How Long After My Braces Come Off Should I Wear My Retainer?

Braces are an investment in your smile. When your teeth reach a desired straightness, you’ll have a beautiful smile, but it’s important to keep it that way! You can accomplish this with a retainer.

A retainer is a small, custom-fit device that reinforces the new position of your teeth after your braces are removed. But for many patients, especially the youngest ones, wearing a retainer may seem like an annoyance. So exactly how long after your braces come off should you wear your retainer?

Graduation of Wear Time

When we remove your braces, we will evaluate the condition of the bone structure surrounding your teeth and determine how well it is adjusting to the new position of your teeth. For the first few months, we may require you to wear your retainer both day and night, except during meal times and for brushing and flossing.

As the bone and gum tissues adjust to your new smile, we may determine that you need to wear your retainer only at night. After about one year of wearing the retainer every night, you may be able to take a couple of nights off each week.

However, we do not recommend ever stopping permanently. To best secure the position of the teeth, especially through future extractions and oral health changes, wearing your retainer a few nights a week will be necessary for many years.

Considerations

If you are concerned about your appearance when you wear a retainer, there are many that can be worn discreetly. You could choose a clear plastic one that is less obvious during the months immediately following removal of your braces. When you change to night wear only, clear wire retainers are available for minimal visibility as well.

Another option is a lingual retainer. It is placed on the back sides of your teeth so no one will ever know it is there! Lingual retainers are also permanent, so there’s no risk of losing them.

Remember, wearing your retainer is an investment in your smile. If you fail to wear it consistently, the tissues that support your teeth will be unsupported, and you may begin to experience noticeable shifting. You’ve worked hard to get that beautiful smile — your retainer will let you keep it!

Besides Straight Teeth, What are the Benefits of Braces?

Everyone wants a naturally aligned and beautiful smile, and it is no secret that orthodontic braces can help deliver one. However, there are greater benefits to wearing braces than just having straight teeth. You’ll gain many oral health benefits in addition to the cosmetic ones.

Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
Crooked or crowded teeth may overlap each other and create tight spaces in between. These can make it very difficult to brush and floss effectively, allowing bacteria and plaque to build up, and eventually leading to tooth decay and gum disease. With orthodontic treatment, your teeth will become properly aligned and spaced, which allows for more effective brushing.

Difficulties with Speech
Your teeth play an essential role in speech. When they are out of line or lean too far forward or backward, this can affect your speaking patterns, and possibly cause embarrassment and frustration. Braces can readjust the positioning of the teeth to allow for clearer, more professional speech.

Bone Erosion
Bone and gum tissues begin to erode when there are no teeth to support. This is also true for poorly aligned teeth that leave gaps and spaces or place too much pressure on the jawbone due to a bad bite. With braces, the bones and tissues are less likely to erode and can continue to support the teeth in their new alignment.

Digestion
Your teeth play an important role in digestion. Before food ever enters your stomach, it has been partially digested by the teeth. If teeth are severely out of line, however, they may not play their role in breaking down food as effectively as they should. With braces, your teeth will be straightened into optimal alignment for eating and chewing.

Rubber Band Horoscopes: What Your Color Says About You

One exciting part about wearing braces is getting to choose the colors of your rubber bands. Orthodontists place elastic bands, or ligatures, over each bracket to secure the archwire in place. These rubber bands may be individual or connected, depending on your mouth’s needs. You have the option of choosing the color of your elastics, which are changed about once every month at every visit. Our offices keep a color wheel handy to help you choose which ones suit you best!

Children and teens often enjoy picking different colors each month to express their creativity and coordinate their braces with outfits. Decorating your mouth with your favorite colors is fun for kids and takes some of the stress out of wearing braces. Adults who wish for subtlety have color options that blend in with the metal brackets and archwire. Common choices for adults include silver, clear, and gray tones.
Common Color Combinations for Rubber Bands

With individual ligatures for each bracket, you may choose different color combinations for special events. You can have alternating colors or place an entire rainbow over your teeth. Here are a few options to consider:

• School spirit colors
• Favorite sports team colors
• Patriotic colors
• Holiday themes

Some patients choose only one color to match their mood, personality, or favorite outfits. The palette of choices allows you to make bold statements with your braces or go for subtler tones that blend in with the metal structures. Keep in mind that bright colors make your teeth look whiter, while lighter shades, such as yellow and white, may cause your teeth to appear less bright.

What Your Rubber Band Color Says About You

• Red tones indicate that you are ready for action and take charge of your life with aggressive, forward-thinking steps.
• Blue tones are calm and relaxing. You are conservative and exhibit integrity when dealing with situations.
• Green tones represent growth and balance. You are level-headed and look for opportunities to grow emotionally and spiritually.
• Purple tones attract creative energies. You like to have fun and use your imagination in every aspect of your life.
• Orange tones indicate that you are optimistic and thrive in social situations where communication is open.
• Pink is a romantic color that represents a caring personality. You also enjoy having fun with silly games and endless laughter.

Permanent or Removable Retainers: Which is Right for You?

When the time to remove your braces finally arrives, it is very exciting. Unfortunately, it can be somewhat confusing, too, because you are faced with choosing between two kinds of retainers. Should you go with permanent, removable, or a combination of the two? It is always wise to follow your dentist’s recommendations, but knowing more about the two types of retainer beforehand can be helpful.

Removable Retainers

Removable retainers offer the advantage of easy use: you will generally put a removable retainer in at night and take it out in the morning. Regardless of your retainer schedule, you'll be able to enjoy some time with no retainer. However, a removable retainer can easily be forgotten at times, and this means you won't be taking full advantage of teeth retention.

Another potential advantage of a removable retainer is that you can take it out and brush and floss your teeth with ease, which is more of a challenge with a permanent retainer. Although removable retainers can be very effective, they don't tend to be as effective as permanent retainers, especially if they are not used as directed.

Permanent Retainers

Permanent retainers are the clear choice for patients who want to “get it and forget it.” Once your permanent retainer is placed in your mouth, you won’t need to worry about daily retainer schedules, since it is permanently affixed to your teeth.

Because teeth begin to shift naturally as we age, a permanent retainer typically offers better long-term results for teeth straightening than a removable one. You can't forget to put it in — it's already there! Temporary retainers get lost or are forgotten on trips, and often fail to get used as often as they should be.

One drawback to permanent retainers is flossing. Some patients find it more difficult to floss with a permanent retainer, but we can show you effective ways to floss fairly quickly with your permanent retainer.

Some orthodontists may recommend a combination of the two; for example, a removable retainer for the top teeth and a permanent one for the lower ones because the lower teeth are smaller and tend to shift more.

Ultimately, the most important thing to remember is that wearing your retainer as directed is extremely important. As long as you follow our orthodontist’s advice, you will get the best results from your retainer, regardless of its type.

October is National Orthodontic Health Month!

Can you believe it's already October? For those who don't know, it’s National Orthodontic Health Month. This month-long event is organized by our pals at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Our team realizes that this is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene. National Orthodontic Health Month also aims to recognize the dedicated work of orthodontists and other dental professionals.

The AAO recommends patients avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Ice

Trick-or-treating safety guidelines:

• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call or ask us on Facebook. Have a fun and safe Halloween!

The benefits of a beautiful smile, from Dr. John White

At Braces by White, we know having an attractive smile puts a spring in your step—or two—as well as increases your self-confidence, no matter if you’re 14 or in your late forties. Smiling not only makes people happy and puts them in a good mood, doing it often can even help you live longer, according to previous studies!

If you’ve been hiding your smile because you have crooked teeth or gaps between your teeth, it’s time to consider orthodontic treatment at Dr. White's office. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn how quickly and efficiently today’s most advanced correction techniques can straighten your smile!

Don’t hide your smile any longer—give us a call today to schedule yours or your child’s complimentary orthodontic consultation. See you soon!

Complimentary Consultations at Braces by White

At Braces by White, our greatest goal is to help you achieve a healthier, happier, more confident smile. We believe in building strong relationships with our patients in order to create a more personal and rewarding orthodontic experience.

One of our commitments is meeting with you to help you explore all or the options available to you or your child. We offer complimentary consultations for those interested in orthodontic treatment. During this time, you'll have time reserved with Dr. John White, who will assess your particular needs as well as discuss treatment options available and answer any questions you may have. We place a high value on making sure you have complete information before beginning treatment.

If you have been thinking about obtaining the dazzling smile you’ve always wanted, we invite you to give us a call. Serving Northfield, Hudson, Cleveland, Akron, Twinsburg, Brecksville and Macedonia, OH, Dr. White is your orthodontic specialist.

See you soon!

Dr. White & team, supporting National Children's Dental Health Month

At the office of Dr. John White, February is National Children's Dental Health Month, as well as National Dental Health Month, and Dr. White thought we’d promote good oral hygiene among our patients with a few tips and tricks, courtesy of the American Dental Association.

• Teeth brushing techniques: It takes only two minutes to properly brush using short, gentle strokes and devoting extra attention to the gumline, areas around fillings and hard-to-reach areas such as the back teeth.

• Flossing: hold the floss snugly between thumbs and index finger and insert it between each of the teeth, making sure to go beneath the gumline and curving the floss around the base of each tooth.

• Snack wisely: choose healthy snacks such as cheese, fruits and vegetables and avoid crunchy, sticky, chewy candies that can stick to the teeth. If you eat these snacks, be sure to brush after doing so.

• Carbonated or sugary drinks: these drinks create acids that can damage the teeth when mixed with saliva, so they should be avoided altogether. If you’re going to drink one of these beverages, don’t sip on it throughout the day. Rather, drink it and then brush your teeth.

• Regular dental visits: in addition to seeing Dr. White at our Hudson or Northfield office during your orthodontic treatment, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months.

National Children's Dental Health Month aims to increase awareness about the importance of our patients' oral health. Specializing in orthodontics for children, teens, and adults - our office is your state-of-the-art, family-friendly orthodontic practice serving Northfield, Hudson, Cleveland, Akron, Twinsburg, Brecksville, and Macedonia, OH.

If you have any questions about keeping your mouth healthy, or about your treatment with Dr. White, please feel free to give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

Dr. White visits Nashville

In case anybody cares about how I spend my "free time." My wife Betsy and I went to Nashville this weekend to the National "Smart Tan" Tanning Convention. We got to meet and have our picture taken with someone "famous" for tanning and other things. (Jwoww from MTV's Jersey Shore).

Have you heard about the Braces by White Patient Rewards Hub?

Here are the few ways you can earn rewards at Dr. White's office:

*Being on time
*Seeing your Dentist regularly
*Referring friends
*Great oral hygiene

And much, much more!

Points can be redeemed for great prizes in our Patient Rewards Hub. Enter your 16-digit membership number or username on the back of your card and your 4 digit temporary password and enter into a world of fun!

For more info, ask us on Facebook, or give Dr. White a call at 330-650-1660! Remember, we serve Northfield, Hudson, Cleveland, Akron, Twinsburg, Brecksville and Macedonia.

Happy Monday!

At Braces by White, October is National Orthodontic Health Month!

For those who don't know, October marks National Orthodontic Health Month. Our friends at the AAO put together a helpful website that provides important information on protecting your braces, including tips for trick-or-treaters, braces-friendly recipes, facts about braces and treats you should avoid while undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Dr. John White and our staff also recommend you check out the AAO’s website. If you have any follow-up questions about keeping your braces in tip-top shape, please feel free to give us a call, ask us on Facebook or ask Dr. White during your visit at our office in Northfield Center or Hudson!

Have a great rest of the week!

September is National Childhood Injury Prevention Month! From Dr. White

This month, Dr. John C. White and our team want you to be extra careful with your braces and appliances. Why? September marks the start of fall sports and an increased risk to mouth injuries. September also happens to be National Childhood Injury Prevention Month, and Dr. White thought it’d be a good idea to share a few sobering facts about sports and facial injuries, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Injuries can happen at any age: More than half of the seven million sports and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by youth between ages 5 and 24. Collision and contact sports have higher injury rates—baseball, soccer, basketball and football account for about 80% of all sports-related emergency room visits for children between 5 and 14 years of age. Despite the risks, many kids are still not wearing mouth guards and facial protection during games and practices.

Mouth guards are not being used: Sixty-seven percent of parents say their child does not wear a mouth guard, yet, 70% say their biggest fear when their child plays is that they will get hurt. And here’s a chilling stat: One out of every four (27 percent) parents say their child has sustained an injury during an organized sport resulting in a trip to the emergency room, according to the AAO.

Not enough support for mouth guards: Of the parents whose children do not wear a mouth guard, 84 percent say it's because the league or coach does not require it, the AAO says.

Hard hits occur in every sport: The average high school baseball pitcher can throw a fast ball between 75-to-85 miles per hour!

We hope this helps you remember to always wear a mouth guard and other forms of protective gear when participating in fall sports! We encourage you to give us a call if you have any questions!

Smile! It's National Smile Week!

With National Smile Week upon us, Dr. White wanted to remind you all to keep smiling during your orthodontic treatment! After all, people with big, happy smiles may actually out-live those who don’t, according to study conducted this year at Wayne State University in Michigan.

Another reason to smile this week is our Apple iPad giveaway, which well host next month! By “Liking” us on Facebook by September 15th, you will be automatically entered for a chance to win an iPad! If you don't win the ultimate giveaway, not to worry! The runner-up will receive a $100 Best Buy gift card, and three third-place winners will each receive a $50 Best Buy gift card.

Ask Dr. White: What makes braces sooooo cool?

Dr. John White will always tell you that braces, are cool, hip and usually pretty fun nowadays. In fact, these were among the findings of a nationwide survey this year of moms whose children are going through or have had orthodontic treatment. New technologies such as Invisalign and SureSmile, advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities—Tom Cruise, Serena Williams and Dakota Fanning, to name a few—sporting stylish braces are making orthodontic treatment more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s kids.

The study, conducted on behalf of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists for February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, found 86 percent of moms reporting that braces are cooler today than when they were children. Sixty-nine percent of moms also said wearing braces makes their children feel cool, and 81 percent reported their children’s experience with orthodontic treatment as either positive or extremely positive.

Has your child visited the orthodontic office of John C. White for a complimentary consultation? If not, please give us a call and let Dr. White help your child begin the journey to a beautiful new smile!

24/7 access to your account at Braces by White!

Did you know that patients at our convenient Northfield and Hudson offices enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website? It's true! You can look up your appointments with Dr. John C. White and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You may sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button at the top of our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Dr. White wants to know: Are you suffering from sleep disorders?

Northfield and Hudson orthodontist Dr. John C. White knows that sleep disorders are fairly common, with approximately 50 to 70 million Americans being affected by some type chronic sleep disorder. Some of these progress to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which can cause loss of sleep among many other health problems. Snoring is one of the most easily identified symptoms of sleep apnea, and as the condition worsens it can lead to airway blockage, which can severely disrupt your sleep patterns.

If you suffer from sleep apnea, each time your breathing stops, the resulting lack of oxygen alerts your brain, which temporarily wakes you up to restart proper breathing. Because the time spent awake is so brief, most people with sleep apnea don't remember it - and many think they are getting a good night's sleep. However, the constant wake-sleep-wake-sleep cycle precludes the deep sleep that refreshes the body, and sufferers are frequently drowsy during the day.

The following symptoms can indicate the presence of sleep apnea. If you notice one or more of these, please give us a call, and we can refer you to a sleep apnea specialist.

* Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
* Loud snoring at night
* Waking up at night short of breath
* Snorting or choking sounds during the night (indicating a restart of breathing)
* Headaches upon waking in the morning
* Falling asleep unintentionally during the day
* Extreme drowsiness throughout the day

Dr. White and team want to know: what's on your reading list this summer?

With summer only weeks away, some of us at Braces by White have been thinking more and more about the importance of summer reading. Sure it’s easier for kids to go play ball or kick back and watch television, but our staff will tell you that reading during the summer is a key step in being prepared for classes in the fall.

Out of ideas for great summer reads? Ask us for suggestions, and our staff (as well as Dr. White) would be happy to provide a few titles. You may also ask a local librarian here in Hudson or Northfield for some ideas or check out various summer reading lists that we came across this week.

Happy reading everyone!

Share your experience at Braces by White with the world!

Specializing in orthodontics for children, teens, and adults - the orthodontic practice of Dr. John White is your state-of-the-art, family-friendly orthodontic practice serving Northfield, Hudson, Twinsburg, Brecksville and Macedonia.

At the orthodontic practice of Dr. John White, our greatest goal is to help you achieve a healthier, happier, more confident smile. We believe in building strong relationships with our patients in order to create a more personal and rewarding orthodontic experience.

Whether you've visited Dr. White for a day, week or even for years, we'd love to hear your feedback about your experience with us! Now with the Internet, it’s even easier to write your thoughts and share them with the world. We'd want to encourage you to write a review of us. It only takes a moment!

You may write a review here.

Thank you, and enjoy the rest of your week!

Dr. White at the AAO Annual Session in D.C.!

At the orthodontic practice of Dr. John White, our greatest goal is to help you achieve a healthier, happier, more confident smile. Dr. White has more than 30 years of experience in orthodontics as a student, teacher, and practitioner. He is a lifelong learner, having spent time as a student, practitioner, and teacher to acquire and share the knowledge, skills, and judgment that directly benefit you, a member of his patient family.

One of the ways Dr. White provides a "complete" orthodontic treatment experience for his patients is by attending important seminars and conferences. One of those important gatherings -- the American Association of Orthodontists' Annual Session in Washington D.C this past weekend -- allows Dr. White to consult with and learn from some of the top orthodontic and dental minds in North America.

The AAO Annual Session is always an educational event that is one of the largest orthodontic conventions in the world - and one that allows Dr. White to stay up-to-date on all the latest technologies and orthodontic treatment options available. This, in turn, allows him to give you, our wonderful patients, the best treatment experience possible.

Besides being a proud member of the AAO, Dr. White is a member of the American Dental Association and the American Board of Orthodontics. If you've got an appointment scheduled with Dr. White soon, he encourages you to ask him about his perspectives on the AAO Annual Session, including what he learned and how continuing education and acquisition of new technology helps him treat you more effectively.

Happy Earth Day, from Dr. John White

Whether lending your helping hand to plant trees or grasses or getting out to volunteer in various projects in Northfield, Hudson, Twinsburg, Brecksville, and Macedonia, today was our opportunity to get involved in making our year-round impact in the community. Dr. White wants to know: Did you make a difference today? Tell us, what Earth Day-related activities did you accomplish? How long have you participated in helping our community and planet?

At the office of Dr. White, we support Earth Day, which marks its 40th anniversary today and is designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for our environment and ecosystem. If you’d like to join the millions of people around the world who are making small but important changes to help sustain our ecosystem, try these helpful environmental tips, courtesy of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Have a great rest of the week and a terrific weekend!