April is National Facial Protection Month! From the team at Tidewater Orthodontics

You may remember that in mid-February, our team blogged about the advantage of wearing a mouth guard when playing sports. Well, we thought a reminder today wouldn’t hurt. You see, April is National Facial Protection Month, and it’s a good time to remind our young athletes about staying safe on the field this spring. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high-school athletes and adults will have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events this year.

And to our staff at Tidewater Orthodontics, that's simply unacceptable.

By simply wearing a properly fitted mouth guard, these accidents could prevent this along with other traumatic facial injuries.

The above video from our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists outlines five ways you can protect yourself this spring and summer. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact our team at Tidewater Orthodontics. And remember to stay safe and have fun!

Dispelling myths about braces, from Tidewater Orthodontics

Our staff at Tidewater Orthodontics knows there are quite a few myths about orthodontists circulating around these days. Before you buy into those myths, however, Drs. Dailey and Ashby think you should get the facts! We came across a great site that helps set the record straight. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists have some excellent information on the myths and facts of orthodontics. We encourage you to check them out today!

If you have any questions about orthodontics or your treatment here at Tidewater Orthodontics, please feel free to give us a call. We hope you have a great rest of the week!

The importance of retainers, from Dr. John Ashby

If you recently completed treatment at Tidewater Orthodontics, congratulations! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Ashby or Dr. Dailey will provide you with retainers. Here are some things to remember when you receiver your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise.
* Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.
* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.
* Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing aloud to get used to them quicker.
* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.
* Try to remember to bring your retainers to your appointments.
* Retainer replacement is expensive...with proper care they will last for years!
* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, lacrosse, etc.).
* Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.

Tidewater Orthodontics want to know: What are you up to in March?

It’s almost springtime. The daffodils and buttercups are on their way, fresh rhubarb is ready to be picked, the birds are chirping, the sun is warming up and the smell of freshly-cut grass is wafting from baseball fields nearby. Our team at Tidewater Orthodontics thought this would be a good time to ask: What are your plans for March?

Are you ready for spring? Are you participating in school sports this year? Do you have exciting plans? We’d love to know them all!

You may share your stories or plans with our team here, on our Facebook fan page or by giving us a call!

P.S. While you’re on our Facebook page, become a fan of Tidewater Orthodontics! Have a great weekend!

The Damon® System at Tidewater Orthodontics: What's the advantage?

Something big is happening in the orthodontics world, and it’s no other than Damon braces, which allow your teeth to move more comfortably and easily than traditional braces. With the Damon System, achieving that perfect smile will be faster and easier than you ever thought possible!

Here’s why Damon® is better:

With the new Damon braces, we can achieve terrific results and finish your treatment faster. Depending on your case, this may mean saving many months of treatment! After analyzing your specific needs, we will be able to provide you with a treatment plan that will have you smiling soon! Because Damon braces are very precise and effective, we can reduce the need for many of the time-consuming and complicated procedures that are used with traditional braces. Because Damon braces work more efficiently, fewer adjustments are required. As a result, your appointments will be faster and fewer in number. Due to the unique design of this new braces system, we can move your teeth into their correct positions with much less discomfort than traditional braces. Also, Damon braces are small, very comfortable, and easy to keep clean.

There is no doubt that the Damon System has set the bar for not only self-ligating brackets, but for orthodontic treatment in general.Our orthodontists are certified Damon System providers. If you have any questions about the Damon® System or your treatment here at Tidewater Orthodontics, please give us a call.