Blog Archives - Page 4 of 15 - Vinson Orthodontics - Braces and Invisalign For All Ages in Wake Forest and Clayton, NC

Fashion Statement – Celebrities Wearing Braces

Celebrities wearing braces are being seen everywhere. Vinson Orthodontics wants you to know that braces aren’t just for kids. Even celebrities enjoy the benefits that orthodontic treatment can offer and embrace traditional braces rather than invisible braces to correct their problems. Not every patient is a candidate for Invisalign or braces behind the teeth. Below are a few recognizable names who have chosen show off their treatment, even though they are in the spotlight. Katy Perry – recording artist and pop idol Katy Perry chose metal braces and smiles proudly during photo shoots and performances.

June 17, 2018 No Comments

TMJ Jaw Pain Can Be A Mouthful

TMJ jaw pain can be a mouthful. Living with aching or clicking jaws can be hard to swallow! Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, also commonly known as TMJ or TMD, is a joint disorder that affects the opening and closing of the jaw, and can have many side effects that relate to the teeth, head, and neck. Like other joints, the relationship between the bone and disk will affect how well the joint works. The jaw is used thousands of times a day for talking, eating and laughing. When a disorder is present in the joint, your lifestyle can be dramatically changed.

July 3, 2018 No Comments

Is Your Mouthguard Making You Sick?

Most adults and kids today understand the importance of wearing a mouthguard when playing contact sports, especially while wearing braces. Blows to the mouth are painful enough without brackets and wires cutting into your lips and tongue making it worse. Teeth are actually less prone to injury when wired together as a single unit during orthodontic treatment. A mouth guard protects the braces and serves as added protection, further reducing the possibility of tooth and jaw injury. It is not uncommon for athletes to remove their mouthguard when playing sports and set it down, hold it in their dirty hands, or toss it into the case or Gym bag when the game is over. Do you or your kids clean your mouthguard before popping it back into the mouth the next you play? Who knows what germs are breeding on the mouthguard when stored away that can cause illness and oral health issues?

July 17, 2018 No Comments

Are You Cleaning Your Braces with the Right Toothbrush?

You’re just starting orthodontic treatment and it’s time to brush your teeth. Do you brush with a manual or electric toothbrush? The truth is that either type of toothbrush does an effective job of cleaning the teeth. For those of you not convinced, we’ve listed some features and benefits of each so you can decide for yourself. Benefits of Using a Manual Toothbrush It’s simple, affordable and easy to find. Changing your brush every 3 months doesn’t hurt your pockets. Depending on the type of brush and your brushing method, manual toothbrushes could be softer on the tooth enamel and gums.

August 6, 2018 No Comments

Thinking About Mail-In Orthodontics? Read This First!

Wouldn’t you love to simply take a selfie, and/or impression of your teeth or get your teeth scanned, and receive aligners that straighten your teeth in a few months without even leaving your home? Sounds too good to be true, huh? This is exactly the type of convenience offered and advertised with direct-to-consumer orthodontics. Companies like SmileDirectClub, Smilelove, SnapCorrect, etc. are appealing because they address the concern most people have about orthodontics: time. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) advises you to take a step back and look at the overall picture before considering the latest alternative to straighten your teeth.

August 21, 2018 No Comments

5 Tips for Going Back to School with Braces

Bummed out that summer is almost over? At Vinson Orthodontics, we feel this is a great time of year to revisit the basics of caring for your teeth during orthodontic treatment. Starting a healthy routine at the beginning of the school year will go a long way towards achieving a beautiful, healthy smile. When done right, good oral care maintenance could lead you all the way to next summer and beyond. Here are five helpful reminders to kick off the fall session with clean teeth and a happy mouth: Follow the 2×2 Rule Avoid Crunchy and Sticky Foods Drink Lots of Water Plan Your Meals and Snacks Bring a Braces Care Kit

September 6, 2018 No Comments

6 Fun Smartphone Apps To Improve Your Oral Hygiene

We use our smartphones for almost everything in our lives. From setting alarms to wake up, to tracking our workouts, calories and calendars, we keep our phones close to us at all times. That being said, it comes as no surprise that our phones can be used to help improve our oral hygiene as well. To help establish or improve your daily routine during orthodontic treatment, Vinson Orthodontics is sharing a few apps here are a few apps you can try. Brush DJ Are you brushing your teeth for a long enough time? Brush DJ plays two minutes of music from your own library of songs so you can keep track of the time. Taking it even further, the app also includes a visual display to show you where to brush. A custom reminders feature helps keep you on track of things like replacing your toothbrush and upcoming orthodontic appointments.

September 18, 2018 No Comments

Spread the Word – October is National Orthodontic Health Month

October means something a little different to our team at Vinson Orthodontics because this is National Orthodontic Health Month. During October, orthodontic offices all over the country work together to promote their services and inform the community about the important work we do. Our goal is to draw attention to the fact that everyone needs to be evaluated for orthodontic treatment. You are never too young or too old if your bite or smile needs correction. American Association of Orthodontics recommends that parents start early and all kids be evaluated 7 – 8 years of age. During the growing years of 7 – 10, kids undergo a major growth spurt that goes hand in hand with the eruptive pattern of their teeth and development of jaws.

October 1, 2018 No Comments

Fun Halloween Costume Ideas for Braces

It’s that time of year again! Halloween is just around the corner and we at Vinson Orthodontics are here to get you ready. For those of you currently in braces, you may be wondering how you can stand out with your costume while disguising your orthodontic treatment. Fear not! Here are six fun costume ideas you can try that make the most of your braces. Darla from Finding Nemo This character from the classic kid’s movie, Finding Nemo, is often what comes to mind when people think of costumes featuring braces. Darla’s enthusiasm for animals (often times too intense) and full face of metal made her one of the most memorable characters in the movie. To achieve this look, find a purple sweater, white button down shirt, plaid skirt, plastic bag filled with water and fish and, most importantly, add freckles and something that resembles headgear to your face.

October 17, 2018 No Comments

What Happens When We Swallow Gum?

Dr. Britt Vinson and the team at Vinson Orthodontics want to dispel an urban legend about chewing gum: if you swallow a wad of gum, it does not sit in your stomach for seven years. In most cases, actually, not even seven days. Chewing gum, although not meant to be swallowed, passes harmlessly through the digestive system and is excreted in the same manner as everything else we eat. There is some truth to the myth, however: chewing gum is not digested. It contains resins, sometimes natural and sometimes synthetic, which our bodies cannot break down. Gum is simply passed along our digestive tract. In rare cases, excessive amounts of swallowed gum can lead to constipation and intestinal blockage in young children. But parents need not be alarmed. Young children are not more susceptible to complications involving swallowed gum; young children are simply the only people who might swallow enough gum to cause digestive problems. Kids often forget or may not understand that gum is for chewing and not swallowing.

November 1, 2018 No Comments