2018 -

December 31, 2018January 22, 2024

Zoom!® Teeth Whitening Aftercare Instructions for Atlanta Residents

Zoom!® Teeth Whitening in Atlanta and Marietta, GA

One of the first things people notice about you is your smile. If you have bright white teeth, it gives you confidence. But if you are unsatisfied with the shade of your smile, it might be time to consider Zoom!® Teeth Whitening.

Over time, your teeth will take on more of a grayish or yellow color. This is due to simple wear and tear as well as continued exposure to deep colored food and beverages. Smoking can also cause tooth discoloration.

Zoom!® whitening can dramatically improve the color of your teeth in just an hour or less, making teeth up to 8 shades whiter. With Zoom!® whitening, you’ll get professional, long-lasting results, provided your teeth get the proper aftercare. Here are the things you need to remember after your Zoom!® treatment to maintain your beautiful results.

Avoid Staining After Your Treatment

During your Zoom!® treatment, a powerful bleaching product is applied to the teeth and exposed to a special activation light. As the light activates the bleaching gel, it penetrates tooth enamel to break up and remove surface stains. This process also removes a protective layer around your teeth. After treatment, your teeth will remain porous for several days until the protective layer is regenerated. During this period, your teeth will be highly susceptible to new stains. That’s why it is so important to avoid foods and beverages that stain the teeth during this time. For at least 48 hours after your Zoom!® treatment you should avoid the following:

Coffee
Tea
Wine
Cola
Berries
Juices
Mustard or ketchup
Red Sauces & tomatoes
Soy Sauce
Colored toothpastes or mouthwash
Tobacco

Many dentists recommend that dark liquids should be avoided for at least two weeks, and that afterwards, you should continue to drink dark liquids through a straw.

Good Oral Hygiene Is Key

Good oral hygiene is especially important when it comes to maintaining the results of your Zoom!® treatment. You should continue to brush at least twice a day and to floss each night. It is also important to drink plenty of water to avoid a buildup of bacteria and food particles around the teeth.

Dealing with Sensitivity

Because the teeth are more porous after Zoom!® whitening treatments, they may be more sensitive to extreme temperatures. Tooth sensitivity is a common side effect of Zoom!® whitening, but this sensitivity usually lasts only a few days. To help with the sensitivity, you may want to use a toothpaste or mouthwash designed for sensitive teeth. Try chewing some sugar-free gum. You can also use over-the-counter pain medication to make you more comfortable until the pain of sensitivity subsides.

To learn more about Zoom!® whitening, contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation. Wright Orthodontics has two convenient locations to serve you in Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia. As always, your initial consultation at Wright Orthodontics is offered free of charge with no hidden fees.

December 15, 2018January 22, 2024

What Foods Can I Eat with Braces in Marietta, GA?

If you have braces, you must remember that crunchy, chewy, sticky, gooey foods can damage your braces.

Here are some rules to help you eat right with braces:

Nothing hard
Nothing sticky
Do not eat big mouthfuls
Do not tear things with your teeth
Limit yourself to one soda per week (regular or diet) – the carbonation can give you problems

Foods You Can’t Eat with Braces

You want to avoid foods that are going to stick to the wiring or detach a bracket from its tooth. Here is a short list of specific foods to avoid when wearing braces:

Gum
Hard candy
Sticky candy
Popcorn
Nuts
Ice
Thick tortilla chips
Whole apples or carrots (cut them into smaller pieces before eating)
Hard French bread crust and rolls
Corn on the cob (cut the corn off the cob before eating)
Thick bagels
Thick pizza crust
Large hard pretzels
Chewable vitamins (hard or soft)

Foods You Can Eat with Braces

You should stick to food options that are low in sugar to help prevent areas of decay from forming around your braces. Here is a list of foods that you can enjoy while wearing braces.

Dairy – soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
Breads – soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
Grains – pasta, soft-cooked rice
Meats & poultry – soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
Seafood – tuna, salmon, crab cakes
Vegetables – mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
Fruits – applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
Chocolate (without nuts)
Marshmallow
Cake
Ice cream or popsicles
Jell-O
Low sugar, non-carbonated drinks
Cookies and crackers (stay away from the crunchy ones)
Chips
Cheetos
Soft breads or toast
Sandwiches
Pizza
Burritos
Hamburgers
Hot dogs
Meat – bite size without the bone (avoid chewy meats)
Salads
Raw vegetables
Cooked vegetables
Potatoes
Fruit
Fruit smoothies
Yogurt
Rice
Sushi
Cold cereal (not hard granola)
Hot cereals
Soup
Macaroni and cheese
Pasta dishes
Cheese

To learn more about braces, contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation. Wright Orthodontics has two convenient locations to serve you in Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia. As always, your initial consultation at Wright Orthodontics is offered free of charge with no hidden fees.

November 30, 2018January 22, 2024

What Foods Can I Eat with Invisalign® in Atlanta, GA?

When you have braces, you have restrictions on which foods you can eat. Some foods could damage traditional braces. But with Invisalign®, there are no food restrictions because you remove the aligner trays when you eat. Since the aligner trays are not in the mouth during meals, you can eat whatever you want because the trays will not be affected by the food you consume. Since you won’t be wearing your trays during the meal, you can eat like you normally would.

If you are experiencing some discomfort adjusting to your new aligner trays, soft foods like eggs, yogurt and pasta can help ease any discomfort.

Brush and Floss After Every Meal

It is extremely important that you brush and floss after every meal. Never put your aligner trays back in without brushing first. Sticky and sugary foods can cling to the surfaces of the teeth and promote tooth decay. If you put your aligner trays back in before properly cleaning your teeth, you can trap this food debris and create an environment for cavities and tooth decay.

Staining the Aligner Trays

If you are a smoker, always remove your aligner trays before smoking. Smoking can stain your aligner trays.

Always remove your Invisalign® aligner trays before eating or drinking something that could permanently stain them. This includes coffee, tea and wine. Your aligner trays are made of a clear thermoplastic, which is sensitive to heat. Always remember that hot liquids may distort the shape of the aligner tray and affect its ability to perform as prescribed.

Best Foods to Eat with Invisalign®

There are no restrictions on eating with Invisalign® (you can eat anything you want to) – but there are some foods that are healthier for teeth than others. Here are some great foods to eat to support the health of your teeth whether you’re wearing Invisalign® or not:

Cheese – It’s rich in calcium, vitamin D and healthy fats.
Yogurt – It provides a lot of calcium, protein and beneficial bacteria.
Apples – When you eat an apple, your body produces more saliva that helps to wash away bacteria and any leftover food particles from your mouth.
Carrots – Their crunchy texture can help clear away food particles and plaque, and encourage your mouth to produce saliva.
Leafy Greens – Leafy greens are packed with minerals and vitamins that your body needs to keep bones strong (and teeth are bones). They’re also high in calcium.
Almonds – They provide you with calcium and protein, and their crunch can help to protect your teeth from plaque growth.
Celery – It’s filled with vitamins, and the texture helps to clear away food particles in the teeth.
Cucumbers – Their high water content hydrates the mouth as you eat, and the chewing motion is great for your teeth.
Onions – They contain antibacterial properties that can help kill off the bacteria that might be breeding in your mouth.

To learn more about Invisalign® treatments, contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation. Wright Orthodontics has two convenient locations to serve you in Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia. As always, your initial consultation at Wright Orthodontics is offered free of charge with no hidden fees.

November 15, 2018January 22, 2024

The 411 on Brushing with Braces in Marietta, GA

Brushing your teeth while wearing braces is just as important, if not more important, than brushing your teeth when you don’t have braces.

If you have braces, you cannot simply brush your teeth like you always have because even the best toothbrush will not be able to thoroughly clean around the brackets and wires. Also, if you have braces, you have to be careful of your brackets and wires while brushing. If you’re not careful, you can actually dislodge a wire or damage a bracket.

Helpful Tips for Brushing Your Teeth While Wearing Braces

Brushing your teeth thoroughly at least every morning and night is the best way to prevent cavities and other complications while wearing braces. The American Dental Association advises brushing after every meal. Here are seven important tips to help make sure that you keep your teeth clean while wearing braces:

Find the right toothbrush – If you wear braces, a toothbrush with soft bristles is the better choice than stiffer bristles. The stiffer bristles are more likely to bend a wire or break a bracket off a tooth. A softer toothbrush is better at molding around your brackets for better cleaning.

Rinse first – Start by rinsing your mouth out with water. This will help to get some of the loose food particles out.

Start brushing without toothpaste – The foaming action of toothpaste can obscure your view of your teeth and the brackets, so it will be difficult to see if everything is clean. Start off without toothpaste and clean around the brackets. Then, add a bit of toothpaste and go over your teeth again.

Pick, don’t scrub – When removing debris or plaque from around a wire or bracket, it is important not to scrub. Picking is less likely to damage the bracket and is usually more effective when it comes to removing debris that can build up around our brackets and teeth. Picking is especially important when it comes to cleaning underwires.

Take enough time to brush thoroughly – You need to spend at least two minutes cleaning your teeth, especially when you have braces. Dedicate thirty seconds to each quarter of your mouth. If needed, set a timer to train yourself to brush a full two minutes.

Use the right toothpaste – The right brand of toothpaste for you is one that you’ll actually use. As long as the toothpaste has fluoride, it will work perfectly as long as you brush for a full two minutes.

Avoid using whitening products when you have braces – Do not use whitening toothpaste or whitening mouthwash when wearing braces. If you do, the whitening product will only work on the surfaces it touches (not under the brackets), so you’ll have uneven tooth color when your braces get removed.

October 31, 2018January 22, 2024

Atlanta Residents Ask: Is Invisalign® Quicker Than Braces?

If you are considering treatment with Invisalign®, you may have wondered: Does Invisalign® work faster than braces?

Yes, Invisalign® treatment is significantly quicker than treatment with braces. With braces, the usual time frame for treatment is about two years. With adults who get braces, the treatment time can be even longer. But with Invisalign®, the average treatment time is about 12 to 18 months for both adults and children.

In general, Invisalign® takes less time than braces to move teeth into the proper position due to the type of force this process uses to move the teeth. The one-piece aligners in Invisalign® treatments are able to provide force to the teeth as a whole whereas braces move each tooth individually.

How Invisalign® Works

The first step is to take digital photos or impressions of the patient’s teeth. The aligner trays that you will wear are formed based upon that digital impression. The aligners are BPA-free clear plastic, which means that they are both safe and comfortable to wear.

To gradually move the teeth, new aligners are received every two weeks or so. Once the patient begins treatment, it quickly becomes obvious how fast the teeth are actually moving. For some, the movement may be so fast that they will need new aligner trays in less than two weeks. A dental appointment is necessary every four to six weeks so that the dentist can ensure that everything is on track as it should be.

Less Pain Than Braces

Most patients who are using braces will experience pain with each new set of wires. And the braces may get in the way of some activities or cause lip lacerations. Invisalign® aligner trays have no wires or brackets, and the smooth plastic trays will not lacerate the mouth.

Even though Invisalign® is a much faster teeth straightening method than braces, it is not painful. Invisalign® is designed for a much more natural movement of the teeth, resulting in vastly decreased pain levels.

October 15, 2018January 22, 2024

What Is the Ideal Age Range for Invisalign® Patients in Marietta, GA?

Invisalign® is a convenient, effective and virtually invisible treatment for straightening teeth that appeals to both adults and children. While people of all ages have been treated with Invisalign®, many people wonder at what age a child should start Invisalign® treatment.

Requirements for Starting Invisalign® Treatments

With Invisalign® treatment, it’s more about meeting certain conditions than being a certain age.

Before a child or adolescent can begin Invisalign® treatment, there are certain criteria that must be met. Here are the conditions that must occur before you can begin treatment with Invisalign®:

Loss of all first teeth (baby teeth)
Eruption of all permanent incisors and first molars
Wisdom teeth (second and third molars) do not need to have erupted yet – Invisalign® trays can allocate space for these teeth to come in
There should be no significant tooth decay or damage to the teeth
The patient must be mature enough to comply with treatment (aligning trays must be worn 24 hours per day, every day, or the treatment will not work)

Treatment with Invisalign® may be indicated for patients as young as eleven or twelve, depending upon whether or not the patient has met the criteria above. Each case is different. In general, girls will most likely be ready for Invisalign® treatment before boys because they typically mature faster than boys.

How to Know If You’re a Candidate for Invisalign®

To determine whether or not you are a candidate for Invisalign® treatment, the patient’s mouth will need to be x-rayed. This will determine the position of all teeth, and it will also determine how much space is needed for remaining teeth to erupt past the gum line.

Invisalign® Treatment for Adults

If you are an adult seeking Invisalign® treatment, you may worry that you have waited too long to seek treatment. If you are older, it is bone density, not age, that will determine whether or not you are a candidate for treatment. Since older people tend to have problems with bone density, some teeth may present problems while other teeth move very easily. Some older patients find that they may have to wear their trays for a longer period of time as an adult.

September 30, 2018January 22, 2024

Atlanta Residents Ask: Is Invisalign® a Permanent Fix?

When you remove your last set of Invisalign® aligners, you’ll see your beautiful new smile, but there is still a little bit of work to be done to make sure that new smile will last a lifetime.

The Two Phases of Invisalign® Treatment: Active and Retention

During the active stage of Invisalign® treatment, a series of clear, custom-made aligners will slowly move your teeth into the proper position. The aligner trays are made of clear, smooth plastic, and they fit comfortably over your teeth. Invisalign® can be used to treat a variety of dental issues including crooked teeth, gapped teeth, widely spaced teeth, overbite, underbite and crossbite.

During the active phase of Invisalign® treatment, your teeth will actually move. You’ll wear a set of aligners for two weeks; then you will switch them out for another set of aligners that continue to adjust your teeth. This process continues until the active phase of treatment is complete. The force caused by your aligners will cause changes in the teeth, the supporting tissues, the periodontal ligaments, the bone and the gums. New bone and tissue form around the space left behind and secure the teeth into their new positions.

When the active phase of treatment is complete, you’ll stop wearing the aligners. Once the force is gone (the aligners are no longer putting pressure on your teeth), the teeth have a tendency to want to shift back to their old places. So after the active phase of Invisalign® treatment, you’ll go into a retention phase of treatment. This is when you will wear a retainer. The retainer will hold the teeth in the desired position so there is less likelihood of drifting or reversion. Typically, you will wear your retainer for a short time and then transition to wearing it only at night when you go to sleep.

After putting the time, effort and expense into Invisalign® treatments, you’ll want to make sure your results are long lasting, so don’t skip the retainer step.

September 15, 2018January 22, 2024

iTero® Scanner and Pregnancy: Is It Safe?

The iTero® Scanner is completely radiation-free, which makes it safe for pregnant women.

What is the iTero® Scanner?

The iTero® Scanner is a digital device that takes a 3D picture of your mouth, allowing orthodontists and dentists to get a full picture of your mouth and teeth. The iTero® Scanner has changed the face of dentistry to make treatments from orthodontics to restoration easier and faster. In addition to its safety, another advantage of the iTero® Scanner is that dental professionals can show patients the results of the planned treatments before they even begin.

The iTero® Scanner is an advanced optical impression system that records topographical images of teeth and oral tissue. It is an integral part of the Invisalign® orthodontic system and is being used with other types of braces and basic dental x-rays because of its ease and safety.

The iTero® Scanner combines the scanner with computer software to capture 3D images of a person’s teeth, soft tissue, and the structure of the mouth as well as the patient’s bite. As the images are taken the software processes the data so that it can help create the aligner trays for the orthodontic treatment. The process of taking the digital x-rays is much faster than using traditional impressions – even if repeat pictures are needed.

Why Use the iTero® Scanner?

In addition to the safety, there are many benefits to using the iTero® Scanner

No messy and yucky goop
Immediate images
Accurate results, better fitting treys
Pregnancy-safe

Let Your Orthodontist Know You are Pregnant

It is important to let your orthodontist know you are pregnant. Optimal oral health is vital for everyone, especially during pregnancy. Orthodontics not only offers cosmetic benefits, but it also brings teeth into alignment to ensure effective oral hygiene.

If you are considering orthodontics and are pregnant, there is no reason to put off treatment. The advances in today’s market make dental care safe for everyone. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.