Dr. Martin wants to know: Are you wearing your mouth guard?

Let’s face it: sports-related injuries are common this time of year, with kids getting more involved in sports activities such as touch- or tackle football, soccer and baseball. In a 2010 survey, the American Association of Orthodontists discovered that 70 percent of parents said their biggest fear is that their child will get hurt while playing organized sports, and that’s why Dr. Jennifer Martin and our staff are helping spread the word that many facial sports injuries can be prevented simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards.

Here are some common questions Dr. Martin and our team get about mouth guards and facial protection:

How do I prevent teeth from being chipped or broken?

Wear a mouth guard that you boil and bite into, however remember to re-boil the mouth guard ever 2 weeks to accommodate the movement that has occured from the braces.

What happens if a tooth gets knocked out?

Save the tooth! Put under tongue or place in glass of milk or saline solution. Don't scrub tooth. Call Dentist immediately, then call us after you have seen dentist so we can check all braces and wires. You can always reach a staff member in an emergency. Our numbers are on our voice message when you call our office.

How do I fix my teeth if I suffer an injury?

Your teeth can be fixed by your dentist. Give us a call to let Dr. Martin know as well.

Are sports drinks bad for my teeth?

Sports drinks are not "bad" for your teeth as long you are not drinking them on a daily basis. Water is the best drink for your teeth and to stay hydrated!

What if I'm wearing Invisalign? Should I still protect my teeth with a mouth guard?

Yes. While the invisalign aligners can help protect your teeth, but a mouth guard is the best to use when playing contact sports.

What about wearing my retainer while playing sports?http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

We recommend wearing your retainers only during practice. Take retainers out for games and remember to place them in your retainer case. Never put in sports bags or wrap them in tissue or napkins. They will either break or they will get thrown away!

Can I still wear a mouth guard with braces?

Yes, but please re-boil every two weeks. Sports stores also sell mouth guards specifically for braces that do not need to be boiled to accommodate braces.

Give us a call if you have any questions, or ask us on Facebook!

"My son is turning 7 - when should we visit for a consultation?"

Great question! Dr. Jennifer Martin will tell you that braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists suggest it could be a good idea to start early.

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.

Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for Dr. Martin to assess what the best age for treatment is.

We hope this helps! We invite you to give us a call if you have any questions about your child’s treatment and have yourself a relaxing and wonderful weekend!

You may request an appointment by filling out this form.

Have a wonderful weekend!

May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month

At Dr. Jennifer Martin's office, we know image is everything. At an age when image is so important, the thought of having braces may intensify the already-delicate confidence of today's teens. Well, May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month, and during this time, parents are encouraged to act as positive role models, help stop negative self-images, and improve confidence and security among teenagers.

One of the great ways to improve your confidence is to improve your smile. And that begins with a free consultation to Dr. Martin's office. After all, what better time to avoid having crooked teeth in your adulthood than coming in for a consultation with Dr. Martin?

We proudly provide traditional braces and Invisalign Teen for today’s image-conscious teens.

We invite you to give us a call to schedule a free consultation or ask us on Facebook!

What's going on at Dr. Martin's office?

We hope you're having a great week! A couple of things we wanted our patients to know about:

To help the children in Japan who were affected by the earthquake and tsunami, we are asking our patients and families to donate their Martin Money, which Dr. Martin and our team will then convert to real money and make a donation to World Vision's Japan relief fund.

Also, as you might already know, every summer we ask our patients to send in fun postcards. The cards can be from anywhere - vacations, WaterWorld, local trips, even a picture of something the kids did during the summer. At the end of the summer we will hold a drawing.

So, with school concluding soon for a lot of our patients, it's time to start thinking about those family vacations! Please send us those postcards as the summer progresses!