Molen Orthodontics Blog

Having good oral hygiene is important for everyone, and it’s especially vital when you have braces. Keeping your teeth and gums clean during your orthodontic treatment is extremely important because improper care and hygiene could lead to prolonged treatment and require more visits. Poor brushing can result in unattractive white spots, and even gum disease or tooth decay. When your braces come off, you want to be able to enjoy your new beautiful, dazzling smile – not deal with tooth decay!

We know that when kids get braces, they sometimes have a hard time adjusting to their new diet, which excludes anything chewy, sticky, hard and crunchy. It can also be challenging for parents to come up with a variety of braces-friendly dinner ideas that kids will love. Sometimes people end up making the same few dishes over and over, and kids get bored of them quickly. To help you avoid getting stuck in the mac & cheese rut, we’ve gathered a few delicious and healthy dinner recipes that will help your child forget about what they’re missing out on!

With kids heading back to school soon (and some already started), it’s time to get back into the routine of packing lunches. Picky eaters can make lunch-packing a challenge, but add some orthodontic braces to the mix and it can make things even more challenging! But don’t worry – we’re here to help. Keep reading for tips and braces-friendly lunch ideas to help make lunch-packing a breeze!

The hashtag #GrowingUpWithBraces was recently trending on social media, with users lamenting about their memories of having to wear braces as a kid. But despite the jokes about the struggle of having to wear bands and dealing with the pain of having them tightened, most people who have had braces as a kid are thankful they did. They know that a straight, beautiful smile is worth it!

Celebrities get paid to flash their gorgeous pearly whites on the red carpet, but many of them weren’t born with perfect smiles. Yup, even glamorous celebrities aren’t immune to crooked, misaligned teeth! In order to achieve those dazzling, megawatt smiles, many celebrities have had a little help with orthodontic treatment.

With the 4th of July coming up, many of us will have a long weekend of celebration with sunshine, fireworks and barbecues! The nice, hot weather promises lots of picnics and BBQs all summer long, but eating at these events can be tricky for anyone wearing braces. Some BBQ food staples can potentially damage braces, while other foods can make cleaning your braces quite difficult. It’s important for those with braces to keep in mind the foods that are OK to eat and the foods you should avoid (or eat with care) when going to a BBQ.

At Molen Orthodontics, we sometimes hear adults say things like:

The benefits of braces are wide-ranging, from health benefits (which we discussed in a post published a couple of weeks ago) to cosmetic benefits and improvement in self-esteem. Gaining confidence and improving self-esteem is one of the main reasons why people seek orthodontic treatment.

When it comes to orthodontics, a common misconception is that braces do all the work. But the reality is that it’s actually the doctor who does the work, and the braces are considered a tool used by the doctor to achieve the desired results. Many people do not realize that there is quite a bit of artistry that goes into designing a beautiful smile! Of course, each doctor is different and their level of expertise and artistry can impact a patient’s end results. That’s why it’s so important to choose the best orthodontist you can find.