Elastics, also known as rubber bands, are a very normal part of orthodontic treatment. However, we know that people sometimes find them to be a nuisance or difficult to adjust to wearing. It is important to know that your orthodontist has you wearing elastics because they are essential to the completion of the patient’s orthodontic treatment. The elastics are supposed to be worn approximately 20-22 hours a day and should only be removed to eat and then to brush and floss their teeth. Additionally, elastics should be changed out for new ones about three times a day. Keep reading for some advice from Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr, Dr. Niloufar Azami, and Dr. Thomais Ioannou at Greater Houston Orthodontics about why elastics are important.
Elastics allow for the jaw and bite alignment to occur. But they are also the patient’s responsibility, and if the patient does not choose to wear them as directed, it may prolong treatment or affect the final result. Before leaving the office, the patient needs to make sure they understand where and when to wear their rubber bands.
Taking care of your body and living a healthy lifestyle isn’t just trendy, it’s important. However, many people forget that your mouth and teeth are important parts of your body to take good care of as well. Your mouth and teeth need to be well nourished and taken care of in order to keep your smile radiant. Fortunately, there are many easy ways to help prioritize the health of your mouth and teeth with minimal effort. Here are some tips for keeping the beautiful and healthy smile you deserve from Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr, Dr. Niloufar Azami, and Dr. Thomais Ioannou at Greater Houston Orthodontics!
Brush and floss
The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes with a soft-bristled brush and flossing daily in between teeth to keep plaque at bay. Flossing, while boring and annoying, is pertinent to teeth health. Did you know not flossing is linked to heart disease? YIKES!
Wondering if tooth reshaping and/or contouring is the right option for you? Read on to find out what it’s all about. Teeth reshaping is one of the most convenient and cost-effective options for fixing chipped, uneven, or poorly aligned teeth to create a more attractive smile. Dentists may combine shaping or contouring teeth with a treatment called bonding. Bonding involves applying resin to improve the overall appearance of the teeth. The best teeth to perform this kind of procedure on are typically the front teeth. For more advice about tooth contouring and reshaping from Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr, Dr. Niloufar Azami, and Dr. Thomais Ioannou, keep reading.
Tooth reshaping removes small amounts of tooth enamel in order to change the shape, length, or surface of one or more teeth. This cosmetic dentistry technique is usually used to correct crooked, chipped, cracked, or even overlapping teeth. Sometimes this procedure is even a substitute for braces.
Your mouth is a very sensitive area. While braces are not painful, it is also not uncommon to feel a little discomfort after your braces have been tightened. Everyone is different, but most of the time the discomfort one will feel (if any) is a mild soreness that will go away in a day or two. However, no need to be concerned if you are experiencing any soreness, as fortunately there are many options to help ease discomfort while in braces. Here is some advice from Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr, Dr. Niloufar Azami, and Dr. Thomais Ioannou at Greater Houston Orthodontics that can help ease your discomfort:
Stick to Soft Foods
Soft foods like mashed potatoes and applesauce are great options when you are experiencing any mouth discomfort. When you initially get your braces, soft foods are a great option for the first couple of days. Then, on each day that you go in for a tightening, it is smart to stick to a soft food diet.
Dr. Ioannou is the newest member of the Greater Houston Orthodontics team. Her tech-forward and patient-first approach is a perfect match for the high-quality orthodontic treatment that we provide to our community. Get to know Dr. Ioannou by reading our interview with her below:
What impacted your decision to become an orthodontist?
“Looking back I think it was a combination of my environment and a personal passion. A few of my family members are in healthcare and my grandmother is a dentist and my mom an orthodontist. Since I was little, I was drawn to my mom’s practice. I would take my friends there, I would pretend I was examining them and I would make up games around it. I was very naturally curious and drawn to orthodontics, so my mother never actually tried to talk me into taking this path. When I made the decision to go to dental school, I wanted to keep an open mind and give all specialties a chance but nothing came close to orthodontics. I love how orthodontics has the perfect balance of treating for function and aesthetics, how it addresses details that might involve certain teeth and extends to treating the skeletal structure and the whole face. A lot of orthodontic cases involve cooperation with other specialties (i.e. surgery or other restorations) which creates a teamwork approach for these types of multi-disciplinary cases. It also gives me the opportunity to work with different age groups.”
Is there an age group you most enjoy working with?
“One of the reasons I love orthodontics is the opportunity to work with all the different age groups. With adolescents and teens, it’s amazing to watch them grow and help give them a smile that they get to enjoy for the rest of their lives. Adults are usually more detail driven cases. They come with concerns they might have had for years that prevent them from feeling comfortable when smiling. It can be so rewarding to help someone achieve a smile they love and feel confident in.”
What treatment technique or orthodontic technologies do you find most exciting?
“Over the years multiple techniques and appliances have been developed and I am a big proponent of choosing the right appliance customized for each patient’s specific needs. Digital technologies have dramatically improved the level of care we can provide. You can see every little detail and design your treatment accordingly. I also enjoy exploring the benefits of hybrid treatment where utilizing the strength of each appliance can bring amazing results. One good example would be starting treatment with braces and finishing with aligners.”
What area of orthodontics did your research focus on?
“My master thesis was on patient compliance and the amount of Class II correction achieved depending on the hours of appliance wear. Orthodontic treatment is a joint effort with the patient and certain treatment plans will only work if a patient does their part. This is why I feel it’s so important to take the time to work with each patient to design a treatment plan that will be successful for them.”
What’s the most exciting thing about helping a patient achieve their dream smile?
“Their reaction when I first show them the result in the mirror!”
What are your hobbies or interests?
“I love photography, traveling, dancing, art and good food. I like challenging workouts and I recently got back into tennis and yoga. Next thing I want to try is rock climbing!”
Tell us more about your interest in photography. How do you think your work as aphotographer is related to your work as an orthodontist or vice versa?
“My favorite thing about photography is how it captures a unique moment in time. I also love how creative it can be. Its connection with orthodontics is big, both for the orthodontist due to its diagnostic value, as well as for the patient who will get to see their new smile captured again and again in photographs.”
Tell us about your community service. What motivated you to become active in your community and are there any particular causes that are closest to your heart?
“I had the feeling of wanting to help others from a young age, the first time I volunteered was in elementary school for the Special Olympics. Later, I volunteered at the Red Cross for several years. My current focus is around helping initiatives that support mental health, as well as those that provide support for people who face discrimination.
How would your friends or family members describe you in three words?
I had to ask a friend to give an honest answer and I got: compassionate, approachable but bold.”
Regular dental check-ups are a crucial part of oral health maintenance. You should see your dentist twice a year for maintenance. But, for most people, finding the time in your schedule for an appointment tends to be the hardest part. Be sure to find the time though, as your oral health depends on it.
Date night should be a fun experience, don’t let your braces hold you back from making the most of it! Fortunately, your braces don’t have to be a source of worry. Instead, you can focus on what to wear, where to go, and what to talk about. With a few simple tips you can flash your beautiful smile at your date as many times as you want without being worried about leftovers being hidden in your brackets. Read on for some advice from Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr, Dr. Niloufar Azami, and Dr. Thomais Ioannou at Greater Houston Orthodontics.
At a Nice Restaurant – Stick to Soft Foods
While mood lighting can help hide a lot of things, it can’t get rid of food in your teeth. So you can smile with confidence all night long, stick to soft foods. Pasta, mashed potatoes, soups, and other softer options are easy to eat and are less likely to have little bits that stick around in wires and brackets. Any crunchy fruits or veggies could prove difficult as well. Let’s just say corn should be a “no-go” whether you have braces or not! Also, any chewy bread or pizza should be cut up into small pieces before consuming.
Everyone is always chasing after the elusive shiny white smile. However, coffee, tea, red wine, and even some sodas can stain your teeth and darken your smile. Luckily, there are several cost-effective options to help bring your teeth back to their pearly glory. There are even some foods that whiten your teeth naturally. To learn more about what foods can naturally whiten your teeth, keep reading for some advice from Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr, and Dr. Niloufar Azami at Greater Houston Orthodontics.
Fortunately, there are several foods you can find at your local grocery store that can help make your teeth whiter. Be sure to add these foods to your cart next time you’re at the store!
Strawberries – They contain an enzyme called malic acid that may aid in the tooth whitening process.