Things You Can and Can’t Do While Wearing Invisalign

Invisalign gives you a straight, beautiful smile that everyone will admire. You might be considering using this convenient teeth straightening treatment to help you achieve your best smile. A common concern many people have is limitations that can be caused by using Invisalign. Continue reading to find out the do’s and don’ts while wearing Invisalign.

Do’s of Wearing Invisalign

Eat – You will be able to eat anything you want during your treatment. The reason you have this luxury is due to the mandatory rule of removing your aligners and not wearing them while you eat.
Drink – You can enjoy your favorite red wine, coffee, and other dark drinks without damaging your aligners. Just make sure you remove the aligners while consuming these items and brush your teeth immediately afterward.
Smile – Invisalign aligners are clear which means you can smile in all of your pictures without anyone realizing your wearing aligners.
Feel Confident – You can confidently live your life knowing your teeth are gradually straightening and creating your best smile.
Feel Comfortable – Standard metal braces often cause sores, infections, and discomfort in the mouth. Invisalign aligners are created with soft, durable materials which are comfortable to wear and don’t cause harm to your gums or mouth.
Enjoy Quick Results – Standard metal braces an take up to five years to straighten teeth while Invisalign usually only takes about one year or a year and a half.
Prevent Tooth Decay and Gum Disease – Since you can remove your Invisalign aligners, you get to brush, floss and rinse your teeth after every meal and snack. This means you will prevent sugar and food particles from remaining in the small crevices of teeth which leads to bacteria, plaque, and tartar buildup.

Don’ts of Wearing Invisalign

Don’t Leave Aligners In – You need to remove your aligners every time you plan to eat or drink something, with the exception of plain water. Coffee, red wine and other items that cause teeth to discolor will do the same to the clear aligners. You don’t want to walk around for two weeks with discolored aligners. Make sure you always remove them when consuming all meals, snacks, and drinks.
Don’t Damage Your Aligners – The aligners are designed to straighten your teeth by gradually moving them into place. The aligners need to remain in perfect condition to assure treatment is progressing correctly. Damaged aligners will prevent teeth from moving into place properly.
Don’t Use Toothpaste – Most toothpaste brands are abrasive so they remove bacteria, food particles, plaque and tartar from your teeth. Using toothpaste on your aligners will cause visible damage that is irreversible.
Don’t Smoke – You need to keep your aligners in your mouth for most of the day and night. You will only remove them to eat or drink. Smoking is not recommended while wearing Invisalign since the nicotine can discolor the aligners quickly.

Overall, Invisalign is the most comfortable and convenient way to straighten teeth. It has distinct advantages compared to standard metal braces and produces results faster. Get your teeth straighter now with Invisalign! Are you ready for your teeth straightening treatment?

Dr. Jacquie NYC Dr. Jacquie Smiles began her career in orthodontics dentistry at Boston University and became the first female Director of B.U.’s Predoctoral Orthodontic Department. Since then she has become an expert in orthodontics and opened several offices in New York and New Jersey.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Contact us today for your no-obligation teeth straightening appointment in NYC. You may also call Dr. Jacquie Smiles at 212-972-3522. Our office is conveniently located near 30 East 40th Street Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016.

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Should You Get At-Home Teeth Straightening?

Should I get at-home teeth straightening? This is one topic many people ask themselves. It looks so convenient and easy to do, right? The general process of at-home teeth straightening is receiving a kit in the mail and following the directions correctly. Later, you receive your aligners at your front door and follow the proper procedure mapped out to straighten your teeth. This process for most people usually takes six to nine months. Before you jump at the opportunity, let’s review this situation a bit further before you cause yourself lots of pain and wasted money.

What about Orthodontic Issues?

Do you want to straighten a few crooked teeth or close the small gap in your teeth? Aligners sound like the perfect solution but what if there is more to your story? How many times have you gone to the dentist or orthodontist office and get scary news about your teeth and gums? Your response was most likely, “I didn’t know I had that problem.” This is one of the main issues with at-home teeth straightening; you are only providing the company half your oral health story. This means you are at risk of experiencing plenty of dental pain.

Are you prepared for unforeseen pain?

Chances are you have experienced some type of tooth or dental pain during your lifetime. Imagine multiplying that pain due to unforeseen issues the at-home straightening kit didn’t expose. Straightening teeth involves gradually adjusting and moving teeth into position to reveal a straight line. Imagine that one of your teeth is severely crooked and the at-home kit didn’t detect it in your mold sample. You could experience tremendous pain due to one simple mistake. The scary thing is, you will need to rush yourself to a local dentist for further assistance because the pain will be unbearable. Good luck finding an orthodontist office that accepts last-minute appointments to non-patients.

Learn about the Negatives

As you can already sense at-home teeth straightening might sound quick and easy, but it’s also risky because you aren’t under the supervision of a local orthodontist. The following are more negatives you might encounter with at-home teeth straightening systems.

No access to a dentist or orthodontist
No guidance from a professional
No access to emergency care
Difficulty scheduling an appointment
Waiting a long time in pain for an appointment
No office to call for help
Waste of money
Unnecessary pain and discomfort

Benefits of a local orthodontist

As you can see this type of at-home treatment is risky. You might feel scared to consider teeth straightening that is basically done through the mail. The good news is, you can get your teeth straightened with aligners by a professional orthodontist.

Here are some of the benefits of using a local orthodontist over one of those at-home teeth straightening kits:

Supervision by a professional
Other orthodontic issues addressed before treatment to prevent pain
Overall better results
Monitoring throughout treatment
Progress updates
Any issues addressed immediately by a professional
Professional recommendations during treatment

Your local orthodontist will provide you with overall care, treatment, and guidance. You will feel calm and safe while proceeding with your teeth straightening treatment. Most of all you will have a professional in your corner in case you experience pain or any other issues during treatment. Are you ready for your teeth straightening treatment?

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Season’s Eatings: Expert Tips for Eating Holiday Meals with Braces

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and that means it’s time to indulge in amazing food and treats. This time of year is the favorite of many people, but those that wear dental braces are more concerned about food getting stuck in their brackets. Sticky holiday toffee candy and other delicious chewy foods can cause brackets to break and lead to a trip to the orthodontist office. The following tips will help you enjoy delicious holiday meals while wearing braces.

Choose Soft Foods– The great thing about holiday meals is there’s usually a variety of soft and hard foods. As a person that wears traditional or invisible braces, you want to head for the soft food options first. These foods include mashed potatoes, carrots, yams, squash plus soups, cream-based pies, and pudding.
Soften Chewy Meats– Gravy boats are usually placed on the table during holiday meals so make sure you put them to good use. Chewy meats is a common issue for brace wearers. You don’t want to starve so you can cut the meat into small pieces and smother it with tasty gravy. Allow the gravy to soak into the meat and soften it to perfection.
Avoid Chewy Candy– As soon as you arrive at someone’s house, they often offer candy. Unfortunately, this candy is usually sticky such as caramels. Do your best to seek out other options and stick to soft cookies, chocolates, cakes, cupcakes, and puddings.
Chew Slowly– Attending holiday parties means you will be trying and tasting different foods. Sometimes you might get an unexpected surprise as you bite down on the food. Always chew slowly so you can detect any hidden nuts or other hard surprises.
Carry a Toothbrush– Although you will be very careful eating there are still moments when food is going to get stuck in your braces. Always carry a toothbrush with you and brush after the meal. Another helpful tip is to use Dr. Smiles PlaqueHD toothpaste to see exactly where you need to target your brushing. This helpful toothbrush turns plaque teal green so you can easily remove it by brushing.

Dr. Jacquie Smiles began her career in orthodontics dentistry at Boston University and became the first female Director of B.U.’s Predoctoral Orthodontic Department. Since then she has become an expert in orthodontics and opened several offices in New York and New Jersey. Dr. Jacquie says, “The end of treatment is always the most rewarding when I witness how my patients sit up a little taller in my dental chair and become more confident, radiant and expressive. This feeling simply never gets old!”

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends patients with braces to brush and floss immediately after eating a meal or snack. Patients need to visit their orthodontist immediately if any issues arise before their next appointment. Do you need help with your braces? Contact us now for further assistance.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Contact us today for your dental checkup appointment in NYC. You may also call Dr. Jacquie Smiles at 212-972-3522. Our office is conveniently located near 30 East 40th Street Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016.

4 Best Ways to Maintain Your Teeth

Your teeth are more important that you think! You need them to eat, speak, and smile. The condition of your teeth is a reflection of the way you take care of your oral health. The good news is, you can start taking better care of your teeth today, even if you have neglected them in the past. A visit with a dentist will provide you with insight into your oral health and put you on a healthy path. The following list from Dr. Jacquie Smiles is the best ways to maintain your teeth.

Brush Your Teeth

This advice has been given to patients by dentists for hundreds of years. The basic rule is to brush your teeth at least twice a day to maintain good oral health. People usually decide to brush once in the morning and again before going to sleep. However, many people prefer to brush after each meal or about three times per day. Brushing your teeth helps to remove food particles that get trapped in the small crevices of your teeth and gums. Removing this debris from your teeth helps prevent bacteria, plaque, and tartar from building up on your teeth.

Brush Thoroughly

How long does it take you to brush your teeth? If you are rushing through the process and finishing up within 15 seconds, you need to slow down and brush longer. The recommended time frame for brushing teeth is between two to three minutes. You can always set a clock to assure you are brushing the correct amount of time.

Floss Teeth

You probably have heard this a million times but let’s say it again, floss your teeth! Have you ever skipped flossing your teeth and the next time you did it you found some disgusting smelly stuff in between your teeth? That’s exactly the reason you need to floss your teeth. That gross stuff you see on your dental floss breeds bacteria and turns into plaque and tartar.

Limit Sugary Foods

In case you didn’t already know, sugar is your teeth’s enemy. Sugar tastes great and is easily consumed in your morning cup of coffee, favorite desserts, and candy bars. However, the sugar in these tasty treats sit on the teeth and get embedded in the tiny spaces between your teeth which leads to tooth decay. Try limiting sugary foods from your diet or choosing sugar-free alternatives.

Regular dental check-ups are essential to maintaining good oral health. You need to make visiting the dentist a priority in your schedule. A dentist will observe the condition of your teeth and gums, provide guidance, pinpoint issues and discuss prevention techniques. Get started on the right path now by making an appointment with us today!

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5 Reasons Winter is the Best Time to get Teeth Whitening

Winter is arriving soon, and it’s the perfect time of year to whiten your teeth. A bright smile is needed for all of those holiday pictures you will be taking with your friends and family. You don’t want to look back at your social media accounts to see your yellow teeth in every holiday picture. Since teeth whitening doesn’t take long to accomplish, winter is the time to do it!

Holiday Season

The holiday season is quickly approaching; this means your days will be filled with shopping, get-togethers with friends, office parties, family parties and meeting people for the first time. The holiday season is one of the most popular times when you are exposed to meeting new people, and a first, impression is highly important. You always want to put your best foot forward and reveal a bright white smile.

Family Reunion

In today’s world families are living further apart than ever before. The holiday season is the one time of the year when families do their best to reunite in one place. Whether you plan a family winter vacation or choose to meet at your parent’s house to see the entire family, your presence will be admired. Chances are you haven’t seen your family all year, and when you do, it’s essential to look your best. A white smile goes a long way and reveals healthy bright teeth.

Holiday Parties

Holiday parties are part of the winter season. Some people find themselves attending several parties throughout the winter which means you will be laughing and smiling in crowds of people. Nothing is more embarrassing than someone laughing and suddenly stopping to look at the yellow stains on your teeth. Whitening your teeth just in time to enjoy holiday parties is a must for the holidays.

Exposure to Food

Family meals, red wine, desserts, and other teeth-staining foods can discolor your teeth quickly during the holiday season. Beginning winter with white teeth will give you an excellent foundation to maintain during the holiday season. After getting professional teeth whitening treatment, you can easily maintain your bright smile by using a teeth whitening pen developed by Dr. Jacquie Smiles. It’s convenient, on-the-go, easy to use and doesn’t cause tooth sensitivity.

New Beginnings

The New Year arrives during the winter season, and many people prepare for a fresh start to the New Year. Teeth whitening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to begin your self-improvement process. A professional whitening treatment brightens your teeth better than any over the counter options. A bright white smile will improve your self-esteem and boost your confidence.

Everyone always wants to look their best, and a white smile is one of the most important ways to improve your appearance. Sometimes you can look great, have the perfect hairstyle, excellent makeup application and designer clothes, but if you smile and expose yellow stained teeth, it can bring your entire look down along with your self-confidence. So, keep yourself looking great with a white smile and allow the rest to complement your best feature, your pearly whites. Do it now! Contact us for an appointment today!

Schedule your teeth whitening appointment

Are you ready to begin your teeth whitening treatment this winter? Contact us today for your no-obligation appointment in NYC. You may also call Dr. Jacquie Smiles at 212-972-3522. Our office is conveniently located near 30 East 40th Street Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016.

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Top 3 Reasons Why Winter is the Best Season to Start Invisalign

Custom-made and removable, Invisalign is the go-to teeth straightening treatment everyone wants! One obstacle many people struggle with is choosing the time of year to start treatment. The summer season is filled with vacations, getaways, and outdoor fun. It’s definitely not good timing due to busy schedules, traveling and vacationing. Professionals have determined that winter is the best time to begin Invisalign treatment to help straighten your teeth. Here is why.

Treatment Finishes in Time for Summer

Depending on your treatment schedule and length of time Invisalign is needed for you to achieve your beautiful straight smile, your treatment will most likely be completed by summer. This means you will be able to flash your best smile in all your vacation pictures. Since Invisalign is removable, you will also be able to eat and enjoy holiday meals during the winter holidays without interrupting your treatment.

Appointment Flexibility

Scheduling follow-up appointments are often difficult for those with busy schedules. Winter season usually causes people to stay home as much as possible. This means they are prone to canceling appointments or postponing them to warmer times of the year. Setting appointments with your orthodontist that suits your busy schedule is easier during the winter.

Oral Hygiene

It’s cold outside during winter, so it gives you more time to stay indoors and take better care of yourself. You will brush, floss and rinse with mouthwash after every meal since you have easy access to dental hygiene products and supplies. Keeping your aligners clean and removing food particles from your teeth after every meal is essential to your overall oral health. It also prevents your aligners from trapping in food, sugar, and bacteria which causes decay and odor.

Starting your Invisalign treatment at the right time of the year is easy to determine since most patients only need one to one and a half years to complete their treatment. Generally, the time is determined by the orthodontist and suited to the individual patient. Some patients require less time for treatment. Beginning Invisalign treatment in winter often means the patient will be finished by summer.

Chances are you have already done your research about Invisalign and how it works. Your aligners are custom-made and designed to be changed to the next level about every two weeks until treatment is complete. Just in case you don’t know the benefits of this amazing teeth straightening treatment, review the list below.

Benefits of Invisalign

Here are some of the benefits of Invisalign treatment:

Comfort
Improved confidence
Higher self-esteem
Short treatment time
Invisibility
Easier to care for compared to metal braces
Removable
Fewer food restrictions compared to standard braces

Adults and teens that work together with their orthodontist to create the perfect timeline will usually reach their goals by summer. The winter season allows the patient to enjoy the holiday’s, eat whatever they want, and feel confident about their new and continuously improving smile.

Schedule Your Winter Invisalign Consultation

Are you ready to begin your Invisalign treatment this winter? Contact us today for your no-obligation Invisalign appointment in NYC. You may also call Dr. Jacquie Smiles at 212-972-3522. Our office is conveniently located near 30 East 40th Street Park Avenue, New York, New York 10016.

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5 Best Dental Related Holiday Gift Ideas from Dr. Jacquie Smiles

Dr. Jacquie Smiles is proud to recommend a variety of dental related holiday gift ideas. Her career in dentistry and orthodontics began at Boston University. She went on to become the first Director of B.U.’s Predoctoral Orthodontic Department. Dr. Smiles currently has orthodontist offices in New York and New Jersey. Her mission is to brighten the world one smile at a time, and she has created 5 best dental products that make excellent holiday gift ideas.

Dr. Smiles Pop & Prime Whitening Pen

Dr. Jacquie says, “As a top orthodontist and national Invisalign spokesperson for 20 years, the biggest complaint I hear again and again is ‘Whitening doesn’t work for me, and my teeth are too sensitive.’ I developed Dr. Smiles to solve all of these problems.” This revolutionary patented system whitens teeth faster without causing sensitivity. It has an easy-to-use applicator and only takes a few seconds to apply. This convenient whitening pen is easy to carry anywhere and a great way to keep teeth white on-the-go. Learn more about Dr. Smiles Pop & Prime teeth whitening pens.

Smile Gift Bags for Women, Men and Kids

Smile gift bags for women, men and kids make the perfect holiday gift this year. Maintain your beautiful smile with everything you need with this oral hygiene gift bag.

Women’s Smile Gift Bag includes: 10 pack of Pre-Pasted Brushes Toothpaste, Dental Floss, Dr. Jacquie Smiles Lip Balm, Electric Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Mouthwash, 2 Dr. Smiles Whitening Pens (one 2ml and one 4 ml), One Women’s Tank Top.

Men’s Smile Gift Bag includes: 10 pack of Pre-Pasted Brushes Toothpaste, Dental Floss, Dr. Jacquie Smiles Lip Balm, Electric Toothbrush
Toothpaste, Mouthwash, 2 Dr. Smiles Whitening Pens (one 2ml and one 4 ml), One men’s Shirt.

Kids Smile Gift Bags includes: Mouth Guard (great for ALL contact sports!), 10 pack of Pre-Pasted Brushes Toothpaste, Dental Floss, Dr. Jacquie Smiles Lip Balm, Ice Age themed Electric Toothbrush.

Professional In-Office Teeth Whitening

Give somebody a smile this Holiday season! Professional teeth whitening includes a gift tote bag for you to give to your someone special. This treatment is an in-office whitening procedure. Choose from Dr. Jacquie Smiles three convenient office locations: NYC, Monroe, NY and Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

Str8 8 Retainer Program

Give somebody a smile this Holiday season with Dr. Jacquie Smiles Str8 8 Retainer Program! It comes with a gift tote bag for you to give to your someone special! The program includes 8 retainers (4 upper and 4 lower), the Original cost is $1,500. Add Str8 8 Retainer Program to your holiday cart today.

Philips Sonicare For Kids Toothbrush

As kids learn to brush, our effective Sonicare technology does the rest! Designed especially for children, Philips Sonicare for Kids toothbrush encourages healthy brushing habits. Includes FREE Kids brushing app with customizable 8 peel-and-stick designs! Works great with braces, has an easy grip handle and brush timer. The interactive app helps kids develop life-long oral health care habits. Order your Philips Sonicare for Kids toothbrush today.

How to determine what dental product to get?

An excellent way to determine if a friend or family member will enjoy a dental related holiday gift without offending them is to casually mention the products you use in a conversation. Friends, co-workers and family members usually comment if they use the product or if they would like to try the items you mentioned. Any interest in dental products is a sign they will enjoy a gift bag with helpful dental products such as teeth whitening pens, in-office professional whitening, teeth straightening program, or an electric toothbrush.

These dental related hygiene gifts from Dr. Jacquie Smiles can be given as stocking stuffers or as part of a gift bag. Combine common bathroom decorations such as scented candles, wash clothes, bath beads and the dental hygiene products mentioned above for the ultimate gift. Get started stocking up on these dental products in time for holiday gift-giving season. Visit Dr. Jacquie Smiles Shop for more holiday gift ideas.

Things You Can and Can’t Do While Wearing Invisalign

Things You Can and Can’t Do While Wearing Invisalign