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Fun Halloween Costume Ideas for Braces

It’s that time of year again! Halloween is just around the corner and we at Oyster Bay Orthodontics are here to get you ready. For those of you currently in braces, you may be wondering how you can stand out with your costume while disguising your orthodontic treatment. Fear not! Here are six fun costume ideas you can try that make the most of your braces.

Darla from Finding Nemo

This character from the classic kid’s movie, Finding Nemo, is often what comes to mind when people think of costumes featuring braces. Darla’s enthusiasm for animals (often times too intense) and full face of metal made her one of the most memorable characters in the movie.

To achieve this look, find a purple sweater, white button down shirt, plaid skirt, plastic bag filled with water and fish and, most importantly, add freckles and something that resembles headgear to your face.

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Spread the Word – October is National Orthodontic Health Month

October means something a little different to our team at october is orthodontic health monthOyster Bay Orthodontics because this is National Orthodontic Health Month. During October, orthodontic offices all over the country work together to promote their services and inform the community about the important work we do. Our goal is to draw attention to the fact that everyone needs to be evaluated for orthodontic treatment. You are never too young or too old if your bite or smile needs correction.

American Association of Orthodontics recommends that parents start early and all kids be evaluated 7 – 8 years of age. During the growing years of 7 – 10, kids undergo a major growth spurt that goes hand in hand with the eruptive pattern of their teeth and development of jaws. (more…)

6 Fun Smartphone Apps To Improve Your Oral Hygiene

We use our smartphones for almost everything in our lives. wireless connecting sonic toothbrush with smart phone app. Modern home technology conceptFrom setting alarms to wake up, to tracking our workouts, calories and calendars, we keep our phones close to us at all times. That being said, it comes as no surprise that our phones can be used to help improve our oral hygiene as well. To help establish or improve your daily routine during orthodontic treatment, Oyster Bay Orthodontics is sharing a few apps here are a few apps you can try.

Brush DJ

Are you brushing your teeth for a long enough time? Brush DJ plays two minutes of music from your own library of songs so you can keep track of the time. Taking it even further, the app also includes a visual display to show you where to brush. A custom reminders feature helps keep you on track of things like replacing your toothbrush and upcoming orthodontic appointments. (more…)

5 Tips for Going Back to School with Braces

5 Tips for Going Back to School with Braces at Oyster Bay Orthodontics in Oyster Bay NYBummed out that summer is almost over? At Oyster Bay Orthodontics in Oyster Bay, NY, we feel this is a great time of year to revisit the basics of caring for your teeth during orthodontic treatment. Starting a healthy routine at the beginning of the school year will go a long way towards achieving a beautiful, healthy smile. When done right, good oral care maintenance could lead you all the way to next summer and beyond.

Here are five helpful reminders to kick off the fall session with clean teeth and a happy mouth:

  1. Follow the 2×2 Rule
  2. Avoid Crunchy and Sticky Foods
  3. Drink Lots of Water
  4. Plan Your Meals and Snacks
  5. Bring a Braces Care Kit

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Are You Cleaning Your Braces with the Right Toothbrush?

You’re just starting orthodontic treatment and it’s time to brush your teeth. Young woman smiling cleaning and brushing teeth with braces using toothbrushDo you brush with a manual or electric toothbrush? The truth is that either type of toothbrush does an effective job of cleaning the teeth. For those of you not convinced, we’ve listed some features and benefits of each so you can decide for yourself.

Benefits of Using a Manual Toothbrush

  • It’s simple, affordable and easy to find.
  • Changing your brush every 3 months doesn’t hurt your pockets.
  • Depending on the type of brush and your brushing method, manual toothbrushes could be softer on the tooth enamel and gums.

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Thinking About Mail-In Orthodontics? Read This First!

Wouldn’t you love to simply take a selfie, and/or impression of your teeth Young man wearing clear braces.or get your teeth scanned, and receive aligners that straighten your teeth in a few months without even leaving your home? Sounds too good to be true, huh?

This is exactly the type of convenience offered and advertised with direct-to-consumer orthodontics. Companies like SmileDirectClub, Smilelove, SnapCorrect, etc. are appealing because they address the concern most people have about orthodontics: time. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) advises you to take a step back and look at the overall picture before considering the latest alternative to straighten your teeth. (more…)

Wearing Retainers – Do You Understand Why?

Retainers Oyster Bay NYAfter orthodontic treatment is completed at Oyster Bay Orthodontics, retainers are the finishing touch to maintain your beautiful new smile while the teeth stabilize and over a lifetime of good oral health.

An orthodontic retainer is a custom-fit device that is removable or bonded depending upon the patient’s individual needs. It is your insurance policy your teeth stay put in their new positions if worn as instructed. (more…)

Mouthguard – You Wear It – But Do You Clean It?

Mouthguard cleaning Oyster Bay NYMost adults and kids today understand the importance of wearing a mouthguard when playing contact sports, especially while wearing braces. Blows to the mouth are painful enough without brackets and wires cutting into your lips and tongue making it worse. Teeth are actually less prone to injury when wired together as a single unit during orthodontic treatment. A mouthguard protects the braces and serves as added protection, further reducing the possibility of tooth and jaw injury.

It is not uncommon for athletes to remove their mouthguard when playing sports and set it down, hold it in their dirty hands, or toss it into the case or Gym bag when the game is over. Do you or your kids clean your mouthguard before popping it back into the mouth the next you play? Who knows what germs are breeding on the mouthguard when stored away that can cause illness and oral health issues? (more…)

TMJ Jaw Pain Can Be A Mouthful

TMJ Jaw Pain Oyster Bay NYTMJ jaw pain can be a mouthful. Living with aching or clicking jaws can be hard to swallow! Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, also commonly known as TMJ or TMD, is a joint disorder that affects the opening and closing of the jaw, and can have many side effects that relate to the teeth, head, and neck.

Like other joints, the relationship between the bone and disk will affect how well the joint works. The jaw is used thousands of times a day for talking, eating and laughing. When a disorder is present in the joint, your lifestyle can be dramatically changed. (more…)

Smiles Change Lives

A healthy perfect smile is why many children and adults choose to undergo orthodontic treatment. Around friends and family, a less than attractive smile is not as noticeable. However, when meeting new people, making new friends, and in the workplace, your smile is more obvious to those who don’t know you.

When speaking one on one with others, a beautiful smile improves your appearance and increases confidence to better influence personal relationships. Undergoing orthodontic treatment is one of the best decisions you will make for yourself and family.

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