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5 Simple Tips to Relieve Sore Teeth After Braces Tightening

Feeling a little sore in your mouth after a trip to the orthodontist to tighten your braces? There is nothing to worry about! In fact, it is a sign that your teeth are actively shifting towards their new positions and that your treatment is working.

Feeling a little sore in your mouth after a trip to the orthodontist to tighten your braces? There is nothing to worry about! In fact, it is a sign that your teeth are actively shifting towards their new positions and that your treatment is working. 

Depending on each individual, some may experience slight discomfort for the 1st to 3rd day while others may not even feel anything at all.

If you fall within the first category and are wondering if there are any useful things you can do to help relieve the soreness or pain – there is!

Check out these useful tips that can help you cope better with sore teeth after braces tightening.

Over-the-Counter Pain Medication

This is one of the most effective methods of pain relief. If you know that you experience significant discomfort after every trip to the orthodontist, make sure you plan ahead and take some over-the-counter pain medication prior to your appointment. 

Tip: Take it around an hour beforehand and avoid taking the medication regularly – only for the day of your brace’s adjustment.

Oral Pain Reliever

Not a fan of pills? Another effective alternative would be oral anesthetic gels that you can apply directly on the sensitive parts of the teeth or gum to help it numb the area so that you do not feel the moving of the teeth so acutely.

Downside: Some of these gels may taste a little bitter so it may not be for everyone.

 Ice Pack for Pain Relief

Want a more natural pain-relieving method? Well, you can opt for the convenient and simple method of icing your cheeks or jaw area near the site of soreness. The coldness of the ice pack can help not only to numb the area but also reduce inflammation overall.

Tip: Make sure you only ice each area for less than 10 minutes at a go to avoid ice burns or frostbite.

Massage Your Gums

Help improve your blood circulation and relieve soreness in your gum area by gently massaging them in small circular motions over the area of soreness or along your gum line.

This helps nutrient-rich blood rush to the area to help improve healing in the gum tissues.

Stick to Soft Foods

The few days after a session of tightening is when your teeth are the most sensitive, hence sticking to soft foods that do not require you to bite with effort or minimize pressure on the teeth would be ideal.

Stay on the safe side and go for the super-soft types of food for your diet in the few days immediately after your appointment. Go for food like mashed potatoes, smoothies, soups, and the like.

Need a Friendly Orthodontist to Consult on Your Dental Issues? 

Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics is your friendly Gainesville Virginia orthodontist who can help on this exciting journey! 

Call us today to get started 703.753.4777 or request a complimentary consultation online.

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Braces, Invisalign

How to Fix Crowded or Crooked Teeth

Are you experiencing problems with crowded or crooked teeth and looking for solutions? You are not alone.

Are you experiencing problems with crowded or crooked teeth and looking for solutions? You are not alone – misaligned teeth and overlapping teeth are an incredibly common phenomenon across all age groups from children to the elderly.

Before we delve into the solutions, let us first understand what the common causes are, associated problems and why it would be beneficial to fix them in the long run!

What Causes Crooked Teeth?

There is a whole range of reasons that could result in crooked or crowded teeth which include some of the following:

  • Genetics -e.g., extra tooth or abnormally large teeth
  • Jaws being too small to fit the full set of teeth.
  • Misaligned jaws due to improper development as a child
  • Repetitive behaviors like sucking on thumbs, pacifiers, and more
  • Poor nutrition resulting in inadequate dental development
  • Injuries
  • And more

Why Fix Them?

Are you wondering if it is such a widespread problem, why do people bother fixing it? Well, there are quite a few reasons for that.

Self-Esteem – For many, a crooked smile could cause a lack of confidence in smiling or being incredibly self-conscious during social interactions. This could snowball into many other psychological developments over time.

Oral Hygiene – Misaligned teeth make it hard to thoroughly clean the crevices where food particles may remain stuck. Being unable to maintain oral hygiene is a sure-fire way to invite tooth decay and gum diseases if left untreated over time.

Speech Problems – In some severe cases, crooked teeth can impact the person’s ability to articulate properly.

How to Fix Crowded and Crooked teeth?

Good news! There are many different available treatments out there to help anyone suffering from such problems overcome this issue.

Braces

One of the most straightforward and common treatments for crowded teeth is via braces. Today, there is quite the variety you can choose from:

  • Traditional Metal Braces – which uses metal brackets and wires to straighten your teeth Ceramic Braces – similar to the above but are tooth-colored for more subtlety.
  • Invisalign – A new and convenient technology that uses specially molded clear aligners to gradually shift your teeth into shape. In the past, this was reserved for minor cases but now can treat any patient! 

Retainers

For less severe cases (where only one to two teeth correction is required), retainers can also be used as a treatment.

An additional bonus: Retainers are usually made of molded plastic and wire which makes them easily removable compared to traditional braces. 

Veneers

If you are looking for a purely aesthetic solution your dentist could talk to you aboutveneers for less severe cases.

By applying composite or porcelain “covers” on the front of the teeth, it can help to give the impression of straight white teeth.

Do note that the actual issue with misalignment is not corrected in this case!

Crowns

Again, this is an option that a cosmetic and/or family dentist would do for you. This requires significant tooth restructuring where various teeth need to be “cut down” in order for a metal or tooth-colored “cap” to be placed on your tooth. Because of this reason, crowns are usually the least recommended option.

Keen to Resolve Your Problem with Crowded or Crooked Teeth Once and For All?

Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics is your neighborhood orthodontist who can help on this exciting journey! Dr Cole or Dr Dunegan will evaluate if you are a good candidate for orthodontic treatment or can work with your dentist to make sure that you get an outcome you love!

Call us today to get started 703.753.4777 or request a complimentary consultation online.

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Invisalign, Invisalign Adult, Invisalign Teen

Invisalign in Gainesville, VA

If you are in search of an Invisalign provider in Gainesville, VA or in any of the surrounding Northern VA area, look no further than Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics. We are the top Invisalign provider in Gainesville, Manassas, Haymarket, and all of Prince William County.

If you are in search of an Invisalign provider in Gainesville, VA or in any of the surrounding Northern VA area, look no further than Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics. We are the top Invisalign provider in Gainesville, Manassas, Haymarket, and all of Prince William County. We are a Diamond Plus Invisalign Provider, making us one of the top Invisalign practices in the country. Our office has helped countless patients of all ages to boost their confidence and achieve life-changing smiles. Simply schedule a complimentary consultation in our office to determine if you are a good candidate for clear aligner therapy. 

What is Invisalign?
Gone are the days where traditional metal braces are necessary to straighten teeth. If you’d like to straighten your teeth in an invisible, effective way, Invisalign is the way to go. Invisalign uses a series of clear aligners to gradually shift your teeth into their proper positions. Invisalign treatment can be much quicker than traditional orthodontics and fits into a variety of lifestyles.

Who is a Candidate for Invisalign?
It’s important to note that Invisalign is not the right treatment for everyone. While it can be as effective as braces even in the most severe cases, the aligners are removable so it takes a commitment to wearing the aligners for at least 22 hours a day. At Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics, we offer complimentary Invisalign consultations to help you determine if Invisalign is a good treatment option for you.

Benefits of Invisalign
Perhaps the greatest benefit of Invisalign is the fact that it can allow you to straighten your teeth in a non-obvious way. It can also make eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing a breeze because Invisalign aligners are removable. Lastly, Invisalign aligners are incredibly comfortable and do not cause irritation like other orthodontic treatments.

Invisalign Frequently Asked Questions

Is Invisalign treatment painful?

As with traditional metal braces, you may experience some temporary discomfort each time you place a new set of aligners in your mouth. This discomfort is usually pressure and a sign that your aligners are doing their job and moving your teeth.

How often should I visit the office for an Invisalign checkup?

We know you lead a busy life and are pleased to inform you that Invisalign checkups can be significantly reduced as compared to braces . They are important as they give us a chance to make sure your treatment is progressing as it should.

Will I need to wear a retainer after Invisalign treatment?

If you’d like your new and improved smile to last for years to come, wearing a trainer once you complete Invisalign treatment is essential. It can help reduce your risk of relapse and ensure your teeth remain straight.

What is the ideal way to clean Invisalign aligners?

We recommend brushing them with toothpaste and water. It’s a good idea to get into the habit of doing this each time you brush and floss your teeth.

How will Invisalign affect my speech?

Invisalign is like other orthodontic appliances in that it may temporarily affect the way you speak. The good news is that once your tongue and lips get used to the aligners, you’ll be able to speak normally.

What is the typical length of an Invisalign treatment plan?

Your age and the severity of your case will determine the typical length of your treatment plan. However, most patients complete their Invisalign treatment in about 10 to 12 months

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Invisalign, Invisalign Teen

Invisalign for Teens: A New Popular Alternative to Traditional Braces

Looking for a way to correct your smile in your teenage years? Wondering if there are other alternatives than traditional braces that you see on peers? Good news, there is!

Looking for a way to correct your smile in your teenage years? Wondering if there are other alternatives than traditional braces that you see on peers?

Good news, there is!

Invisalign Teen is a specially designed clear aligner system for teenagers. Instead of using wires, brackets, and bands to move your teeth into place, Invisalign uses simple clear aligners to achieve even better results in a shorter time.

Interested to learn more about this exciting technology? Here are some compelling reasons why more teens are opting for Invisalign over traditional braces!

(Almost Entirely) Invisible

The most obvious advantage of the Invisalign treatment over traditional braces is its subtlety. The invisibility of the clear aligners, compared to large metal wires running across your teeth, is a huge difference that matters to many self-conscious teenagers.

While it does take a couple of days to adjust to the new clear aligner over your teeth, it is a more unnoticeable solution to traditional braces. In fact, most people will not be able to tell you are on an Invisalign treatment unless you tell them yourself!

Comfortable Treatment

You may have heard of some of the disadvantages of traditional brace treatment – particularly the discomfort (and mouth sores) that comes with the roughness of metal brackets and wires running across your teeth.

In contrast, Invisalign retainers are molded to your unique teeth shape and aim to shift your teeth ever so gradually with each new set. Hence it is quite rare to experience any significant discomfort with this treatment at all.

No Food Restrictions

Love your food? You will be happy to hear that you do not have to go on the dreaded “liquid diet” or dietary restrictions when you start your Invisalign treatment.

Since the alignersare removable, you can eat or drink anything that you want! No holds barred!

Easy to Upkeep Oral Hygiene

Worried about having food stuck in your braces? Talk about awkward situations at the school cafeteria. Well, there are no such concerns when it comes to Invisalign since you can take off the aligners conveniently before every meal.

This flexibility also allows you to continue your regular oral hygiene routine after every meal!

Suits All Lifestyles

Teens sometimes delay correcting their smiles because they worry it will affect their current lifestyles – especially so if you do high-impact sports,play wind instruments in your school orchestra, or love taking IG selfies!

But with Invisalign Teen, minimal lifestyle changes are required – you can continue your activities as normal.

Great results – With Lesser Time Spent at the Dentist’s

Last but not least, it also requires a lot fewer visits to our office – so you can spend that extra time doing what you love!

Simply switch out your aligners for a new set every week– all DIY! And only head back to the clinic every 10-12 weeks for progress checks with Dr. Dunegan or Dr. Cole!

Ready to get started on your Invisalign Teen treatment? Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics is your neighborhood orthodontist who can help on this exciting journey! Call us today to get started at 703.753.4777 or request a complimentary consultation online.

Find Your Smile

Ready to get started? Smile Consultations are Complimentary!

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