Dental Wax Facts

McClellan Orthodontics

You have braces! Congratulations…you are now on your way to a healthy beautiful smile. When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! Discomfort and soreness is normal especially after receiving orthodontic treatment of any kind. Overall you may feel uncomfortable the first few days with braces. That is where dental wax comes in.

What is Dental Wax? Dental wax is a soft, harmless gum protector for children and adults with braces that can be used in a pinch to cover brackets and protruding wires with a smooth surface. Dental wax is important for discomfort relief when a bracket breaks or a wire breaks and pokes out. Dental wax is used as a temporary relief.

Is it Safe? Dental wax is made from natural waxes and is perfectly safe. Some dental wax products are made from beeswax or carnauba wax, while others are made from paraffin. If you accidentally swallow a little bit of wax, maybe while speaking, applying the wax or eating food, don’t worry, it is safe.

How Does it Work? The special properties of dental wax make it perfect for protecting your gums from the metal edges of braces. The wax is solid at room temperature, but can be softened and shaped by the warmth of your hands. Smoothed onto braces, it sticks to them and creates a buffer between the brackets and the gums. Dental wax remains smooth while in the mouth, and harmlessly flakes away or peels off as it breaks down.

How to Put Wax on Your Braces:

Step 1: Be sure you have dental wax, you can ask us for recommendations on which we feel is best.

Step 2: Wash your hands.

Step 3: Brush your teeth, where you want to apply the dental wax

Step 4: Pinch off a piece of wax about the size of a small pea

Step 5: Squeeze until it softens and roll it into a ball, then flatten the ball slightly

Step 6: Gently push the wax onto the problem area of the braces

Dental wax is available to help you ease the discomfort while wearing braces. While dental wax is on your braces, you can do normal things, such as eating and drinking water. Follow your ordinary healthy routines when it comes to your teeth, brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing and using a mouthwash, to keep your teeth healthy and prevent tooth decay while wearing braces.

At McClellan Orthodontics, we provide all the information and recommendations necessary to patients for making the best decisions. Our staff is always available to answer questions and help you understand every aspect of your orthodontic treatment. If you are unsure about anything, let us know at your next appointment or give us a call with a question, one of our staff members will give you the tools and knowledge to help you understand everything during your treatment.

 

Handling Orthodontic Issues at Home

McClellan Orthodontics

Even though you are careful, you may occasionally damage your braces or orthodontic appliance. While there are steps you can take to temporarily fix or alleviate discomfort and prevent additional damage, you should always notify our office if you have any issues or concerns. 

At McClellan Orthodontics, we want our patients to be informed of problems that may occur, and understand how to solve them until it is possible to return to our office. With the supplies listed below, you will be prepared to handle the most common orthodontic issues at home.

• Orthodontic wax
• Dental floss 
• Tweezers
• Q-tips 
• Salt
• Non-prescription pain reliever (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) 
• Topical Anesthetic (such as Orabase or Ora-Gel)

Below are some typical orthodontic issues and how you can solve them:

Discomfort - It’s normal to have some initial discomfort during orthodontic treatment as your teeth move. Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water and over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, may alleviate this discomfort.  If the discomfort lasts longer than a couple days, be sure to call our office.

Mouth Sores - Some patients are susceptible to episodes of mouth sores. While braces do not cause these sores, they may be exacerbated by an irritation from your braces. Mouth sores are not an emergency, but they can be very uncomfortable. Prompt relief may be achieved by applying a small amount of topical anesthetic (such as Orabase or Ora-Gel) directly to the ulcerated surface using a cotton swab. 

Irritation - Sometimes braces or wires can be irritating to your mouth, especially when eating. A small amount of orthodontic wax makes an excellent buffer between the metal bracket and your mouth. Simply pinch off a small piece of wax and roll it into a ball the size of a small pea. Flatten the ball and place it completely over the area of the bracket causing irritation. 

Protruding Wire - Occasionally the end of a wire will work itself out of place and can irritate your mouth. Use a Q-tip or clean tweezer and try to push the wire so that it is flat against the tooth. If the wire cannot be moved into a comfortable position, cover it with wax.

There will be normal, day-to-day discomfort associated with wearing braces, if you have any questions about your orthodontic treatment, or if you think you may have a true orthodontic emergency, don’t hesitate to call our Kenilworth orthodonticoffice…We can help!

COVID-19 Update:

Due to the guidelines from the American Dental Association our office will now be closed through April 3rd.

We will keep everyone informed by email as to the status of the office. This is an unprecedented time in history and we are trying to keep everyone healthy from our patients to our team members.

Call the office if you have an orthodontic emergency and we will get back to you with what we can do for you.

Stay home, stay healthy. We will be reaching out to reschedule all of you who have appointments within this time period. Thank you for your understanding in this difficult time. We will get through this!

What are the Benefits of Braces?

At McClellan Orthodontics, we believe that no matter what the reason for seeking out orthodontic treatment, everyone deserves a straight smile. A straight smile means a healthy, properly functioning smile.

When your teeth are crooked, overlapped, or otherwise misaligned, you place an uneven amount of pressure when you bite down. That leads to pain, and it can cause your teeth to wear down, chip and even break. Not only that, but poorly aligned teeth are also harder to clean properly which can lead to decay and gum disease.

So what are some benefits to having braces?

• Corrects Bad Bites: Bad bites such as an overbite or an under-bite, can affect your speech, the way you chew and eat. It also can lead to tooth loss in some cases. Thanks to braces, a benefit is your bite will be corrected.
• Self Esteem: When you can smile confidently, your self-esteem and your personality shine through. With braces, you can be sure that your smile will be the best representation of who you are.

Contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation: (847) 251-6228 - Our office is conveniently located to serve the communities surrounding Kenilworth, such as Wilmette, Winnetka and Glencoe, IL. Call us today for your initial orthodontic consultation! We look forward to meeting you and working with you as we continue our tradition of creating the North Shore’s best smiles!

2 Summer Tips to Take into Fall

Summer is officially over and as a new season approaches, we are excited for new smiles and new seasons. We shared some great tips for a bright summer smile. As fall rolls in to our Kenilworth community, here are 2 tips to take into fall.

Resist the temptation of sugary drinks:
Say no to the sugary drinks that have a high volume of sugar. Not only is it bad for your teeth, it is also bad for your health. Instead stay hydrated with water. This summer watch your intake of lemonade, soda and sports drinks - which are summer staples.

Switch out Your Toothbrush:
Switching out your toothbrush is an often overlooked tip that can make a difference in our smile. It is recommended to switch out your toothbrush every 3-4 months. As a new season rolls around, this is a perfect opportunity to switch out toothbrushes for the whole family.

If you are using an electric toothbrush, switching out the toothbrush head is recommended.

National Oral Health Month

June is Oral Health Month. A good oral hygiene routine is the foundation to a healthy smile, especially for young children. For parents, leading by example, should establish healthy habits like brushing, cleaning between your teeth and seeing your dentist. This ultimately leads to the big difference in the health and happiness of your entire family and in children, less fears about visiting their dentist.

Here are 2 tips from the American Dental Association that are a great reminder to enforce.

Start a Routine and Stick to It:
You may be tempted to let your child skip brushing after a long day or during times when your normal schedule is off (like vacation), but keep at it. The more second nature brushing becomes the easier it will be to make sure your child is brushing twice a day for two minutes.

Kids Need to Floss: 
It doesn't matter if you clean between ​your child's teeth before or after they brush as long as you clean between any teeth that touch. You can use child-friendly plastic flossing tools to more easily clean between your child’s teeth until your child learns to do it.

First Day in Braces

The adhesive used to attach the braces to your teeth cures rapidly, but takes several hours to completely cure. You can eat any time after leaving our office, however, we ask that you remember the list of foods that may be harmful to your braces. Until you become accustomed to eating with your new braces, you may find it beneficial to follow a diet consisting of all soft foods.

Initially, the braces feel like they stick out. This is normal. As you become accustomed to your braces and tooth alignment improves, this sensation will cease to be a concern. Although the brackets have been rounded and smoothed, until the cheek tissues have toughened, you may find it helpful to use a small piece of orthodontic wax around the bracket that is creating the irritation. If your supply of wax runs out, call our office for more. The wax may also be purchased at a local drug store.

You will probably notice some discomfort beginning a few hours after your braces are placed. Some teeth, usually the front teeth, may be tender and sensitive to pressure. Occasionally, patients report that they experience no discomfort, but most patients have some soreness beginning during the first few hours and dissipating within a day or two. Exactly when the discomfort ceases is impossible to predict and differs with each patient. Non-prescription pain remedies are recommended for discomfort. For maximum effectiveness, it may be best to take such medications before the discomfort begins.

Protect Your Smile

Wearing a mouthguard is the safest way to protect your teeth while playing sports or just enjoying sports related activities. Athletes are 60 times more likely to suffer a teeth related injury if they’re not wearing a mouth guard.

Here are the three types of mouth guards you can wear, especially if you are currently in orthodontic treatment.

• Custom fitted mouth guards - these are made by your dentist and can be molded to fit your smile perfectly 

• Stock mouth guards - these type of mouth guards are  performed and may be a bit bulky

• Boil and bite mouth guards - are mouth guards that are softened by boiling water and then insert your mouth, to form to the shape of your mouth. 

National Facial Protection Month from AAOMS.org on Vimeo.

2 Benefits of Braces You Didn't Know About

Fear of the unknown is human nature and some nervousness is to be expected prior to starting orthodontic treatment or if you are thinking of getting orthodontic treatment of any kind. Braces can make one nervous, yet the benefits of braces, goes beyond a beautiful smile.

1. Helps Prevent Gum Disease:
It's no secret the dangers of gum disease and the drastic negative effect it has on your overall health. Braces help space your teeth out correctly, which helps you brush and floss in between your teeth.

2. Prevents Bone Erosion
Did you know your teeth and mouth effect your overall health? Bone loss can also be a problem due to misaligned teeth. This is caused by bacteria that begins eating away at bones. Braces helps realign the teeth to prevent this.

Do You Know these Orthodontic Terms?

When it comes to orthodontics, there are few things you may not know. One being terms and what they mean for you and your health.

Two Phase Treatment - 
Two phase orthodontic treatment is a very specialized process that encompasses tooth straightening and physical, facial changes. The major advantage of a two-phase treatment is to maximize the opportunity to accomplish the ideal healthy, functional, and aesthetic result that will remain stable throughout your life.

Banding - 
The process of fitting and cementing orthodontic bands to your teeth.

Bonding - 
The process of attaching brackets to your teeth using a special safe adhesive.

Interceptive Treatment - 
Orthodontic treatment that is usually done between the ages of 7 and 10. The objective of interceptive or early orthodontic treatment is to provide orthopedic intervention, so that later orthodontic treatment is less complex.

DIY Braces are Dangerous

There is a growing dangerous trend that is increasing in popularity with social media and among young teens. This trend is do-it-yourself (DIY) braces. These DIY braces are dangerous and can lead to gum damage and tooth loss, among other consequences.

What Are DIY Braces?
DIY Braces are braces people make out of household items such as rubber bands, dental floss, fishing line, paper clips and others that people think will get their teeth to move. People take these items and put them in their mouth, where they think their teeth will shift.

“Straightening teeth isn’t just about closing gaps between your teeth; braces align the upper and lower teeth to reduce pressure on the jaw and keep teeth from wearing on each other over time. If kids try to move their own teeth, they are not taking into consideration other areas of the mouth that professional braces correct.” - Dental Associates Blog

Unhealthy Consequences:
“Braces involves slowly and cautiously moving teeth through bone and influencing bone growth.” There are ligaments that hold your teeth to your bone and when moved, these ligaments begin to break. DIY braces can damage your enamel, cause tooth loss, damage to your gums and bacteria from the household items can affect your overall health.


On you first visit, you will be greeted by one of our staff members and a complimentary, no obligation orthodontic exam will be done. During this time, we evaluate many things relating to your face, your smile, the fit of your teeth and the amount of room for all of your teeth. From this initial visit, if a you are ready for treatment, an appointment for diagnostic records is made.

It's been a Great 2018

Thank you for a great amazing year! It has been a fantastic year filled with progress and so many smiles. Everyone at McClellan and Sagun Orthodontics are happy to see everyone's smile progress. Whether it is beginning treatment or the final day, we thank you, our patients and family for entrusting us with your smile.

We can't wait to see all the beautiful smiles in 2019!

View this post on Instagram

Meet the McClellan and Sagun team! (Top left) Vanessa, Virginia, Cher, Cristina & Sandra. (Bottom left) Theresa, Dr.McClellan, Patti, Dr.Sagun and Virginia.

A post shared by Mart & Tim (@mcclellanandsagunortho) on Mar 20, 2018 at 1:36pm PDT

Dental Wax

When it comes to braces, your first few days may be uncomfortable. It may even feel as if your braces are sticking out. Your gums may be sore and tender, but that does not have to stop you from living your life.

An important item to use for relief is dental wax. Dental wax is “a soft, harmless gum protector for children and adults with braces that can be used in a pinch to cover brackets and protruding wires with a smooth surface,” according to Colgate. Dental wax can provide relief when a wire breaks and pokes out. Just add some dental wax on your gums and can help prevent pain while your wait for your next appointment.

Dental wax is completely safe.

Step 1: Be sure you have dental wax, you can ask us for recommendations on which we feel is best.
Step 2: Wash your hands.
Step 3: Brush your teeth, where you want to apply the dental wax
Step 4: Pinch off a piece of wax about the size of a small pea
Step 5: Squeeze until it softens and roll it into a ball, then flatten the ball slightly
Step 6: Gently push the wax onto the problem area of the braces

If you have any questions over dental wax, or any other orthodontic questions, please feel free to call us at (847) 251-6228