Your Smile And Environment
Orthodontists guide your teeth into their ideal position. The branch of medicine that deals with hereditary changes in gene expression is known as epigenetics. People who study epigenetics believe that if were not for processed foods and toxins, then our health and structure would resemble the health and structure of our ancestors. These genetic changes have led to allergies, headaches and childhood breathing problems.
Fulfilling The Natural Position Of The Palate, Jaws And Teeth
Orthodontics: A Natural Solution
Children who mouth breathe can face a number of negative health consequences. Mouth breathing can cause allergies because the nose is not able to filter out all of the allergens. It can also reduce energy and stunt the growth of the upper jaw. Crowded teeth can cause sinus infections, throat infections, hearing problems and earaches.
Orthodontics can address the palate alignment and shape. It can also correct problems that were caused by improper growth and thumb sucking.
What Type Of Problems Can Cypress Texas Orthodontists Fix?
- Sleep apnea
- Allergies
- Neck and head pain
- Poor sleeping problems
- Facial stress
- Poor mood
- Low energy
- Weight gain
- Digestion problems
Cypress, Texas Orthodontist, Dr. Benjamin Creed is a board certified specialist in orthodontics and is an expert in dental braces and Invisalign for children and adults. We invite you to call 281-256-3838 or visit www.creedorthodontics.com for a complimentary orthodontic evaluation.
Approximately three-quarters of all infants suck their thumbs. Nevertheless, parents often worry when they observe the behavior in babies. Parents often question whether allowing a child to suck his or her thumb at night will cause irreparable damage to the child’s teeth. The following guide will help parents receive answers to the most common questions we receive about thumb-sucking and tooth development.
Is There Anything Wrong With Thumb-Sucking?
Parents are often surprised when ultrasound images depict their unborn child sucking his or her thumb. Suckling is a natural comfort mechanism babies experience in relation to their urge to nurse. Thumb-sucking helps many children relax if they feel anxious or are away from their parents. While most health professionals agree thumb-sucking is a safe self-soothing practice in infants and very young children. However, the habit can cause problems if a child continues to aggressively suck his or her thumb when the adult teeth begin to come in.
When Should a Parent Discourage Thumb-Sucking?
Many young children use thumb-sucking as a means of beginning to develop independence. In most cases, children stop sucking their thumbs on their own. For some children, the social stigma that is often attached to thumb-sucking beyond a certain age causes the child to stop. Other children find other more acceptable ways to self-soothe. Generally, it is time to discourage thumb-sucking if a child has reached age five and still aggressively sucks his or her thumb.
How Can Parents Curb Thumb-Sucking?
Positive reinforcement is the best approach to discouraging children from sucking their thumbs. Parents of younger children can discourage thumb-sucking by giving the child a pacifier, which will cause less damage over time. Parents may also use a reward system in which the child receives a fun reward for each day the child goes without thumb-sucking. In the beginning, parents may find it more effective to restrict thumb-sucking at certain times, such as prohibiting the child from sucking his or her thumb before bed. Visual rewards are often effective in helping children form healthy habits or break bad habits. Creating a visual chart and tracking the days a child dues not suck his or her thumb may further discourage the behavior by providing a positive reward. It is also critical that parents remember that anxiety and uneasiness are the underlying emotions that trigger thumb-sucking. Therefore, parents should eliminate potential stressors in the home that may cause the child to feel anxious and need to self-soothe.
What Problems Can Prolonged Thumb-Sucking Cause?
Several problems can arise if a child continues to suck his or her thumb after the adult teeth begin to come in. These problems can often sort themselves out; however, orthodontic treatment is sometimes necessary. When the adult teeth begin to grow in, thumb-sucking can push the teeth outward and form an overbite. More severe overbite cases can cause breathing problems, inability to sue, and damage to the other teeth. Thumb-sucking may also cause an open bite to develop, in which case the front teeth do not touch at all. Broken teeth, worn molars, lisp, and speech impediment may occur as a result of an open bite. Thumb-sucking can cause other tooth alignment issues, including crowding and tooth gaps. Constant pressure on the palate or roof of the child’s mouth can cause the palate to collapse or result in a crossbite. A collapsed palate may lead to sleep apnea. A crossbite may give a child’s facial structure a sunken appearance.
A dental solution that improves smiles functionally and aesthetically, orthodontic treatment can correct a variety of dental conditions. Misaligned teeth, overbite, underbite, crowding, and protruding teeth are just a few examples of common problems an orthodontist can correct. Orthodontic issues can appear early in children and have a lasting impact on their dental health. Crowded teeth can make it difficult for a child to brush and floss effectively. Teeth that do not receive proper brushing and flossing are often more prone to developing gum disease and tooth decay. A child who has an open bite may develop a speech impediment Jaw clenching, clicking or unusual sounds, teeth grinding, and mouth breathing can all be attributed to orthodontic issues in many cases.
Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic treatment can dramatically improve dental issues and conditions that affect the jaw. An orthodontist can intervene and create space for crowded erupting teeth to grow, enhance facial symmetry, reduce the risk of trauma in protruding teeth, eliminate the need to remove teeth, and even reduce the amount of time a child may be required to wear braces. Orthodontic treatment can also correct problems related to early or late loss of baby teeth, tongue thrusting, and persistent thumb sucking. Parents who observe any of these conditions in their child should consult a pediatric orthodontist and, if necessary, schedule an evaluation.
At What Age Should a Child See An Orthodontist?
Orthodontics recommend parents bring their children in for a visit by age seven. Tooth development can vary widely among children at around age seven. Orthodontists typically want to evaluate pediatric patients’ development at this stage, when the adult molars have typically erupted and are beginning to form the basis of the back bite. At age seven, an orthodontist can typically tell whether there is enough room for all the child’s permanent teeth. Moreover, an orthodontist can determine whether any variance is due to normal development or if a more severe issue is beginning to emerge.
Early Detection Is Important
In the interest of detecting potential problems early, orthodontists want to see their pediatric patients when their first adult molars begin to erupt. Many common issues are easier to treat when they are detected while the child’s jaw is still growing. Early detection and treatment can also eliminate the need for extensive treatment later. Pediatric patients often do not need orthodontic treatment at age seven. Nevertheless, parents should bring their child to have an evaluation to allow the orthodontist to monitor the child’s growth and development and to create a plan for the upkeep of the child’s dental health as he or she grows.
Visiting Creed Orthodontics in Cypress Texas
A child’s first orthodontic visit serves multiple purposes. Parents should view the visit as a check-in with a dental professional who will serve as an ally in their child’s dental care. An early orthodontic checkup will determine whether the child’s teeth and jaw are developing as they should. More importantly, children who are beginning to show signs of orthodontic issues may receive the early intervention they need to remain healthy and to potentially avoid more severe problems in the future.
October ushers in the long holiday season filled with sugary treats, family feasts and special activities that crowd out normal daily habits. That makes this month the perfect time to think about the importance of oral hygiene and orthodontic treatments. Proper care of your teeth today makes sure your smile will be healthy and bright through these holidays and all those to come.
If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, you probably have teeth that may be crooked, crowded or improperly aligned. Your upper and lower teeth may not come together for the correct bite. You may find these conditions unattractive, but they can also produce real damage to your teeth, gums and jaws.
Orthodontic treatment can correct all these conditions. It’s the process of moving teeth into an optimal position for both appearance and health. It straightens your teeth and distributes pressure across them in a way that creates even wear on your teeth and jaws. Having properly aligned teeth also makes them easier to clean, which improves the health of your entire mouth.
Two of the most common appliances that are used to straighten teeth are invisible aligners and braces. Which of the two might be right for you depends on several factors, so we can discuss that with you and help you make the best choice. After the appliances have done their job, you’ll wear a retainer for a while to keep everything in place while the bones and gums stabilize in their final positions.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that orthodontic treatment is only for kids. While many children and teens do have their teeth aligned, it’s never too late. Adults can also achieve a more attractive and healthier smile with braces and aligners, and the results are absolutely worth the good-natured ribbing you’ll inevitably receive!
If you’ve already begun your orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists has a few reminders that will help you navigate the holiday season.
- Avoid sticky candies and treats. Anything sticky or chewy can be tough to remove from your orthodontic appliances. Even if you have removable invisible aligners, you don’t want to take the chance that they’ll trap candy residue against your teeth when you put them back in.
- Skip the hard treats, like popcorn and nuts. Candies and cookies with nuts or hard kernels of popcorn can bend or break the brackets and wires on your braces.
- Don’t slack off on brushing! It can be tempting when you’re relaxing over the holidays to let chores slide, but don’t let brushing your teeth be one of them. Brushing and flossing protect your teeth from cavities and keep your braces clean. The more you indulge in sweet treats and starchy meals, the more important it is to brush and floss.
Our website has more information about orthodontics for you to explore. If you want to talk specifically about yourself or a family member, give us a call or stop by Creed Orthodontics in Cypress TX, and let us answer all your questions.
National Orthodontic Health Month is the perfect time to start your child on the path to better oral health or to finally get the smile you’ve always wanted for yourself.
If you or one of your children have recently had braces or are using another orthodontic appliance, you may be concerned about dealing with orthodontic emergencies. You can feel confident knowing that true emergencies associated with braces are rare. Also, we are here to help and address any concerns you may have.
When to Schedule an Appointment for an Orthodontic Emergency
It is true that loose and poking wires can be frustrating and painful. However, if you schedule an appointment and have them looked at within a few days, you do not need to worry about any adverse impact on your overall treatment. Look at the common orthodontic emergencies below and some tips on managing some emergencies at home. Feel free to call us anytime if you or your child need to come in for a special appointment.
Tenderness and Soreness
After having braces put on or having an adjustment done, dealing with soreness is common. You may notice that your mouth just feels generally sore. Or you may notice a tender feeling when biting down on food. Or there may be pinpointed areas in your mouth that feel irritated, like your cheeks, lips, or tongue.
There are simple at-home treatments you can use to deal with the first few days of general soreness. Make a warm salt water mouthwash and rinse your mouth vigorously with it to relieve discomfort. If the soreness is severe, take a pain medication, like something you would use for a headache.
In areas that feel uncomfortable because they are coming in contact with the surface of the braces, use wax. We provide wax to all of our clients in the kits given to them after having braces applied. If these symptoms persist, contact us to schedule an appointment.
Loose Wires, Brackets, and Appliances
Loose wires can poke the inside of your cheeks and cause discomfort. A good solution may be covering the wire with wax. Or you may be able to put the wire where it is supposed to be using tweezers. If none of these solutions help, clip the wire and cover it with wax. Contact us to set up an appointment and have the wire repaired.
A loose bracket that has completely detached should be wrapped in a clean tissue. Call us right away to schedule an appointment and have the issue addressed. If it is attached to the wire, do not move it. Pull wax over it, and give us a call.
Any loose appliance that is poking or bothering you can be temporarily addressed using wax. Call us to find out what to do next. We will likely schedule an appointment where you can be examined and have a problem addressed.
A Poking Wire
A poking wire is a common complaint among those who have recently had braces applied or adjusted. You may be able to use a pencil eraser to adjust the wire into a position that is more comfortable. Cover it with wax and see if the pain goes away after a couple of days.
If you cannot adjust it, cover it with wax. Contact us to schedule an examination if you do not think it is just a matter of the area toughening up and getting accustomed to the wire.
In the United States, over 90 percent of adults will develop tooth decay to some degree. While statistics are showing some improvement with children’s oral health, tooth decay affects approximately 40 percent of kids between the ages of two and 19.
Preventing cavities, gum disease and tooth decay can be achieved with proper oral hygiene. This includes brushing, flossing and attending regular visits with a dentist or orthodontist.
Diet also plays a big part in oral health. We need certain vitamins and minerals in order to keep our teeth strong and healthy. Let’s talk a bit more about the vitamins and minerals that we need to have in our diets.
Calcium
You can keep your teeth strong and healthy by getting enough calcium in your diet. If you aren’t getting enough calcium, your body can actually take some from your bones and teeth.
Calcium-rich foods include dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese. Green vegetables and soy products are also high in calcium. There are also cereals that are fortified with calcium.
Vitamin D
This is one of the most important vitamins to add to your diet if you don’t think you’re getting enough. Your body can’t properly absorb calcium if you’re not getting enough vitamin D. It also helps with your immune function and bone health. Vitamin D can naturally be acquired through 15 minutes in the sun each day, or you can opt for fortified orange juice, fatty fish and milk.
Phosphorus
The majority of phosphorus that we consume will go straight to our teeth. This is another mineral that plays a big part in calcium absorption. It can also help repair tooth enamel. You can find phosphorus in plant-based foods like lentils, nuts, meat, eggs, seeds, soybeans and dried fruit.
Iron
Iron is used by the body to maintain a healthy level of red blood cells. When you have adequate red blood cells, your body will fight against infection and diseases. If you have a low functioning immune system, you’re at a higher risk of developing gum disease and tooth decay. Look for iron in fortified cereals, bread, green vegetables, red meat and eggs.
B Vitamins
All the B vitamins should be part of a regular diet. This can help treat and prevent mouth sores and bad breath. You can get B vitamins naturally from spinach, leafy green, almonds and dairy products.
Vitamin A
While it’s also good for the eyes, vitamin A can help the body clean out bacteria from the mouth. It can also promote adequate saliva, which would flush out food particles from the mouth. Add in some oranges, leafy greens, dairy, poultry, eggs and red meat to your diet.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C has the ability to perk up the blood vessels in your body that support your oral health. It can also boost your immune system. If you’re low on vitamin C, you may notice that you are more prone to bleeding gums and inflammation in your mouth. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best source of vitamin C.
Potassium
You can boost your bone mineral density and teeth density by increasing potassium through bananas, prunes, avocados and lima beans.
It may seem like a lot to process, but these vitamins and minerals will come naturally to your family when you’re eating a healthy diet. You can mix and match all kinds of different foods to get the results that you want. If you aren’t confident yourself or your kids are getting enough of a certain vitamin or mineral, a supplement can help round out a nutrition profile.
Contact Creed Orthodontics for more information on Orthodontics for children, teens and adults.
Did you graduate from a recognized post-dental school graduate program?
Any general dentist can offer orthodontic treatment, but they are NOT specialists in orthodontics. To be a specialists of orthodontics, dentist must have attended an orthodontic graduate program for 2-3 years after graduating from Dental School. An easy way to figure out if your orthodontist is indeed a specialist, you should figure out all of the treatments he provides. If your orthodontist offers treatments that a general dentist offers like dentures, fillings, and crowns then odds are that your orthodontist is not a specialist.
Orthodontics specialists usually stay in their field and only provide orthodontic services. So why does this matter? A Specialist of Orthodontics has at least two years more experience in learning and practicing orthodontics than a regular dentist. They study numerous cases, develop skills to properly diagnose patients, learn techniques on how to properly change the location of teeth, and most importantly study the growth and maturation of their patients. While they are in their program for those 2-3 years they are assigned their own patients to provide treatment to, but they are also supervised and observed by their professors assuring that they are learning how to do everything properly.
So if you’re looking to straighten your teeth with Braces or Invisalign, your best option is to visit an orthodontic specialist.
Cypress, Texas Orthodontist, Dr. Benjamin Creed is a board certified specialist in orthodontics and is an expert in dental braces and Invisalign for children and adults. We invite you to call 281-256-3838 or visit www.creedorthodontics.com for a complimentary orthodontic evaluation.
The Importance of a Proper Bite
When parents think of orthodontic care for their children most people imagine a preteen or teenager in need of braces. However, proper orthodontic care begins much earlier than the teenage years. As a matter of fact by evaluating children as young as 6, many parents can guide proper jaw development. By taking a proactive stance on the proper development of the jaw and bite alignment can save parents significant amounts of money down the road.
Understanding Interceptive Orthodontics
More often than not, orthodontic issues simply grow worse over time without any intervening treatment. For this reason, it is extremely important to address any bite or jaw development issues as soon as possible in order to “intercept” the problem. This is where interceptive orthodontics comes into play.
Interceptive orthodontics’ primary purpose is to locate and address orthodontic issues as soon as possible to prevent the continued growth of any undesirable issues.
How Interceptive Orthodontics Can Help Your Child
While Interceptive orthodontics is a wide ranging area of practice there are a few issues that tend to be most common.
For example, cross bites can begin to develop in children at a very young age. Cross bites occur when the upper jaw is too narrow. Luckily there are techniques and tools available to correct cross bites and to prevent them from worsening. A tool called a palatal expander is often the most used solution to “expand” the upper jaw. The palatal expander takes advantage of a gap in the bone of the palate that does not typically close until a child becomes a teenager.
The expander is placed up against the palate, pressure is consistently and gradually applies causing (over time) the gap in the bone to widen. As this gap is widened the body will gradually fill the gap with bone. By expanding the palate at such a young age, cross bites are more easily corrected.
To alter the movement of the jaw, our staff can also employ a Herbst appliance. This hinged tool, placed in the mouth, is designed to correct improper jaw movement. The Herbst appliance guides the lower jaw forward to foster proper bite development. Similar to the palatal expander, the Herbst appliance is most effective during early childhood (before the jaw has fully developed).
It is important to know that these are merely a few issues and a few tools our team is equipped with when practicing Interceptive orthodontics. Many children experience other developmental issues that could require the help of Interceptive orthodontics.
Start Today
Regardless of whether or not you believe your child has orthodontic issues presently, it is important to have their jaw and bite assessed by an experienced orthodontist. Our friendly and competent staff will be happy to help your child and answer any further questions you may have about Interceptive orthodontics. A proactive approach is always the best approach. Take a proactive approach to your child’s dental health and contact us today to schedule a consultation appointment with Creed Orthodontics in Cypress Texas.
Orthodontic treatment to straighten your smile is one of the most rewarding decisions you’ll make. In a recent study, almost 80 percent of people who’d straightened their teeth with orthodontics described it as a life-changing decision. Whether you’re a teen or an adult, orthodontic treatment is all about investing in yourself to be your best self. For most, one of the biggest motivations behind treatment is aesthetics – boosting appearance to boost confidence and comfort. However, don’t forget that orthodontic treatment offers so much more than just better aesthetics in the mirror.
Health Benefits Of Straight Teeth
1. Gain A Healthy Bite With Straight Teeth
Orthodontic’s primary purpose is to create a healthy bite by straightening and properly aligning the teeth. Malocclusions, or bad bites, mean that the jaws are unable to properly meet. This may occur from misaligned teeth, crooked teeth, or crowding. In any case, malocclusions can cause major oral health problems, including:
- Tooth decay and cavities
- Wear and tear on tooth enamel
- Chewing difficulties
- Speech difficulties
- Jaw pain and TMJ
- Leaves protruding teeth more at risk for injury/loss with mouth injuries
Schedule an appointment with your orthodontist if you suspect a bite issue. If you have a malocclusion, your orthodontist may recommend orthodontic treatment, such as braces, to correct the issue and prevent/correct dental woes like the above.
2. Enables Proper Teeth Cleaning For Good Oral Health
Straight teeth are easier to brush and floss for proper dental hygiene, which is necessary for a healthy mouth. Crooked and crowded teeth can make it a chore or even impossible to reach all the surface area of your teeth. Tooth decay and periodontal issues, such as gum disease, are inevitable if you allow bacteria to accumulate at your gum line and between crooked/crowded teeth.
Keep in mind that gum disease can cause tooth loss, bad breath, and bleeding and receding gums. It’s neither a pretty nor healthy picture. Don’t let crooked, crowded, misaligned teeth prevent you from the oral hygiene to keep your mouth healthy. Your orthodontist can recommend treatment to give you a straight smile that’s easy to maintain with good hygiene and regular dental visits.
3. Gives Your Total Health A Boost
Extensive research has shown that a healthy smile greatly contributes to your total overall body health. How?
- Mental And Emotional Health
- When you’re happy, you smile. But, did you know that mental health experts say that just smiling can make you happy? If you have a beautiful and healthy smile, you’ll naturally smile more often. Straight teeth offer you the mental confidence to show the world, employers, friends, family, and so on your emotions through your smile. Such self-esteem and expression is critical for adolescents fitting in with peers, and it’s an asset for adults wanting to look and feel their youngest and be their most confident for personal and professional goals. If you feel your smile is holding you back from opportunities, it’s time to schedule an initial consultation with your orthodontist to discuss your orthodontic issues and treatment options.
- Physical Health
- Bad oral health doesn’t just impact your mouth. Your entire body can suffer. For example, crooked teeth create oral hygiene lapses that can lead to gum disease, and that excess bacteria in your mouth can then enter your bloodstream to cause havoc throughout the body. Oral inflammation, disease, and infections are linked to a number of systemic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease. Again, don’t allow bad oral health to cause issues with your physical health and well-being. Call your orthodontist today to learn how your teeth and body may benefit from orthodontic treatment.
It’s Never Too Early Or Late To Prioritize Straight Teeth
As you can see, the benefits of a straight and healthy smile apply to all age groups, and those benefits go well beyond just improving your look with orthodontic treatment. The ability to properly clean your teeth, enjoy a correct bite, and improve your total health aren’t facets you should consider optional or elective. These are musts to be your best self. The experienced team at Creed Orthodontics in Cypress, TX can help you make that investment in yourself. Give us a call today.
We are excited to announce that we will be reopening for routine care on Monday, May 11, 2020. We have missed all of our wonderful patients and their smiles, and we are thrilled that we will be able to see you soon. This pandemic has caused a lot of changes and disruptions in our daily lives. I know we each have our own aspects of daily life that we miss the most. I miss going out to eat the most although somehow that didn’t stop me from gaining a few pounds!
Hopefully, we are getting towards the end of this pandemic so that life can return to normal soon. For now, we are making the following changes in the office in accordance with federal and state guidelines.
1. We have always practiced the highest standards of infection control and universal precautions here at Creed Orthodontics, and we continue to do so. We have added additional personal protective equipment for our staff as recommended by the CDC. We are also increasing our disinfection protocols for non-treatment areas.
2. We have converted the toothbrush area into a hand washing area. Please brush your teeth at home before you appointment. We also ask that you wash your hands when you arrive for your appointment.
3. Please wait in your car until your appointment time. This will help us keep the number or people in the office to a minimum. If you need to speak with someone in the office, please call us from your car if possible. We will call you at the conclusion of you child’s appointment to communicate pertinent information. For parents who must come into the office with their child, please do not bring other siblings or family members and please wear a mask.
4. All patients will be asked a COVID-19 screening questionnaire before each visit. Anyone entering the office will be checked for an elevated temperature. If you have an elevated temperature, you will be rescheduled.
5. We are spreading patients out in the treatment area in order to practice social distancing. Unfortunately, this means we will not be able to see as many patients at the same time as before. Please be patient with us as we adapt to this slower pace.
Thank you for your continued trust in our practice. We know these changes are inconvenient, but we are trying to do all we can to resume patient care in the safest way possible. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Dr. Creed and Team
