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Summer is such an exciting time around here in Jupiter. The warm weather and long days mean we get to have much more time to do what we love! One thing that everyone loves to do is travel. It is so important to travel as a way to clear our minds from the everyday-hustle of work and responsibilities. 

Our Head Orthodontic Assistant, Natalie, is a huge fan of traveling! She loves being able to explore, see new places, and capture the natural beauty with her camera. Her favorite summer vacation was going to Marrakesh, Morocco to visit her family, while the farthest she’s ever traveled was to Madrid, Spain. She’d love to explore as much as she can, though! The top of her travel bucket list consists of Fiji, Greece, and Italy. All beautiful places!

Natalie loves being able to create memories with her family in new places. During one adventure in Morocco at Essaouira Beach, her son lost his flip flop in the water, and a fisherman had to help fish it out. No one could stop laughing! When she isn’t exploring foreign beaches and experiencing the culture, she can be seen reading a good book in the beautiful locales.

Do you have any favorite summer trips or any upcoming adventures planned? Be sure to let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page! Additionally, we have a great contest running in the office today! At our office, we have a mason jar with M&Ms in it. If you correctly guess how many M&Ms are in there, you can win a pair of Apple AirPods, so be sure to check that out at your next appointment. We can’t wait to see you soon!

The dog days of summer are upon us, and what better time for Dr. Christopher West and our team to ask our patients about their summer!

Whether you visited our nation’s capital, went on a camping trip, or just stayed in Jupiter, FL and relaxed, we want to know how you’re all spending your summer! Please feel free to share your summer plans and experiences with us below or on our Facebook page as summer rolls on!

If you’re wearing braces, then you know they are working hard to straighten your teeth. However, those hard-working braces are also preventing you from easily cleaning your teeth. It is essential that you put some extra attention into preventing tooth decay while wearing your braces. When your braces are finally removed by Dr. Christopher West, you want a beautiful, white smile, not decayed or stained teeth. Here, we’ve listed the five best ways to ensure you have the smile you’ve always dreamed of once your braces are gone.

Use a Special Toothbrush

A regular toothbrush just doesn’t cut it when you are wearing braces. You also need to use an interdental toothbrush so that you can effectively clean behind the braces. This type of brush has bristles that are shaped like a Christmas tree that can remove food residue in the braces and on the teeth. We also recommend using a WaterPik, with its highly pressurized pulsating water, to help get all of those hard-to-reach places.

Brush after Every Meal

Since braces block food from naturally escaping your teeth after eating, it’s important that you take the time to brush and floss after every meal. The less time food has to sit on your teeth, the less likely it is to cause decay. This may seem like an inconvenience, but trust us, when you get your braces off, you will be very glad you brushed after every meal.

Don't Forget the Mouth Rinse

Even after properly brushing and flossing, there are probably some food particles in your braces. A fluoride mouth rinse is the best way to ensure that every bit of food is removed after meals. If you do not have a mouth rinse available, we suggest using water — it’s better than nothing.

Avoid Sweets

Prevention is definitely the best medicine when it comes to avoiding tooth decay. If you can nix decay-causing sugary foods from the outset, we promise you’ll spend less time trying to treat problems in the future.

Get Regular Checkups

Visit your dentist regularly while you are wearing braces. Our office recommends a thorough cleaning every three to six months. Let our Jupiter, FL office know if you have questions about your oral health while in braces - our entire team at Family Orthodontics in Jupiter, FL is here to make sure your teeth are as beautifully straight as they are healthy!

At Family Orthodontics in Jupiter, FL, Dr. Christopher West and our staff know that eating with braces can be tricky. You want to avoid damaging the bands, brackets, and wires, since any damage can delay the progress of your treatment. After adjustments, your mouth may also feel sore, which will make eating more of a chore than a pleasure.

The good news is you do not have to avoid all of your favorite foods; there are ways you can still enjoy them. Try some of these ideas and recipes for great snacks that are friendly to your braces.

Fruits and Vegetables

You still need to eat fruits and vegetable for the healthy nutrients. The trick is to cut harder items into small pieces that you can chew easily with your back teeth. Canned fruits are also a great choice, but select fruits packed in water to avoid the heavy, sugary syrups. It’s a good idea to avoid excess sugar with braces, since sugar build-up around your braces can lead to plaque formation.

Single-serving packages are available to make your snack portable and convenient. Enjoy vegetables with a small amount of a healthy dip. Hummus or yogurt can be used for flavor without adding unnecessary fat or calories.

Banana and Honey Smoothie

Smoothies are a healthy treat, and you can create these drinks with your favorite ingredients. You can use a variety of yogurt types for your smoothie: regular, low or non-fat, and Greek are all great choices.  Here’s one of our favorite smoothie recipes:

• 6 ounces of your choice of yogurt
• 1 or 2 teaspoons of honey
• 1 ripe banana
• 6 ounces milk

Chop the banana into smaller pieces and put all your ingredients into a blender. Blend on low until everything is mixed and then blend on high for about 20 seconds to make your smoothie fluffy.

The great thing about this recipe is that you can substitute just about any small or cut-up fruit for the banana. Try blackberries, raspberries, or peaches for variety. Try to avoid fruits with small seeds; strawberries can leave bits stuck in your braces. You can even make a smoothie with peanut butter and jelly!

Please ask our team if you have any concerns regarding the foods you can safely eat while wearing braces.