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You’re going to the game! And no matter which sport you follow, there’s so much to enjoy—the best athletes, exciting play, hometown pride—and those delicious concession stands! But if you’re wearing braces, your team spirit might be flagging. Here are a few ideas to help keep your food choices out of foul territory.

You know that you should avoid the foods that can damage braces or stick around your wires and brackets. This means any snacks that are sticky, chewy, hard, or crunchy are benched. So most of the traditional game foods—peanuts, popcorn, nachos, licorice—are just not safe for traditional metal or ceramic braces. Let’s save those for next season.

So what is on the program? You still have many great choices.

• Ice Cream. A favorite that’s easy on your braces (no nuts or caramel, please). If you want a healthier option, try frozen yogurt or a smoothie.
• Hearty Snacks. Pretzels and pizza can be too thick and chewy. Go for the mac and cheese, chili, or deli meats on soft bread. And remember, small bites! Check with us to see if hamburgers and hot dogs are safe for your braces.
• Soft Candies and Cookies. Licorice, caramels, and crunchy cookies are out, but soft chocolate bars and moist, tender cookies are still on the menu.
• Sodas and sports drinks can create a sugary and/or acidic environment which can damage enamel over time. If you do indulge, try to rinse with water ASAP.

Stadium and arena menus contain a lot of starches and sugars, which stick to braces and fuel cavity-causing bacteria. So it’s best to go easy on the snacks. But you don’t have to give up a half-time treat entirely—just enjoy in moderation and be sure to brush thoroughly when you get home.

If you wear clear aligners, your choices are simpler. You can remove your aligners, eat normally, and clean your teeth thoroughly before replacing them. But one flag on this play—remember that you’re supposed to wear your aligners for a set number of hours each day. You don’t want to be putting your treatment behind schedule if the game goes into triple overtime. Keep your eye on the clock, and you should be fine.

Dr. Christopher West and our Jupiter, FL team are always happy to recommend the best food options for your individual orthodontic treatment, and we can help you select a roster of safe and healthy choices. You might miss out on a few of your favorite sports snacks right now, but let’s remember the true fan’s motto: There’s always next year! Taking care of your braces and teeth means faster treatment and healthier teeth. Your All-Star smile will be worth it!

Patients who want corrective braces but don’t like the look of traditional braces with the metal showing on the front have an alternative in lingual braces. As opposed to metal braces visible across the front of the teeth, lingual braces are placed on the rear of the teeth. Most of the metal in lingual braces is not visible to other people, unless you have widely-spaced teeth. For those who make good candidates for lingual braces, Dr. Christopher West and our team at Family Orthodontics in Jupiter, FL will tell you it is a great alternative with a significant cosmetic benefit.

Benefits of lingual braces

The primary benefit of lingual braces is that the metal is on the back of the teeth, which is very rarely seen by anyone. Patients can comfortably talk and smile, without the added worry of someone noticing the metal braces on their teeth. Another advantage of lingual braces is that they are just as effective as traditional braces and are worn for the same amount of time. They are also helpful for people who play contact sports or play wind instruments because lingual braces don’t get in the way. Finally, lingual braces are a great option for patients who have are sensitive to plastic and can’t wear other types of clear or invisible braces.

Who can get lingual braces?

While many patients qualify for lingual braces, not everyone who needs corrective orthodontic treatment will be a good candidate. The best candidates are teenagers and adults with normal-sized teeth. Children who get braces often have smaller teeth, so lingual braces may not be suitable. A patient’s bite also makes a difference, because a deep vertical overbite makes lingual braces difficult to place.

Talk to Dr. Christopher West the possibility of lingual braces if you’re thinking about correcting your smile but don’t like the idea of metal braces worn on the front. Lingual braces have the same basic benefits of straightening teeth, correcting misalignments, and fixing overbites and underbites that regular braces offer, but are a great aesthetic alternative.

For more information about lingual braces, or to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Christopher West, please give us a call at our convenient Jupiter, FL office!

These days, fewer and fewer braces show up in school yearbook photos. Invisalign clear aligners have become a popular choice for our adolescent patients because it enables them to display metal-free smiles while straightening their teeth!  

Dr. Christopher West can help you determine whether Invisalign treatment is right for you, but below are a few reasons why so many teens are choosing it today.

More Free Time

Invisalign Teen aligners require fewer appointments, which is pretty important to teens who value their free time. Invisalign treatment gives you straight teeth without having to miss activities or skip hanging out with your friends. It’s a win-win!

Eat, Brush, and Floss Easily

Traditional braces can make eating, brushing, and flossing both difficult and tedious. Invisalign aligners are easily removable for all these important activities, and give you freedom to live your life as usual.

Metal-Free Braces

Possibly the best perk of Invisalign aligners is that you can’t see them! The Invisalign system uses a clear plastic device that fits directly over the teeth. This means no metal parts to mar the appearance of your smile, so your Invisalign aligners will straighten while allowing your pearly whites to shine through. People don’t even have to know you’re straightening your teeth with Invisalign aligners.

To learn more about Invisalign Teen treatment, feel free to reach out to our Jupiter, FL office!

Happy June from Family Orthodontics of Jupiter! Our office has officially reopened for business as of Monday, May 11th, 2020. Our team is ready to see you. Call our office today to schedule your next appointment.

There are a few things we ask you to be aware of before your next appointment with us. All patients are required to wear a mask, or any sort of face covering, before entering the office. Patients will also be asked to fill out paperwork, ensuring that they have not been in contact or been put at risk to contract COVID-19. Any patients under the age of 18 are asked to come to the office with a parent, or guardian, that will be responsible for filling out the paperwork. This ensures that the health and safety of our patients and staff will not be put at risk during these unprecedented times.

Please note we allow only two patients (including themselves) and/or guardians when entering the office. Before coming to the back, one of our staff will measure the temperature of the patient, and any accompanying guardian, for health and safety purposes. When they are seated in the operatory, they will notice chairs are now separated using Plexiglass in order to minimize any contact. Also, anything that is touched by a patient will be immediately disinfected to further ensure sanitation and safety.

Since Family Orthodontics has reopened, our procedures and visits have run very smoothly and quickly. The health of our patients and staff is our top priority, and we are very grateful for the cooperation we have received from all of our patients.

Did you know it is National Smile Month? We hope patients are still striving to take care of their smiles every day! To begin, we recommend every patient brushes for two minutes and floss at least twice a day, as well as after every meal. It is important to maintain clean brackets and appliances in order to ensure healthy teeth and gums.
The foods that you eat also play a vital role in maintaining a healthy smile before, during, and after treatment! We recommend foods such as fruits and vegetables, which are high in fiber and will prevent the increase of acidity in the mouth, due to the increased saliva concentration. We also recommend any protein and phosphorus-rich foods, which acts as protection for the enamel on our teeth!

When in the office, patients will be reminded regularly to brush and floss their teeth. If any patient is in need of any appliances that are used for brushing or flossing, we will be happy to supply them with the appropriate tools. We also have signs around the office that remind patients to visit their dentist on a regular basis.

We would like to thank all of our patients and staff for being so cooperative and supportive while we are making these necessary changes and improvements to our office and visits. We understand how difficult and nerve-racking it may be to visit any medical or dental offices during this time, but we are doing everything possible to ensure the health and safety of our patients and staff at all times. We are willing to cooperate with any patient needs and wants, as we would like to ensure your comfort, safety, and health are our top priority. We hope to see you soon!