When Your Retainer Feels Tight: What You Should Do

After your braces come off, your orthodontist provides you with a retainer to maintain your new smile. These appliances are custom-made to fit your teeth comfortably, ensuring they stay in their proper positions. However, if your retainer starts feeling tight, you may wonder what’s going on. Read more from Dr. Vahid Babaeian at Brace Connection Read More

Guide to Enjoying Candy with Braces

Braces don’t mean you have to say goodbye to sweets! While it’s true that some candies can damage your braces and extend your treatment time, there are still plenty of delicious options you can enjoy safely. Knowing what’s safe and what’s not can help you protect your investment in a straighter, healthier smile. In this Read More

Braces and Missing Teeth

Losing teeth is an exciting time in any child’s life. The tooth fairy starts making appearances in your household and adult teeth start to grow in. What’s exciting for your kids might raise some fears and questions for the parents. It’s common to wonder if your child is losing teeth at the right time, or Read More

How Long Do I Have to Wear Braces?

Without a doubt, “How long do I have to wear my braces?” is the most common question we’re asked by patients. More so than cleaning tips and food restrictions, people want to know how long they’ll have to live with braces. It’s understandable. Braces are hard to brush and floss around, they come with food Read More

What Your Habits are doing to Your Teeth

It’s common for young children to put anything and everything into their mouths. This curiosity is normal, and unless it develops into bad habits that carry into later childhood, is beneficial to development. Habits like nail-biting, thumb sucking, using a pacifier excessively, and tongue thrusting as you swallow all have negative long-term effects on your Read More

What to Expect with a Palate Expander

Often the first step of orthodontic treatment is an expander. Expanders, or palatal expanders, are orthodontic appliances that increase the space between the halves of the upper jaw. While that sounds scary and painful, expanders are very common! Many young and growing orthodontic patients have expanders, and they can help make sure you don’t have to undergo surgery later!

What Can I Eat with Braces?

Getting braces is a big change, and on top of the wires, brackets, or Invisalign trays, there’s a whole new set of habits you must get used to. Luckily, we’re here to help and answer any questions you may have during treatment! One of our most common questions from patients is “What can I eat Read More

Do I Have Gum Disease?

Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease is an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. The culprit for this disease is usually poor brushing and flossing habits. These poor habits allow plaque – a sticky film of bacteria – to build up on the teeth and harden. If the disease worsens, Read More

Are Braces Causing Your Canker Sores?

Canker sores are flat white sores that appear in your mouth and can last for a week or more. What causes these small mouth ulcers is unknown. Fortunately, canker sores are not often a serious issue, but they sure can be annoying! However, they are quite easy to prevent, especially once you understand what triggers Read More

Busting Invisalign Myths

It can be a scary experience when you are given a referral to see an orthodontist or consider improving your smile. Braces are grounds for embarrassment for the self-conscious teen and the up-and-coming professional. Having a mouth full of metal to clean, eat, and live around can be daunting. The option that many may overlook Read More

Reasons Not to Fear the Dentist

If you fear going to the dentist, don’t worry, you’re not alone! It is estimated that nearly seventy five percent of adults in the United States experience some amount of fear with regards to visiting a dentist. About five to ten percent of those people have a strong enough fear to be considered sufferers of Read More

Pregnancy & Oral Health

Pregnancy is an amazing thing. However, there are some important things to keep in mind during this time. While pregnancy does not automatically damage your teeth, pregnancy can lead to dental problems in some women, potentially resulting in gum disease and increased risk of tooth decay. Your increased hormones during pregnancy can affect your body’s Read More

What Age Should my Child See an Orthodontist?

Parents are usually well-versed in getting their child to the dentist early on. Establishing oral health routines for your toddlers is standard – but what about their first visit to the orthodontist? When should they go? Is my child too young for the orthodontist? Is my child too young for braces? Luckily, all these questions Read More

A Checklist for Your Next Dental Visit

Regular dental check-ups are a crucial part of oral health maintenance. You should see your dentist twice a year for maintenance. But, for most people, finding the time in your schedule for an appointment tends to be the hardest part. Be sure to find the time though, as your oral health depends on it. Once Read More

Foods that Naturally Whiten Your Teeth

Everyone is always chasing after the elusive shiny white smile. However, coffee, tea, red wine, and even some sodas can stain your teeth and darken your smile. Luckily, there are several cost-effective options to help bring your teeth back to their pearly glory. There are even some foods that whiten your teeth naturally. To learn Read More

WHY DO I NEED AN ORTHODONTIST?

You may be thinking, “why do I need to see an orthodontist if I already see a dentist?” In fact, you should see both of these doctors to help keep your oral hygiene in check. They each have different training backgrounds that allow them to do specific jobs. To learn more about why you need an Read More