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It’s vital to understand the difference between an orthodontic emergency and minor orthodontic issues. Minor issues can be handled the next day, or at your next scheduled appointment. When a real orthodontic emergency occurs, however, you will need to see a doctor immediately.

Emergencies can include injuries to your teeth, jaw, mouth, or face. Whether you have braces or oral appliances in your mouth at the time or not, it’s crucial to fix the problem before it gets worse. If you have an injury that affects an orthodontic appliance, that may need to be replaced or adjusted, depending on the extent of the injury.

You can watch for and address some common minor issues on your own, or wait to have them fixed at your next appointment with Dr. Christopher West:

• Poking wire
• Loose bracket
• Loose elastic band
• Loose wire
• Loose appliance
• Headgear does not fit
• Lost or broken elastic band
• General soreness

These minor issues may arise if you eat hard or sticky foods that damage your braces or other orthodontic appliances. Make sure to be extra careful, and avoid brushing your teeth too aggressively to avoid causing damage.

These problems should not be treated as emergencies unless they begin to cause prolonged pain and discomfort. If you notice this happening, contact our Jupiter, FL office and we can provide a solution.

Some at-home remedies you can try can include covering loose brackets or wires with wax. Wax can prevent canker sores from forming by covering sharp metal pieces that poke into your gums. If you have wires that have poked out into your gums, you can use tweezers to push the wires gently away from the direction of the sore area. Always make sure you use alcohol to sterilize anything you intend to put into your mouth.

When you get braces initially, you may notice some soreness of the jaw or small abrasions from your mouth getting accustomed to foreign materials. You should not worry too much about this temporary pain.

A warm salt-water solution can be used to alleviate any swelling or discomfort you’re experiencing. Many drug stores have ointment for canker sores that will numb the area if they continue to bother you. If you notice that your pain or swelling doesn’t get better, schedule an appointment with a medical professional as soon as you can.

When in doubt, contact our Jupiter, FL office if you are unsure or still have questions about an orthodontic problem you’re facing. If the situation becomes an emergency, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with our team, so we can help provide you with a solution.

Orthodontic emergencies should be taken care of promptly whenever they arise.

Summer is such an exciting time around here in Jupiter. The warm weather and long days mean we get to have much more time to do what we love! One thing that everyone loves to do is travel. It is so important to travel as a way to clear our minds from the everyday-hustle of work and responsibilities. 

Our Head Orthodontic Assistant, Natalie, is a huge fan of traveling! She loves being able to explore, see new places, and capture the natural beauty with her camera. Her favorite summer vacation was going to Marrakesh, Morocco to visit her family, while the farthest she’s ever traveled was to Madrid, Spain. She’d love to explore as much as she can, though! The top of her travel bucket list consists of Fiji, Greece, and Italy. All beautiful places!

Natalie loves being able to create memories with her family in new places. During one adventure in Morocco at Essaouira Beach, her son lost his flip flop in the water, and a fisherman had to help fish it out. No one could stop laughing! When she isn’t exploring foreign beaches and experiencing the culture, she can be seen reading a good book in the beautiful locales.

Do you have any favorite summer trips or any upcoming adventures planned? Be sure to let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page! Additionally, we have a great contest running in the office today! At our office, we have a mason jar with M&Ms in it. If you correctly guess how many M&Ms are in there, you can win a pair of Apple AirPods, so be sure to check that out at your next appointment. We can’t wait to see you soon!

The dog days of summer are upon us, and what better time for Dr. Christopher West and our team to ask our patients about their summer!

Whether you visited our nation’s capital, went on a camping trip, or just stayed in Jupiter, FL and relaxed, we want to know how you’re all spending your summer! Please feel free to share your summer plans and experiences with us below or on our Facebook page as summer rolls on!

If you’re wearing braces, then you know they are working hard to straighten your teeth. However, those hard-working braces are also preventing you from easily cleaning your teeth. It is essential that you put some extra attention into preventing tooth decay while wearing your braces. When your braces are finally removed by Dr. Christopher West, you want a beautiful, white smile, not decayed or stained teeth. Here, we’ve listed the five best ways to ensure you have the smile you’ve always dreamed of once your braces are gone.

Use a Special Toothbrush

A regular toothbrush just doesn’t cut it when you are wearing braces. You also need to use an interdental toothbrush so that you can effectively clean behind the braces. This type of brush has bristles that are shaped like a Christmas tree that can remove food residue in the braces and on the teeth. We also recommend using a WaterPik, with its highly pressurized pulsating water, to help get all of those hard-to-reach places.

Brush after Every Meal

Since braces block food from naturally escaping your teeth after eating, it’s important that you take the time to brush and floss after every meal. The less time food has to sit on your teeth, the less likely it is to cause decay. This may seem like an inconvenience, but trust us, when you get your braces off, you will be very glad you brushed after every meal.

Don't Forget the Mouth Rinse

Even after properly brushing and flossing, there are probably some food particles in your braces. A fluoride mouth rinse is the best way to ensure that every bit of food is removed after meals. If you do not have a mouth rinse available, we suggest using water — it’s better than nothing.

Avoid Sweets

Prevention is definitely the best medicine when it comes to avoiding tooth decay. If you can nix decay-causing sugary foods from the outset, we promise you’ll spend less time trying to treat problems in the future.

Get Regular Checkups

Visit your dentist regularly while you are wearing braces. Our office recommends a thorough cleaning every three to six months. Let our Jupiter, FL office know if you have questions about your oral health while in braces - our entire team at Family Orthodontics in Jupiter, FL is here to make sure your teeth are as beautifully straight as they are healthy!