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Getting braces, or any orthodontic appliance is a daunting life change. At the end of your appointment or evaluation, your orthodontist, such as the experienced team at Junction Orthodontics, including Dr. Jaclyn Scroggins, will ask you if you have any questions, and as a new patient, it’s sometimes hard to know what exactly you should be asking or what you’ll need to know as you navigate your new braces. Here are five questions you’ll need to know the answers to for a smooth orthodontic experience.

Five Essential Questions for Your Orthodontist:

1. Can you describe my treatment plan?
2. What are my options for treatment?
3. What is this appliance doing? This adjustment?
4. How should I care for my new appliance?
5. Do I need to make any lifestyle changes now that I have this appliance?

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Invisalign is awesome; it gives you an amazing smile without anyone ever noticing it doing its hard work. Mild soreness after switching your Invisalign trays is completely normal but uncomfortable. To help you manage any Invisalign pain, here are a few tips from Dr. Jaclyn Scroggins at Junction Orthodontics.

• Switch Your Aligners Before Bed: Switching to your next set of Invisalign aligners is what typically triggers any pain or soreness. Putting your new set of trays in right before you go to sleep means the tightness and pain associated with the tooth movement can be avoided for at least the night. And, by the time you wake up the worst of it will be over!

• Stick to Soft Foods: As always with a new orthodontic appliance or a change in your mouth, soreness can be helped with a soft-food-only diet, at least for a couple of days! We recommend stocking up on some soft braces-friendly food before you know any pain will set in. Here are some ideas: 

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Sugar, acid, and foods that stay in your mouth for longer than necessary are all guilty of worsening your oral health. From dissolving enamel and  promoting negative bacteria growth to downright decay, there are some foods you should be sure to moderate or take out of your diet altogether. Keep reading to learn more from Dr. Jaclyn Scroggins at Junction Orthodontics about which foods pose a threat to your dental health.

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If you read health blogs or follow a fitness influencer, you know that vitamins and minerals are essential for your health. However, vitamins are not only beneficial for keeping your energy up or gut health, but they are also crucial for good oral health. Vitamins serve as preventive measures for common oral health problems. Improving your oral health every day with vitamins is a proactive way to ensure a pain-free and healthy dental experience. Dr. Jaclyn Scroggins at Junction Orthodontics recommends these five vitamins for tooth health, strengthening your enamel, and promoting jaw health. 

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To ensure your teeth and mouth are healthy, you should visit a dentist at least once every six months, just like you have a health check with your general practitioner every year. In most dental checkups, your dentist will do a thorough checkup on your teeth and gums, followed by a dental cleaning.

What Happens at a Check-up?

A dental checkup is an important part of maintaining good oral health. During a checkup, the dentist will examine your teeth and gums for any signs of problems. They will also check for any cavities or tooth decay. If you have any concerns, the dentist will discuss them with you and answer any questions you may have. They may also recommend that you schedule an appointment for a teeth cleaning.

A teeth cleaning is a procedure that removes plaque and tartar from your teeth. It is important to have your teeth cleaned regularly to prevent cavities and oral health problems. X-rays may be taken to detect cavities between your teeth. They will also examine your tongue, throat, face, and neck. This will be to look for signs of redness, swelling, or possible signs of cancer.

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There are so many things to make sure you have in your bags when you travel. It can be easy to forget about your teeth in the process. When traveling with Invisalign, it’s important to plan for time away from home adequately. Especially since Invisalign isn’t attached to your teeth!

 When you’re somewhere unfamiliar and deviating from your routine, it’s easy to lose an aligner at a hotel, restaurant, or in transit. Here are some tips from Dr. Jaclyn Scroggins at Junction Orthodontics for traveling with your Invisalign, to make sure you don’t have to take time out of your vacation for an orthodontic emergency!

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