Every year, the entire Get It Straight Team is  proactive in educating parents and patients of the potential problems that can occur if orthodontic patients don’t watch what they eat during this fun time of year.

October is National Orthodontic Health Month. We support the American Association of Orthodontics in their efforts to make patients aware of foods they need to avoid, especially with Halloween goodies.

Watch this video Sponsored by the American Association of Orthodontics Offering Halloween Brace Tips

Dont worry… you still can have a few treats, just orthodontic friendly treats. Click here to download a Do’s and Don’ts Treat List offered by the AAO. As a reminder, print it off and post in on your refrigerator for all to see.

Follow the list and save  a few candies you can eat and give away the treats that will harm your braces.  A few sweets can be OK occasionally, whether wearing braces or not, as long as you brush and floss after eating.

The team at [practice name] wants everyone to enjoy the holiday. However, we also want you to protect the investment you and your family has made in helping us create a beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime.

Click here to find Brace Friendly Recipes offered by the AAO.

Click Here for Tips for Trick – or -Treaters.

Fortunately, most problems with your braces don't qualify as true emergencies. Let's talk about a few things you can do while you are away to avoid the inconvenience and expense of trying to find an orthodontist in an unfamiliar area. Here are some helpful hints on what to do if you have a problem with your braces.

Take a mini emergency kit with you – Include orthodontic wax, nail clippers or small pair of wire cutters, tweezers, a pencil with an eraser, and our phone number if you need guidance.

Watch this general information video on how to handle the most common orthodontic emergencies before you leave so you aren’t scrambling for help and unprepared. 

1. Irritation of your lips or cheeks – apply wax to the area causing the irritation. Follow the instructions on the package. If you don’t have wax or run out, sugarless gum works well. If any sores develop, go to a local drug store and buy topical anesthetics like Orabase or Orajel to temporarily numb the area till you return and we can fix the problem.

2. Poking or protruding wire – Occasionally, the arch wire extends in the back or may come right out of the bracket when chewing gum, hard candy, and sticky foods. Use a pencil eraser or something soft to push the wire flat against your teeth. Add wax or sugarless gum to the end of the wire if needed to prevent irritation. If the main wire breaks, you can clip the wire with a pair of nail clippers, flush to the next anchored bracket – just remember to disinfect the clippers or wire cutters first with rubbing alcohol, if handy, or use the flame on a lighter to kill the germs. Once the wire is clipped, make sure to avoid swallowing the clipped piece of wire.

3. Loose band- If a band around one of your back teeth comes loose, don’t worry about it unless it is causing problems while your eat. Worst-case scenario, clip the main wire with nail clippers flush to the next bracket and remove the loose band. Apply wax or sugarless gum if needed to avoid irritation from the cut wire. We can repair when you return.

4. Loose bracket – Hard foods are the main cause of loose brackets. During the summer, we all tend to be more lax with our normal routines. However, out of town is not the time to take a chance breaking a bracket by not following the restricted diet. If a bracket does come loose from a tooth, remove the bracket with a pair of disinfected tweezers if you can and continue on your merry way. Don’t forget to contact us when you return so we can schedule an appt to replace the bracket. It is difficult to repair an emergency during your regular regular appointment when there isn't sufficient time scheduled to repair.

5. Loose ligature wire or elastic – If a small elastic ligature (the piece that attaches the archwire to the bracket) comes partially or all the way off your braces, use a pair of disinfected tweezers to put it back into place. If a ligature is lost, don’t worry about it. Call us when you return.

True emergencies
If you experience a true emergency where you are so uncomfortable you can’t wait till you get back, contact the local dental society for an orthodontist recommendation. You can also search on your cell phone for an orthodontist nearest you. Most orthodontists provide and emergency contact number when out of the office and will help an out of town patient with a problem they cannot easily attend to on their own. A local emergency room is always a last resort.

Also, don’t hesitate to give us a call to ask us for guidance if you don’t know what to do. Our goal is to provide you with a terrific smile, and – just as important – to be sure you are comfortable and safe throughout the course of your treatment, even when you are away.

Do you have any unusual out of town orthodontic emergencies you would like to share with us? Leave a comment below.

The Kings Firecrackers are an amazing performance jump rope team from the Kings Local School District in Ohio and was rated the #1 halftime touring team in 2009. The team is made up of talented 4th-8th graders and their foot work, skill and cardio-conditioning will take your breath away! They perform at venues across the country under the coaching of Lynn Kelley.You will not be surprised to learn that they have graced performances such as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a Presidential Inauguration and an appearance on The David Letterman Show.

We are constantly amazed everyday with the kids in our practice here in our three locations in Pittsford, Macedon, and our soon to be new location in Rochester, NY. The Kings Firecrackers are a great example of what can happen with dedicated hard work, a fun environment, and inspirational coaching. Go KINGS!

Let us know what you think about this amazing young team and their accomplishments. Leave a comment below. Would love to hear from you!

Enjoy this poem that extends our warmest wishes for the coming new year in 2010.

In order to become an orthodontist, just like your dentist, an orthodontist goes to dental school. After dental school however, the orthodontists at Get It Straight continued their dental education by attending an orthodontic graduate program, for a few more years, to become experts in orthodontic treatment using many different types of braces

Below is a video put out by the American Association of Orthodontics discussing the importance of choosing an orthodontist to improve your smile.

Unlike your general dentist who takes care of your overall dental health by cleaning your teeth, removing decay, and rebuilding broken down or discolored teeth with crowns and veneers, at Get It Straight… all we do is create beautiful smiles every day with braces.

We have chosen to limit our practice to what we do best, straightening teeth and correcting jaw problems due to heredity, bad habits such as thumb sucking, and abnormal growth of the jaw. This is why we send our patients back to their general dentist for routine cleanings and checkups every six months, instead of doing it ourselves.

Other dental specialties you may know about are:

• Endodontist: dentist who only treats the soft tissue inside your teeth that may no longer be healthy and causing tooth discomfort
• Periodontist: dentist who only takes care of the gums and other tissues surrounding your teeth
• Pedodontist: dentist who works only with children
• Oral Surgeon: dentist who only removes teeth and other surgical procedures involving the teeth, mouth, and jaws

Be rest assured, at Get It Straight you and your family will receive the best possible orthodontic care available today in Pittsford NY and the greater Rochester NY area.

In the meantime, we thought we would give moms some early ideas on what sweets they can make for kids wearing braces so they don't feel left out.  This video was put out by the Food Network and the American Association of Orthodontics. For those who like to get an early jump on things, we are posting early…  See what kids of all ages can eat without destroying their orthodontic appliances before and after Halloween.

There is a great video one of our staff found on YouTube.  We feel it is very thought provoking and well worth sharing with you in our first blog post. At Get It Straight Orthodontics we work very hard  to keep up with the latest changes every day, not only in orthodontic treatment and technology, but with the interaction we have with our patients and the community. We embrace change! It's what life and growth is all about.

Our world is changing at lightning speed and this video shows us where the world is right now.  It is an exciting age we live in.  If we are here today, were will be one, two, or even ten years down the road.

So, with that being said… this video has been viewed by almost two million people and highlights where the world is at right now. Enjoy!  Leave a comment and let us know what you think about our changing world. 

Did You Know? – The most amazing home videos are here