushing your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled brush that fits your mouth comfortably, so it reaches every tooth surface adequately. Plaque begins to re-form with 24 hours after brushing and flossing, so daily care is essential. Be sure to floss every day to ensure your gums are healthy and pink.

With good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups, you can keep your teeth for a lifetime and avoid many significant health problems.

If you have any questions regarding the health of your teeth and gums, please don't hesitate to give Kelly Orthodontics a call.

 

Does Your Breath Stink?

Kelly Orthodontics

We understand that bad breath can be an uncomfortable subject to talk about but unfortunately it happens to most people for several different reasons. Bad breath, or halitosis, can be caused by poor oral hygiene, personal habits such as smoking or eating certain foods, or medical problems. The most common factor for bad breath in patients with braces at Kelly Orthodontics is almost certainly caused by poor oral hygiene.

After getting braces, patients may develop bad breath from not cleaning their teeth correctly. Bacteria feeds on food particles left in your mouth, and this bacterium creates odor. Because braces contain so many small spaces to trap food, the habits that worked great for cleaning your teeth before braces may no longer be enough. If you recently gotten braces and have found that you have developed bad breath, there is a good chance that it’s being caused by bacteria remaining in your mouth.

Six Steps for Better Breath When You Have Braces.

Step 1: Brush & Floss Often - Oral hygiene is extremely important, especially when you have braces. If you have bad breath even though you’re brushing twice a day, it may be time to increase the number of times you brush and floss to 3-5 times a day. Bring a toothbrush, toothpaste, and some dental floss with you to work and/or school so that you can keep your mouth feeling clean throughout your day.

Step 2: Stay Hydrated - Dehydration is bad for both your overall health and your oral health as it can increase the chances of bad breath greatly. Drink a lot of water every day to keep your mouth constantly clean and moist.

Step 3: Replace Your Toothbrush – Thousands of germs hide out on your toothbrush, and when you have braces, it’s important to keep those germs under control. Dr. Kelly and his team recommend that you replace your toothbrush once every three to four months. However, if you find that you feel sick, don’t have fresh breath, or the bristles on your toothbrush are frayed, you may want to replace your toothbrush more often.

Step 4: Use Anti-Bacterial Mouthwash - One excellent way to kill order causing bacteria is to use mouthwash. Not only does mouthwash get into the spaces between your braces, but it also kills germs and bacteria that remain in your mouth.

Step 5: Get a Water Pick – Water Picks are available at many different price points and from many different brands. Water picks are designed to clean the miniscule spaces between your teeth and gums.

Step 6: Breath Mints - If you have established a proper dental health routine but you still feel self-conscious about having bad breath, you can temporarily freshen your mouth with sugar-free breath mints.

Remember to schedule regular dental visits. Scheduling regular dental visits will help you keep any tooth and gum problems at bay as well as to rectify any oral health issues that may be contributing to bad breath or affecting your braces.

For more information on fighting bad breath visit our website or give one of our friendly team members a call...we are here to help.