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Our team at Family Orthodontics is looking forward to everything this month has to offer. If you visit our office this month you’ll no doubt notice our colorful Easter decor. While eating chocolate and sweet and sour jelly beans is exciting, for us Easter means Sunday service at church. It’s a time to reflect and spend with our families and loved ones to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

In addition to Easter, Earth Day is also coming up! We believe in celebrating Earth Day every day. We like to do it by recycling the water bottles that we provide for our patients. It’s so important to spread awareness to conserve our environment and, really, our future. Some small changes you can start doing besides recycling is buying recycled products or products that can easily be washed and reused. Our biggest goal for this month is to continue spreading the word in our community about seeing every day as Earth Day.

We’re also excited to cheer on our local baseball team, the Jupiter Hammerheads this season! What a name, right? We’re part of the Fins and Feathers Club at Roger Dean Stadium and can’t wait to enjoy some games with friends and family in the beautiful spring weather. We’ll definitely be enjoying walks on the beach this month, too.

We hope you’re all having a lovely April and that you’re making the most of this month!

Our team at Family Orthodontics in Jupiter, FL knows that there are many ways you can protect your pearly whites throughout your orthodontic treatment. If you follow the rules and brush your teeth twice a day, floss often, and protect your appliances from damage, you should have a successful treatment.

But did you know there’s another way to keep your teeth sparkling and healthy during your time wearing braces?

Fluoride, the mineral that helps you prevent cavities and tooth decay, can also help keep your teeth strong. Fluoride comes in two varieties: topical and systemic. Depending on your oral health or the recommendation of Dr. Christopher West, you may be required to have a fluoride treatment every three, six, or 12 months. We may also prescribe a fluoride product such as a mouthwash, gel, or antibacterial rinse for at-home treatment to keep your teeth happy in between visits.

If you have any other questions about fluoride or your treatment, please don’t hesitate to give us a call!

According to the American Association of Orthodontists, orthodontic treatment for children should start at around age seven. Dr. Christopher West can evaluate your child’s orthodontic needs early on to see if orthodontic treatment is recommended for your son or daughter.

Below, we answer common questions parents may have about the benefits of early childhood orthodontics.

What does early orthodontic treatment mean?

Early orthodontic treatment usually begins when a child is eight or nine years old. Typically known as Phase One, the goal here is to correct bite problems such as an underbite, as well as guide the jaw’s growth pattern. This phase also helps make room in the mouth for teeth to grow properly, with the aim of preventing teeth crowding and extractions later on.

Does your child need early orthodontic treatment?

The characteristics and behavior below can help determine whether your little one needs early treatment.

• Early loss of baby teeth (before age five)
• Late loss of baby teeth (after age five or six)
• The child’s teeth do not meet properly or at all
• The child is a mouth breather
• Front teeth are crowded (you won’t see this until the child is about seven or eight)
• Protruding teeth, typically in the front
• Biting or chewing difficulties
• A speech impediment
• The jaw shifts when the child opens or closes the mouth
• The child is older than five years and still sucks a thumb

What are the benefits of seeking orthodontic treatment early?

Jaw bones do not harden until children reach their late teens. Because children’s bones are still pliable, corrective procedures such as braces are easier and often faster than they would be for adults.

Early treatment at our Jupiter, FL office can enable your child to avoid lengthy procedures, extraction, and surgery in adulthood. Talk with Dr. Christopher West today to see if your child should receive early orthodontic treatment.

Once you get your braces off, you want to make sure your smile remains straight! This is where retainers come in.

Once your braces come off, you’ll be fitted for a retainer provided by Dr. Christopher West to keep those teeth in place. A retainer is a custom-fit device that sits in the mouth and reinforces the new position of your teeth. Wearing it may be annoying at first, but it’s an essential part of the process of keeping your teeth in place over the long term.

For the first few months after your braces are gone, Dr. Christopher West will tell you to wear your custom retainers all the time, except when you’re eating, drinking, or brushing. You have the option of having a clear plastic retainer made if you’re concerned about your appearance.

Eventually, we will recommend that you only have to wear the retainer during each night for a full year. After that, you may take a couple nights off from wearing them each week. In order to preserve the position of your teeth for as long as possible, we don’t recommend that you ever fully stop wearing your retainers.

If you’re concerned about forgetting to wear your retainer, and worried that your teeth may shift, a lingual retainer could be a good option for you. This gets placed on the back of your teeth and is not readily visible.

These retainers are permanent, but they could cause issues for you down the road if you don’t maintain good oral hygiene. Plaque and tartar can build up around these lingual bars, which is why we don’t usually recommend this as a primary choice.

Wearing your retainer is extremely vital after your braces come off. Without your retainer to keep them in place, the teeth you’ve taken so long to fix may begin to shift again. Getting braces is quite an investment, which is why you should keep wearing your retainer long after the braces have come off.

If you have questions or concerns regarding your retainers, contact our Jupiter, FL office and we can address any problems you may have.