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You and your braces will become good friends over the coming months or years, so it’s important to get your relationship off to a good start. Consider the following recommendations to prevent rocky times ahead:

1. Floss, floss, floss. Yes, it’s a pain to floss around your braces, but it's the best way to prevent gum disease and other oral health problems. Ask Dr. Pack and our staff for floss threaders to make the chore easier. Just a few minutes per day will ensure that you don’t face significant dental health issues when the braces come off.
2. Avoid sticky or hard foods. It’s tough to forgo toffee, caramel, gum, and other favorite sticky treats, but your braces will thank you. Sticky or hard foods can break a bracket or wire, so it’s best to avoid them altogether.
3. Chew with your back teeth. If you’re used to taking large bites with your front teeth, it might be time to switch your eating habits. Taking a large bite of food with your front teeth can leave your braces vulnerable to damage. Instead, cut large foods into pieces and use your back teeth to chew. This is especially important with corn on the cob, which should always be cut from the cob.
4. Wear rubber bands and headgear. Rubber bands, headgear, and other orthodontic appliances may seem annoying, but failing to comply with wearing them can increase the length of your treatment by months. Wear them now to avoid problems in the future.

Many patients underestimate the importance of wearing their retainers after their braces come off, but it is one of the most critical post care practices to keep your teeth in alignment. Why spend all that time, energy, and money to straighten your teeth when you don't plan to keep them straightened after treatment?

What is a retainer?

As the name implies, a retainer keeps teeth from moving back to the positions in which they started before treatment was administered; they "retain" your smile and bite. There are many different types of retainers—some are removable and some are permanent. Some retainers are made of plastic and metal (known as Hawley retainers) and others are all plastic or all metal. Some retainers can even be bonded to the back of your teeth!

How long do I need to wear it?

If you've been given a removable retainer by Dr. Pack, you may be wondering how long you need to wear it. It takes time for the tissues and bones around your teeth to reorganize and set into place after braces treatment.

The amount of time you’ll need to wear your retainer depends on your unique situation, but typically, retainers should be worn at least as long as the time you spent in braces. You might need to wear them full-time for a while, and then transition to wearing them only at night. Dr. Pack will have a treatment plan especially for you, and if you stick to it, you'll always have a straight smile.

Nothing is forever (at least without retainers!)

Research has shown that there is no “permanent” position for your teeth to remain in. In fact, some studies say upward of 70% of patients will see a change to their bite and tooth alignment as they get older. This applies to people who have had orthodontic treatment and those who have not. Of course, some people's teeth never seem to shift—you can consider them the lucky ones, as most people's teeth do.

And this is precisely where retainers come in. The only way to ensure your teeth stay in alignment long-term is by wearing your retainers. If you have any questions about retainers or your treatment plan, please ask any member of our Murfreesboro, TN staff.

Happy March everyone! March 19th is the first day of spring and our team at Pack Orthodontics is in deep anticipation for the warmer days ahead. Spring time is all about renewal, which makes it a great time to freshen up our office and our homes! Read on to learn how our team tackles spring cleaning, tips on oral care, and office updates.  

The team handles their cleaning strategy all a little differently. Megan, Hope, Ashley, and Denise tackle their spring cleaning one room at a time and focuses on getting rid of items that are no longer used. Morgan gets rid of items she no longer needs and organizes everything else. Nina does a deep clean of her entire house then donates unwanted items to Goodwill. Laurie donates items that haven’t been used in the last 6 months.  

Besides spring cleaning, the team all have different goals they would like to accomplish this month. Hope and Megan would like to have a successful pop up event for their small business, the Dainty Hanger. Denise plans to paint her family room. This month Morgan plans to work out and enjoy time with friends. Eating better is not only Nina’s month goal but it’s her lifelong goal. Laurie is going to deep clean and declutter her house. Ashley is going to get ready for Pack Orthodontics' big staff appreciation luncheon coming up in May.  

Spring time is not only for cleansing physical spaces but also for a renewal of self. The team all has different areas in their lives they would like to improve. Megan would like to dedicate more time to exercise and Ashley has a similar goal of having both a healthy mind and a healthy body. Denise strives to not to take others' words to heart and Hope would like to take things as they come and worry less about the big picture. Morgan would like to make her relationship with Jesus even better. Nina wants to focus on the relationships with the people in her life. Laurie continues to strive to be the best she can be.  

Losing track of your new year oral health goals? The team has some recommendations to get you back on track. Megan wants to remind patients to eat healthy! Maintaining a healthy diet is just as important as a good oral health routine. Hope, Nina, and Denise both agree seeing your dentist every 6 months for check-ups and regular cleanings is crucial for a healthy and happy smile. Morgan suggests staying away from foods that cause cavities like soda and candy. Laurie recommends looking in the mirror before and after you brush!  

For the warm spring days ahead, you can find our team enjoying life in a multitude of ways. You can find Megan and Ashley on the porch of a Mexican restaurant, sipping a margarita. Denise plans on being in the outdoors with her lovely grandkids. Morgan will also spend a lot of time outdoors by the lake or pool. Laurie wants to enjoy the sunshine with her friends. Nina enjoys going out for lunch on a beautiful day. Hope loves to visit the Arrington Vineyards.  

Life might be a little uncertain right now but the team all continue to dream of their next vacation. Megan and Morgan want to visit the beach. Denise is craving to be adventurous and visit Bora Bora. Paris, Greece or Ireland are on Nina’s travel bucket list. Hope is curious about travelling to Giraffe Manor in Kenya. Laurie would love to visit family in California and Ashley can’t wait to go back to London!  

With spring comes a few office updates for our patients. We will officially change our Wednesday hours, and the thermostat! Warmer days are ahead for us all. We hope you are having a healthy and happy start to your spring. Stay safe everyone.  

At Pack Orthodontics, Dr. Pack and our staff have found that patients who like their smiles have better self-esteem. People who don’t like their smiles are often skittish about talking to other people. According to the National Women’s Health Resource Center, when women are asked about what they’d most like to change about themselves, many point to their smile. Despite wanting to change their smiles, quite a few of the people who are unhappy about that part of themselves won’t consider getting braces.

Most Americans Don’t Have Straight Teeth

The American Association of Orthodontics estimates that 4.5 million Americans wear braces or other orthodontic equipment to straighten their teeth and to get a healthier mouth. One in five of those braces wearers are women. The organization’s statistics also show that about 75 percent of the population doesn’t have straight teeth, and those people would benefit from getting braces.

While the main benefit of braces is straight teeth, and to improve the look of your smile, there are other benefits that make braces even more useful, including:

• Straighter teeth help people chew better.

• Straighter teeth give people a proper bite.

• People speak better when they have straighter teeth.

• When people have straight teeth, they have better overall gum and mouth health. A healthier mouth means flossing and brushing are easier, and that means your entire mouth stays healthy.
• A healthy mouth is also linked to a healthy body.

When you feel proud of those pearly whites, you feel better about your smile, and that contributes to a better self-image and improved self-esteem. Ultimately, that can lead to greater career success and a more fulfilling social life.