Lingual Braces
Ask Dr. Jaime Rivera about lingual braces. These braces have brackets that are attached to the backside of the teeth instead of to the front, so they will not be visible when you smile. As with traditional braces, wires will connect to these brackets and control the movement of the teeth.

Living With Lingual Braces
Having lingual braces means that you can smile with confidence, as your orthodontic appliance is invisible to others! Your smile will look as great as ever. In fact, your lingual braces will be slowly improving the health and appearance of your smile with no one the wiser.

When wearing lingual braces, you can continue to eat many of your favorite foods. However, you’ll need to be a little more careful. Choose softer foods that are easier to cut or chew. Avoid sticky, crunchy or hard foods like bubble gum or raw carrots. Our orthodontist will give you instructions about which foods to avoid.

Cleaning Your Lingual Braces
Keeping your teeth clean during orthodontic treatment is very important, as at any other time. However, caring for your teeth is a little more involved when wearing orthodontic appliances like lingual braces. Food can get stuck in the brackets and wires of your lingual brackets, which can cause tooth decay and other issues if it is not removed. During treatment, brush your teeth after each meal. Make sure that you brush each tooth above and below the bracket, and the brackets themselves. Then, of course, brush all other surfaces of the teeth.

Flossing is also imperative during lingual braces treatment. Consider using a floss threader to aid you in getting the floss above or beneath the wires of your braces.

Please contact Rivera Orthodontics at 915-592-5853 to learn more about lingual braces and to schedule a consultation with our orthodontist in El Paso, Texas.

The post Choose Lingual Braces for a Discreet Orthodontic Experience first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

-Straighten your smile

-Improve your oral health (Crooked teeth create areas in the smile that trap harmful bacteria that can cause dental problems.)

-Make oral hygiene easier and more convenient (Brushing and flossing is easier when you don’t have hard-to-clean spaces in the smile.)

-Align your teeth without being noticeable

-Give you a smile you love and a smile you’re proud of

-Treat minor alignment issues (Because aligners aren’t invasive, they aren’t used for major alignment problems.)

-Improve your self-confidence and self-esteem

-Allow you to align your teeth with comfort

Do you have any questions about orthodontic aligners in El Paso, Texas? Or would you like to schedule an appointment to see if this treatment is right for you? If so, contact our orthodontic team when you get the chance. All you need to do is reach out to Rivera Orthodontics at 915-592-5853 and we will be more than happy to help you!

The post The Things Orthodontic Aligners Can Do for You first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

What is the greatest form of orthodontic treatment for a teen?
– Each individual case determines which treatments work best, but clear orthodontic aligners are highly effective for fixing crooked teeth with teens due to their clear exterior and lack of metal wires for a more socially conforming look during treatment.

What are some standard everyday risks that could easily affect the oral health of a teen?
– Although many bad bites may happen naturally to your smile, teens face higher risks of oral damage than many due to the increased prevalence of bad habits such as wearing mouth jewelry, chewing or smoking tobacco, using drugs, even recreational ones, as well as competing in contact sports without the use of safety gear.

What form of safety equipment should be used for teens who play contact sports?
– To better protect your teeth, wear safety masks, mouth guards, facemasks, and helmets whenever applicable.

No matter which service you choose to treat your smile, the real importance is to ensure proper treatment is given. If you would like Dr. Jaime Rivera and our team at Rivera Orthodontics to bring you in for an oral exam to determine which orthodontic treatment is best for you, please contact our office in El Paso, Texas, by calling us at 915-592-5853. We can get you on the path to smiles for miles!

The post How to Protect Your Mouth as a Teen first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

— First, check to see if the bracket still has contact with the wire. If it does, keep it in place and stabilize it by covering it with a piece of orthodontic wax. If it doesn’t, take the bracket out of your mouth and keep it in a safe place. Make sure to bring it with you to your next appointment. If the bracket slid out of place when it broke, move it back into position with a cotton swab.

— It is common when a bracket breaks that a wire will protrude out of place. If this happens, it’s best to clip the wire with a pair of fingernail clippers. As you do this, make sure to clip the wire as close to the bracket as possible. This will help you prevent cuts inside your mouth.

— Call our office and make an appointment with Dr. Jaime Rivera. The sooner you make an appointment, the sooner you’ll get back on track toward the beautiful and straight smile you desire. When you make an appointment, make sure you explain the situation so our team understands what is going on.

Taking swift action when something happens to your braces will help protect your smile while keeping you on track for a healthy, beautiful smile. If you have any questions or if you would like to learn more about what to do when you have broken a bracket in El Paso, Texas, please call Rivera Orthodontics at 915-592-5853. Dr. Jaime Rivera and our orthodontic team have the tips you need to succeed, and we look forward to hearing from you!

The post What to Do When a Bracket on Your Braces Breaks first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

Braces use several components to apply continuous pressure over a period of time to move the teeth to their ideal positions. These components include:

– Orthodontic bands: These bands wrap around each tooth to anchor the brackets in place. They are not used for all patients. Some individuals have brackets and no bands.
– Brackets: Brackets are squares that are attached to the front of each tooth with orthodontic bands or bonding. The brackets hold the arch wires in place as that move the teeth.
– Arch Wires: These attach to the brackets and guide the teeth to their ideal positions.
– Ligatures: These tiny rubber bands hold the arch wires to the brackets.
– Elastics: Brackets have hooks that elastics or rubber bands are attached to to connect the upper and lower teeth in various ways. This applies pressure to the upper teeth against the lower teeth to achieve an ideal bite.

There are certain foods that you should avoid when wearing braces, including:

– Hard or difficult-to-bite foods
– Chewy foods
– Corn on the cob
– Hard pretzels, nuts, carrots, and popcorn

Also, do not chew bubble gum or ice.

We encourage you to contact Rivera Orthodontics today to learn more about orthodontics and to schedule a consultation.

The post The Components of Braces first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

If you’re having issues flossing between teeth and around the gum line, you might want to try using a floss threader with waxed dental floss. This is a simple loop-shaped tool that can help work floss around wires and other hardware. Using waxed dental floss makes it easier to slide the strand into tight places.

Interdental brushes have small-angled brush heads that can help clean between wires and brackets as well as remove food particles from the contours near the gum line. They can be very helpful for clearing away small food particles from around bands and spacers.

Dental water jets and oral irrigators produce a concentrated stream of water that can help loosen and wash away food particles from hard-to-reach places. Just keep in mind that it cannot replace flossing.

If you have questions about the tools and techniques to help clean and maintain your braces in El Paso, Texas, please feel free to call your Rivera Orthodontics orthodontist, Dr. Jaime Rivera, at 915-592-5853 for further advice. Together we will help you create a healthy, aligned, more confident smile!

The post How to Clean around Your Braces for Optimal Oral Hygiene first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.