Orthodontic fun facts, from Dr. Adams

Everyone loves fun facts. Fun, fun, fun! The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that our team at Adams Orthodontics thought you might enjoy.

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.

• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79).

• The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.

• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.

• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.

• The cement that attaches the braces to the teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.

• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.

• In addition to alleviating or preventing physical health problems, orthodontics can boost self-esteem as treatment aligns teeth, jaws and lips.

• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and Brandi.

Ask Dr. Adams: “How do I prevent tooth decay during my treatment?”

Great question! If you are brushing and flossing daily during your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Blair Adams, we think that’s great! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit your general dentist every 3-to-6 months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing. Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health, especially during orthodontic treatment. Tooth decay, which is caused by sugars left in your mouth, can turn into an acid, which in turn can break down your teeth. Children are at high risk for tooth decay because adolescents tend to be lax in their oral hygiene habits. Proper brushing and flossing routines, combined with regular dental visits, help keep tooth decay away. If you have any questions, please be sure to keep ask Dr. Adams or our team during your next adjustment appointment, or ask us on Facebook!

Enter our Why Do I Love My Valentine Contest!

Who is your special someone? Valentines Day is a time to let someone special know how you feel, so at Adams Orthodontics we wanted to know - who is your Valentine and why? A family member, a friend, an Adams Orthodontics team member or is it a pet? Post your answer to our wall or comment on this post before Monday, February 6 to be entered to win! Rules: All entries eligible must be a patient of Dr. Adams either in continuation of care, or orthodontic treatment. People who are in the retention period of orthodontic treatment are eligible up until their 18 month retention has expired. Non eligible entries: non-patients of Dr. Adams or staff members, or staff family members in treatment with Dr. Adams.

Have you had a check-up lately?

Even if you brush and floss daily, as well as maintain your braces and visit our office during your orthodontic treatment it is still important to visit your local dentist every 6 months, or as recommended. Why? • Your dentist can detect and treat tooth and gum problems that you may have never felt or noticed. • Even thorough daily oral care may not be enough to prevent cavities and oral decay. • Frequent visits can allow your dentist to treat a problem early to prevent future complications. During an oral exam your dentist can check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not visited a dentist in the past six months, please let us know! Dr. Blair Adams will be happy to provide a few great references here in the area!

Happy New Year! From Adams Orthodontics

The year is almost over, so we wanted to ask what was memorable about 2011 for you, and what are you looking forward to in 2012? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year? 

Have a safe and happy New Year, from Adams Orthodontics!

At Adams Orthodontics, a pursuit of excellence

At Adams Orthodontics we make every effort to provide you with the best orthodontic treatment. For us that means achieving consistently great results. There are many things that help Dr. Blair Adams do that. Some of them are:

1. Using the most up to date and proven technologies available

2. Spending time and resources on continuing education to stay current and relevant

3. Training our entire team on new techniques

4. Educating our patients about the pursuit of excellence

If you or a family member has been thinking about orthodontic treatment, please give us a call. We look forward to seeing you.

Softly brushing your way to clean teeth, from Dr. Blair Adams

Just as there are so many different types of toothbrushes to choose from, each brush also has a different type of bristle! There are generally three different types of bristles; hard, medium, and soft. Our team at Adams Orthodontics always recommend that our patients, especially children and seniors, use a soft bristled toothbrush.

Using a hard and medium bristled brush can actually harm your teeth and gums by stripping the enamel from the teeth and irritating the gums so that they become red and sore, and can even cause gum recession. If you do use a hard or medium bristled brush as a personal preference, we recommend using an electric toothbrush.

Soft bristles are much gentler on your teeth and gums, and while patients of all ages are recommended to use soft bristled brushes, they are particularly great for children, seniors, patients recovering from a dental procedure, and patients wearing braces.

Soft bristles, and even extra-soft bristles are every bit as effective when it comes to cleaning your teeth; in fact, if you currently use a hard or medium bristled brush, try a soft bristled brush next time you buy a toothbrush and we bet you won’t even notice a difference!

Happy brushing!

Dentists, orthodontists … what’s the difference?

"Dentists, Orthodontists, they're all the same right?" We hear our patients asking this question as they wonder about the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist. Before becoming an orthodontist Dr. Blair Adams started out in dental school and earned a DDS (dental degree), just like your dentist. After dental school however, Dr. Adams decided to learn more about orthodontics, which is one of nine specialties within the dental field. So they stayed in school for a few more years and became an expert in orthodontics, which focuses on tooth and jaw alignment and bite problems like overbites and under bites.

Other dental specialties you may have heard of include endodontic (focusing on the soft tissue inside your teeth), periodontic (focusing on the gums and other tissues surrounding your teeth) and prosthodontic (focusing on restoring and replacing damaged teeth).

Isn't it nice to know there's a complete dental expert here at Adams orthodontics to help you through any type of treatment your teeth, jaw and gums might need?

Kids are getting braces at a younger age

Dr. Blair Adams will tell you that braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, orthodontists suggest it could be a good idea to start early.

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.

Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and orthodontists estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for Dr. Adams to assess what the best age for treatment is.

Hope this helps! Give Adams Orthodontics a call if you have any questions about your child’s treatment!

Mouth guards, orthodontics and sports with Adams Orthodontics

Wouldn’t you believe it, it’s already wintertime! If you play sports, it's important that you consult Dr. Blair Adams for special precautions, such as wearing a mouth guard. A protective mouth guard is advised for playing spring sports such as baseball, soccer, lacrosse and others. Be sure, however, to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements we are trying to achieve.

In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, please schedule an appointment with Adams Orthodontics. And don’t forget to ask us — Dr. Adams will provide a mouth guard for any patient in active treatment.

Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Adams Orthodontics.

It's cold season, from Dr. Adams

Cold and flu season is here yet again. The folks at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that a common cold usually includes sneezing, runny nose, sore throat and coughing. Symptoms can last for up to two weeks.

To promote a healthy and clean environment, Dr. Blair Adams and our entire staff give a great deal of attention to sanitation and sterilization in our Ottawa, ON office at all times, as well as following all requirements for sterilizing instruments and work surfaces. For the protection of other patients and our staff at Adams Orthodontics, we always ask that patients reschedule their appointments if they have any type of cold or illness that can infect others.

And remember to constantly wash your hands and avoid contact with those who are ill! Stay healthy!

Halloween TIPS from Adams Orthodontics

It’s that spooky time of year again and Dr. Blair Adams and our team thought we’d share some Halloween tips from our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists.

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

To protect your braces, steer clear of the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• All hard candies
• All chewy candies
• Caramel
• Nuts
• Licorice
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Bubblegum
• Popcorn (including unpopped kernels)
• Ice

Of course, Halloween does not have to be completely treat-less. Braces-friendly Halloween treats can help you enjoy the “spook-ta-cular” holiday. For example, plain chocolate candy is okay, provided you remember to brush and floss afterwards. Bobbing for apples as well as caramel apples are not recommended. However, you can enjoy thinly sliced apples, dipped in yogurt or creamy chocolate sauce.

Dr. Adams suggests looking for foods that are soft, such as soft chocolate that can melt in one’s mouth or peanut butter cups. Overall, candies that aren’t sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy are generally acceptable.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from the entire team at Adams Orthodontics!

5 tips to avoid plaque

At Adams Orthodontics, we know nobody likes getting plaque on their teeth. Here are five other ways you can avoid that dreaded enemy of the teeth during orthodontic treatment, courtesy of WebMD.

Let’s start with brushing regularly. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste is vital to a healthy mouth. Make sure you softly brush all the surfaces of your teeth.

Next on the list is flossing daily: a simple daily flossing between teeth clears away plaque before it can cause damage and can also clean plaque at the gum line. Plaque is known to reach the spaces between teeth.

Also, evading a trip to the dentist is probably not a great idea. Let’s say you brush and floss daily. You’re still at risk for plaque. With time, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar. Consider visiting your general dentist at least twice a year or as recommended by your dentist, and you have a lower chance of getting cavities or losing your teeth while wearing braces.

You’ll also want to stop avoiding those fruits and veggies. Believe it or not, there are foods out there that play a key role in keeping plaque off our teeth. They include apples, carrots, cucumbers and other raw fruits and vegetables. You can still eat these types of fruits and veggies if you have braces, but be sure to cut them up into bite sized pieces to avoid breaking off brackets.

Finally, before you pick up that candy bar, remember to not give in to your sweet tooth. Consuming sugary drinks or eating candy or other junk food allows sugar to stick to our teeth. The bacteria, then, becomes plaque, which turns into acid and damages our teeth. Avoiding these five bad habits keeps your plaque in check and your mouth as healthy as can be during your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Blair Adams. If you have any questions, give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

Tell Dr. Adams what's on your mind!

Week after week, Dr. Adams and team blog about important topics pertinent to dental care and your well-being, including innovative dental techniques we offer. Today, we thought we’d step back and ask you, our loyal patients and readers: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the field of dentistry? What would you like us to focus on our blog in the coming months? Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook fan page!

So… take it away and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have!

Happy Thanksgiving! From Adams Orthodontics!

Happy Thanksgiving! It’s a day to sleep in late, eat turkey, pumpkin pie and enjoy the colours of the season. As always, Dr. Blair Adams and our team at Adams Orthodontics have a lot to be thankful to be for.

How about you? What are you thankful for today? Friends? Family? A day off? Your new smile?

Dr. Adams and team would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. It's a big food holiday, so be careful what you eat with those braces! If you have any stories or pictures to share with us, we'd encourage you to send them below or post them to our Facebook page!

Gobble Gobble!

October means National Orthodontic Health Month at Adams Orthodontics

Happy October! For those who don't know,it is National Orthodontic Health Month. This month-long event is organized by our pals at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Dr. Adams and our team realize 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 like Dr. Adams and other dental professionals in Ottawa.

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
• Taco chips
• Ice

If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call, ask us on Facebook, or ask Dr. Adams during your visit this month!

The Go-To Mom Talks About Invisalign

Our team at Adams Orthodontics found a great video that discusses the advantages of Invisalign. In the video, Kimberley Clayton Blaine, "The Go-To Mom," discusses the Invisalign treatment and her personal experience with Invisalign.

To determine if Invisalign is right for you, schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Blair Adams. Have a great week!

What was your favorite part of Summer 2011?

The end of Summer and the beginning of Fall is tomorrow! Soon the temperatures will cool down, the leaves will start to change, and we’re sure that you’ll start thinking about the holidays. But wait! First, we want to know: what were your favorite parts of the Summer of 2011? Did you go on a wonderful family trip? Did you pick up a new hobby? Did you try to spend as much time outside and in the sun as possible?

Share your favorite memories, stories, or photos with us by leaving a comment below or on our Facebook page.

-Dr. Blair Adams and team

20 things that can ruin your smile

At Adams Orthodontics, we know your smile is important. And we know you want to keep it sparkling and looking its very best. Recently, we came across an article that suggests at least 20 things can ruin that perfect smile you have.

These include:

- Sports drinks
- Tobacco
- Coffee
- Wine
- Soft drinks
- Citrus and acidic foods

Dr. Blair Adams and our team encourage you to read the rest of the article and ask us here on our blog or during your next visit to our convenient Ottawa office. For more tips or for general questions about your ongoing dental treatment, we invite you to ask Dr. Adams during your next visit! We also invite you to ask us on Facebook!

Breaking bad habits

At Adams Orthodontics, we know good dental health requires only a few minutes a day. We thought we’d provide some practical advice on how to improve your or your child’s smile between your adjustment visits with Dr. Blair Adams.

Start by brushing your teeth twice a day. Proper brushing techniques are an essential part of maintaining good oral health during your orthodontic treatment, as well as preventing gum disease. More care and time are needed to adequately brush your teeth when you are wearing braces. Brushing daily helps remove decay-causing plaque from tooth surfaces. Please consult Dr. Adams if you would like us to review brushing techniques with you or your child. The use of a mechanical toothbrush such as a Sonicare or Oral B can aid in removing plaque around braces. Flossing daily will also prevent plaque to build up between the teeth and prevent stains between your teeth. Research has shown the bacteria of gum disease has been linked to coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes and memory loss. Lastly, we encourage you to throw away old toothbrushes and replace them every 2 or 3 months, or after an illness.

We hope this helps! If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Adams Orthodontics or ask your general dentist during your next scheduled visit! Or, ask us on Facebook!