Blog

Fluoride is the one ingredient toothpaste must contain to earn the American Dental Association's Seal of Acceptance. But what else is in toothpaste?...

November is TMJ Awareness month and Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics is committed to increasing awareness about (Temporomandibular Joint Disorders) TMD...

Did you know that orthodontic treatment extends far beyond a beautiful smile and straight teeth?! There are SO many dental health and function related benefits of orthodontic treatment .....

In honor of National Orthodontic Health Month we wanted to share some best practice tips that will make your orthodontic smile blossoming journey a smooth and healthy one...

Unless a dentist is an active TikTok user, it's not a good idea to get dental health advice from social media...

It’s OCTOBER! For most or all of us, this month begins with the weather changing, beautiful new seasonal colors, drinking pumpkin spice lattes, and of course, Halloween! ..

For as long as there have been people, there has been tooth decay. However, people in past civilizations did not have as many answers about what caused their tooth problems as we do today. That led to some very strange beliefs about dental health...

Anyone who has or had braces has noticed the different parts and probably wondered what role they perform in orthodontic treatment. Some patients just have the basics: brackets, archwires, and O-rings, while others have extra components to correct a more complex issue. Our team at Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics would like to demystify the orthodontic appliances!..

We know that one of the least fun aspects of orthodontic treatment is the banned foods list. No more movie popcorn, no more chewing gum, tootsie rolls, crust, nuts, etc. But we don’t just ban these foods to be challenging. These hard and chewy foods pose a serious threat to the complex orthodontic appliances that are in place working to straighten a patient’s smile...

Did you know that orthodontic treatment can overlap with speech pathology? Overbites are common causes of lisps and whistling while talking, as are gaps between teeth...

Some of us get our adult teeth on schedule, some early, some late, and some are left to wonder if a tooth or two might have gotten lost somewhere under their gums. When that happens, we call it an impacted tooth - a tooth that is stuck and not able to erupt...

Many strange things lie buried in the history of dental care and hygiene, but we think these five traditions really stand out. (Although we don’t recommend any of them!)..

There is a lot of false information out there about braces and what it’s like to have them. Our Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics team is here to bust our way through a few of the most popular braces myths getting in between people and the properly aligned smiles that they could have!..

The dental career everyone is most familiar with is the private practice dentist, meaning an individual dentist or a partnership working with local patients in their own practice...

Did you know that our teeth are meant to fit together in a specific way? That’s how we chew our food effectively and pronounce our words clearly...

In March we are celebrating women with International Women's Day! We wanted to take this opportunity to increase awareness about some oral health concerns facing women...

Many adults assume that they missed their shot at straight teeth by not getting orthodontic treatment in their teens, but that is just a myth! We’re about to debunk all the excuses standing in between adults and the beautiful smiles they have always wanted...

At Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics we like to educate our patients and prospective patients about oral health. We would like to increase awareness about one harmful habit: smoking. Smoking is an incredibly unhealthy habit for the entire body, and that includes teeth and gums...

With the holidays upon us, please make sure to add regular nightly retainer wear to your New Year's resolutions list. Your smile and bite will thank you...

What is an underbite? Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics would like to bring attention to this common malocclusion. An underbite is when the lower jaw and teeth sit ahead of the upper jaw and teeth. Prolonged underbite can lead to numerous undesired consequences...

August is National Wellness Month and Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics is celebrating! We would like to promote awareness about a common malocclusion: deep bite. A deep bite is a variation from a desired bite in which the upper front teeth excessively overlap the bottom front teeth when back teeth are together. While a deep bite may or may not be an aesthetic concern, it is usually accompanied by other functional considerations...

Did you know that bananas are good for your teeth?! Bananas are rich in fiber, vitamin C and B6. Bananas are also full of minerals (such as potassium, magnesium and manganese) - which help strengthen dental enamel. In addition, the pH of bananas is about 5..

Did you know that 'tongue thrust' is a dysfunctional muscle pattern and constitutes a myofunctional disorder? Tongue thrust is defined as tongue protruding anteriorly or laterally when swallowing, during speech and when tongue is resting. The tongue should normally move upward against the roof of the mouth to form a seal so swallowing can occur. With a tongue thrust, the tongue moved between upper and lower front teeth. Over time this muscle pattern can lead to a narrow and V-shaped upper arch, cause the front teeth to tilt forward too much, and can contribute to the development of an open bite...

At Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics, our team frequently gets asked the questions regarding financial options for orthodontic treatment. Outside of insurance benefits, we recommend exploring HSA and FSA alternatives. Health Saving Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) are frequently offered by your employer, and allow you to set funds aside for qualifying health care expenses for yourself, your spouse and your dependents...

It’s October and the beautiful fall season is in full swing. Autumn breeze is in the air, picturesque fall color leaves are falling, pumpkin pie and pumpkin spice lattes seem to be everywhere and of course it's Halloween time! For Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics and other orthodontists, October is also a month to recognize their patients' beautiful, healthy smiles in honor of National Orthodontic Health Month. This is a perfect time to review a few helpful orthodontic tips from our office and the AAO to embrace the Halloween season fully...

It's hard to believe that another amazing summer vacation is slipping away. With the school year approaching, our team at Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics wanted to give some pointers for returning back to school with braces or other orthodontic appliances to mitigate the transition. Here are some pointers to keep your orthodontic appliances in great shape and your teeth healthy throughout the academic year..

At Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics our team frequently gets asked questions about remedies for bad breath. Human mouth is home to hundreds of strains of bacteria. It is believed that half of the bacteria in your mouth can lead to bad breath! ..

If you are contemplating orthodontic treatment, we recommend scheduling a complimentary orthodontic consultation with Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics for a comprehensive discussion about your unique diagnostic findings, orthodontic treatment goals and treatment alternatives...

At Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics we love nothing more than helping our patients improve their smiles in every way! Orthodontic treatment involves much more than just a beautiful smile and straight teeth...

Thumb sucking habit is common in babies and young children. It can have a soothing and comforting effect and kids generally break the habit naturally. However, if the children are still continuing to suck their thumbs by the age 5-6 when permanent teeth are beginning to erupt, there may be reason to be concerned. Prolonged thumb sucking can have lasting negative effects on teeth and overall health...

Since Invisalign is one of the most popular treatment options among our patients, Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics team created a list of helpful tips to facilitate a smooth and effective treatment progression along your 'smile blossoming' journey. We hope this guide will enhance your orthodontic treatment experience!..

February is National Children's Dental Health Month! We wanted to take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of mouthguards in safeguarding children's dental health. Wearing a mouthguard is a preventative, protective measure recommended for all contact sports participants by our Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics team...

At Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics, we frequently receive a lot questions pertaining to timing of orthodontic treatment. As a matter of fact, here is one of the most common question that is routinely asked by patients: "Is this the right time or age for orthodontic treatment?"..

When it comes to preventing the spread of disease, rest assured that at Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics we have always been strict on universal precautions. Precautions have always included the use of masks, glasses, gloves, sterile instruments and devices as well as clean and disinfected environmental surfaces. Additionally, we frequently clean and disinfect the commonly touched surfaces such as door handles, chairs, desks and bathrooms...

October is upon us and amidst the beautiful weather we are excited to celebrate the Orthodontic Health Month at Orchard of Smiles Orthodontics. To honor Orthodontic Health Month, we wanted to pass on some of our practice tips that would support and facilitate good oral hygiene with braces during your orthodontic treatment...

Deciding on the right orthodontist for you or your child is an important decision. Some factors to consider are commitment to clinical excellence, attention to your personalized needs, office environment and culture, comfort and scheduling flexibility. Amidst the factors you may be wondering about the meaning of American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) certification and its relevance...