On the whole, lingual braces are not much different from their traditional counterparts. They bring your teeth into their more ideal alignment by repositioning them gently and carefully. The major difference is they do not sit on the front of your teeth. They rest on the back instead.

Their position allows them to work unseen, so you do not have to show them when you smile. Regular braces can sometimes steal the scene from your teeth, because they cover a good deal of them. Lingual braces are not attention thirsty, and they can allow you to sport your smile without worrying about showing people a bunch of metal.

If you would like to try lingual braces and see if they are right for your teeth, we offer them here at Rivera Orthodontics in El Paso, Texas. Our orthodontist, Dr. Jaime Rivera, is happy to discuss them with you, and he does all he can to give you your best smile. Feel free to call us at 915-592-5853, and we will gladly answer any questions you may have.

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Plenty of foods can cause issues with braces. One type is sticky foods, which can include quite a few candies. You may want to say no to gum, taffy, caramel and other such soft candies when they are presented to you.

These foods may seem harmless, but they can get wedged into open spaces between the wires and brackets. When they get stuck, they can get stuck, which can mess up the braces. The issues do not stop there, as they can also break your braces, which can put off the day when you can present your new smile to your peers.

We hope you understand that broken braces are not the end of the world. If they have a problem, then Dr. Jaime Rivera, our orthodontist, may be able to fix it and get them back on track. Fortunately, as you bear this advice in mind when you are offered these candies, such a repair job may not be necessary.

If you would like to straighten your teeth, we can supply you with braces here at Rivera Orthodontics in El Paso, Texas. We are always happy to help our patients get their best smile. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call 915-592-5853, and we will help you with whatever you need.

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-Pack your oral hygiene kit: Your oral hygiene kit should include your toothbrush, interdental toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, floss threaders, orthodontic wax and more. These things will help you keep your braces and smile clean and fresh. Cleaning your teeth, gums and braces regularly can help keep them in tip-top shape.

-Pack your mouthguard: Your mouthguard can help you if you participate in high-contact activities. In fact, it can help you avoid a broken appliance and knocked-out and broken teeth! This is possible because it can absorb the force applied to your smile and braces when you suffer a blow to the face.

-Avoid chewy and sticky foods: These foods are very harmful to the braces and smile. This is because they pull the brackets off the teeth and cling to the braces and promote dental issues, like cavities. So, it’s best to avoid these foods and stick to more braces-friendly foods.

For more information and details about braces in El Paso, Texas, please contact our orthodontic team at Rivera Orthodontics. We are here to help you in any way we can, even if it’s just by answering your questions. We look forward to hearing from you and giving you the information you seek!

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Lingual Braces
Ask Dr. Jaime Rivera about lingual braces. These braces have brackets that are attached to the backside of the teeth instead of to the front, so they will not be visible when you smile. As with traditional braces, wires will connect to these brackets and control the movement of the teeth.

Living With Lingual Braces
Having lingual braces means that you can smile with confidence, as your orthodontic appliance is invisible to others! Your smile will look as great as ever. In fact, your lingual braces will be slowly improving the health and appearance of your smile with no one the wiser.

When wearing lingual braces, you can continue to eat many of your favorite foods. However, you’ll need to be a little more careful. Choose softer foods that are easier to cut or chew. Avoid sticky, crunchy or hard foods like bubble gum or raw carrots. Our orthodontist will give you instructions about which foods to avoid.

Cleaning Your Lingual Braces
Keeping your teeth clean during orthodontic treatment is very important, as at any other time. However, caring for your teeth is a little more involved when wearing orthodontic appliances like lingual braces. Food can get stuck in the brackets and wires of your lingual brackets, which can cause tooth decay and other issues if it is not removed. During treatment, brush your teeth after each meal. Make sure that you brush each tooth above and below the bracket, and the brackets themselves. Then, of course, brush all other surfaces of the teeth.

Flossing is also imperative during lingual braces treatment. Consider using a floss threader to aid you in getting the floss above or beneath the wires of your braces.

Please contact Rivera Orthodontics at 915-592-5853 to learn more about lingual braces and to schedule a consultation with our orthodontist in El Paso, Texas.

The post Choose Lingual Braces for a Discreet Orthodontic Experience first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

Notwithstanding, it is now fairly commonplace for adults to get braces either because they never had them as a youth, or because their teeth have moved out of alignment over the years. Generally, braces will work exactly the same way as do braces for kids. When choosing to get braces, adults will find that there are more options than there used to be when they were young. In particular, you can opt for less visible, transparent, and tooth-colored types that are easier to hide so that wearing them is less noticeable. Metallic color front and center is no longer the only choice these days.

There are three particular approaches for the less visible kind of braces:

–Aligner trays: Clear plastic molds that change to gradually push teeth into proper position.
–Porcelain braces: Tooth-colored brackets made of porcelain, not metal.
–Lingual braces: Hidden brackets are cemented to the backs of the teeth to be unseen.

If you need braces as an adult and one of these less visible options is of interest to you, consult with your orthodontist to discuss. One type might work better for you than the other.

Dr. Jaime Rivera would be happy to meet with you for an evaluation. Please contact Rivera Orthodontics to make an appointment at: 915-592-5853, or come by our office in El Paso, Texas.

The post Less Visible Braces for Adults first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

One reason why it’s important to have a braces-friendly diet is because it helps you maintain functional braces, and you need functional braces to have a top-notch smile. If you eat chewy and sticky foods that are damaging to the braces, your brackets and wires can break. This delays your treatment time because the appliance no longer works effectively. So, please do your best to stick to foods that are OK for the braces as well as avoid the sticky, hard, and chewy foods that are not.

Another reason why having a braces-friendly diet is important is because it helps you avoid dental issues, like tooth decay, gum disease, and enamel erosion. Having dental issues can cause pain, delay your treatment time, and add complications to the entire process.

For more information and details about having a braces-friendly diet in El Paso, Texas, please contact Rivera Orthodontics at 915-592-5853 when you have the opportunity. Our orthodontic team will be happy to give you the information and help you need as long as you reach out to us!

The post Why is a Braces-Friendly Diet Important When I’m Aligning My Smile? first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

In most cases, our orthodontist will recommend a retainer after braces or aligner treatment. As the name suggests, a retainer is used to retain the new position of the teeth while the bones and ligaments of the jaw retighten and stabilize. If a retainer is not worn as recommended, the teeth can shift out of alignment.

Types of Retainers
Retainers come in removable and fixed varieties. You can easily take removable retainers out when you eat or brush and floss your teeth. Removable retainers are usually worn for at least a year after braces are removed. Hawley retainers are the most common type of removable retainer. They are custom made and are kept in place by a wire that wraps around the teeth. A more aesthetic type of removable retainer is made from a nearly invisible plastic. Fixed retainers, which are usually worn for several years, are cemented to the backs of the teeth.

Retainer Care
We suggest that you carry your retainer case with you and always use it when you’re not wearing your retainer. This can help you to avoid losing or damaging your retainer. To clean removable retainers, soak them in vinegar and water or denture-cleaning tablets. For a fixed retainer, going to your regular checkups allows your dentist to check for cavities and to make sure that the areas around your retainer are clean of tartar and plaque.

We welcome you to contact Rivera Orthodontics at 915-592-5853 today for more information about retainers in El Paso, Texas, and to schedule your next visit with Dr. Jaime Rivera.

The post Retain Your New, Straight Smile first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

– Given society’s desire for straight teeth, along with its oral health benefits, orthodontics focuses on doing just that: straightening teeth.
– Orthodontic aligners, retainers, and braces can help you achieve a set of beautiful, fully functional teeth.
– A straight smile is the ultimate objective of orthodontics through the correction of a malocclusion and any bad bites or disorders that adds to crooked teeth.
– In many cases, people believe that braces and aligners are only for young people, but they are just as helpful for adults and can straighten your teeth no matter what age you are.
– Orthodontists have a vast store of knowledge due to the fact that their training extends well beyond regular dental school. They can offer many treatments that dentists cannot and can give you the appropriate attention to accurately clean your smile.

Come and visit our dental team at Rivera Orthodontics to check if you are suffering from misaligned teeth. To book an appointment with Dr. Jaime Rivera and our team at our orthodontic office in El Paso, Texas, you can call us at 915-592-5853. We are here to help you get the perfect smile of your dreams!

The post How Orthodontics Can Boost Your Smile’s Beauty and Function first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

If you wear a fixed retainer, you may not even realize that it has broken until you notice your teeth starting to move out of alignment. To prevent a fixed retainer from breaking, be conscientious about what you eat and avoid hard foods that can cause damage. Your dentist will have to remove and repair your retainer, but in the meantime, you should wear a mouthguard when you sleep, and stay away from hard and tough foods until you can see your dentist for repairs.

If your removable retainer is broken or damaged, you will need to have it repaired or replaced. You should take your retainer out when you are playing sports and when you are eating. You will receive a case with your retainer, and you should store your retainer in it when necessary. Get in the habit of keeping your case in your pocket, purse, backpack or briefcase, since retainers are expensive to replace, and you don’t want to lose it.

Make sure that you visit your orthodontist for your regular appointments so that he can check your retainer for damage, and to make sure that your teeth are still in their proper alignment. If you are thinking about correcting your smile, our dentist, Dr. Jaime Rivera would be happy to give you an exam and a consultation. If you would like to make an appointment at Rivera Orthodontics in El Paso, Texas, call 915-592-5853 today.

The post What to do About a Broken Retainer first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

With orthodontic braces, you can enhance your self-esteem by improving your smile. A straighter smile is a happier smile and the first step to a more effective self-image. Straighter teeth are also easier to clean and care for, as plaque has fewer voids to hide in when brushing and flossing.

Orthodontic braces can help repair your alignment and lower your risks for dental damage due to bruxism and temporomandibular disorders. Teeth with severe malocclusions are also likely to suffer from chips and cracks due to the grinding and wear they receive when brushing against each another.

If you would like to schedule an orthodontic treatment session, simply call our orthodontic office in El Paso, Texas, at our number 915-592-5853. Dr. Jaime Rivera and our entire team await. The time is now to make the change you wish to see in your oral health.

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