Flossing with Braces 101

Dr. Claro and Dr. Ghafouri will tell you that keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever when you have braces. Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll expehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifrience better results and could possibly reduce your treatment time.

Here is a very concise video explaining the proper way to floss your teeth with braces. Give Irvine Orthodontics a call if you have more questions about flossing. Enjoy!

"Now that I have braces, what can I eat?"

You just got braces and Drs. Claro & Ghafouri have informed you that over the next several months you will want to avoid eating anything sticky, hard, crunchy, or chewy. What does this leave for you to eat? Lettuce? Nothing?

Luckily, there was someone else wondering the same thing when she first got braces! Brenda Waterman, 13, decided she was going to find a way to have her cake and eat it too, so she created a variety of “braces-friendly” recipes that allow you to enjoy your favorite treats without interfering with your orthodontic care! Her cookbook, “The Braces Cookbook: Recipes you (and your Orthodontist) will Love,” gives patients a variety of delicious recipes, safe to eat with braces; plus additional tips and advice for packing lunches, what to eat at parties, and braces-friendly restaurant dishes! There’s even a section with tips for dealing with the soreness that can occur when your braces or appliance are adjusted. Enjoy the foods you love – even with braces!

Here is a delicious, sneak peek recipe from “The Braces Cookbook:”

Wonderful Waffles

Forget the recipe that came with your waffle iron – this recipe will redefine fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth goodness. The secret to delicious waffles is letting the batter "sit" for five minutes before pouring into the waffle iron. Top cooked waffles with syrup, jam, fresh fruit or even whip cream. Makes about 5 servings!

Preheat your waffle iron according to the directions. You may want to lightly spray it with vegetable oil before heating.
• 3 cups flour
• 2 Tbl + 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 Tbl sugar
• 4 cups milk
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

In a large bowl, whisk (or use electric mixer on low) together all ingredients. Let batter sit for about five minutes to activate the baking powder.

When waffle iron is ready, pour about 1/3 cup of batter onto each of the four squares (experiment with your iron – you don't want the batter overflowing). Gently close the cover and set your timer as the manufacturer suggests. Do not lift the cover while they bake. When done, carefully lift one edge with a flat spatula and pull the waffle away from the iron. Keep waffles warm on a plate under a clean dishtowel while the others bake.

Enjoy!

Straight talk with Drs. Claro and Ghafouri

Some people wonder why our staff at Irvine Orthodontics works tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean! At Irvine Orthodontics, we truly care about our patients. Drs. Claro and Ghafouri want to help every one of our patients achieve a healthy, beautiful smile that transcends the boundaries of their expectations and gives them a renewed sense of self-confidence. Plus, in California, we know the importance of having a great smile! We want to help you achieve the healthy, straight, confident smile that you’ve always wanted.

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call at (949) 786-7800 to set up a consultation. Drs. Claro and Ghafouri can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Ask Drs. Claro & Ghafouri: What's the deal with retainers?

If you've recently completed treatment at Irvine Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you again! Now that your braces have been removed, Drs. Claro or Ghafouri will provide—or have provided you by now—with retainers. After your braces have been removed, your teeth may still shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, provide the stabilization your teeth need.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment, please check out this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth. Or, you may give us a call! Happy Monday!