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It's back to school time, and that means it's time for school sports to start and a greater chance of kids damaging their precious mouths and pearly whites. If you play sports, it's important that you consult our office for special precautions, such as wearing a mouth guard. A protective mouth guard is advised for playing spring sports such as baseball, soccer, lacrosse and others. Be sure, however, to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements we are trying to achieve.

In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, please schedule an appointment with the office. And don’t forget to ask us about how you can get a mouth guard for yourself.

Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at our office.

We’ve all heard that biting your nails is an awful habit, but you many wonder- really- what’s so bad about it? This interesting article discusses how biting your nails affect your teeth and oral health.

Nail biting, also known as Onychophagia, is a common habit among various age groups, including primarily children, teens and young adults. Nail biting is generally triggered by stress and most often decreases with age. That being said, nail biting is unsanitary, unattractive, as well as unhealthy for your teeth!

Here’s why:

• It’s unsanitary. Your nails are dirty, almost twice as dirty as your fingers! Hence, biting your nails is just asking for germs and bacteria.

• No good things come to your teeth. Nail biting causes your teeth to constantly be chewing, which is not good for them. This excessive motion wears your teeth down faster than a non-nail biter’s and puts a large amount of stress on your front teeth- contributing to teeth misalignment.

• Braces don’t love it either. Braces already put pressure on teeth, nail biting ads unnecessary pressure, further stressing your teeth and weakening their roots.

• It can be costly. Nail biting can result in up to $4,000 in additional dental bills over one lifetime, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Yikes!

What can you do about it?

Now that you know how harmful nail biting can be, it’s time to take action to break your nail biting habit. Try to be conscious of your fingernails and to keep them looking good- this will help you resist the temptation.

Ask Dr. Alan Kennell or visit the article for tips on how to break a nail biting habit.

It’s that time of year and if you are new to the brace world or need a refresher here are some ideas and thoughts to keep in mind when packing lunch for someone with braces:

Soft foods are always easier and more comfortable to eat and are less likely to be caught in braces.  However choices like gummies, fruit roll ups, taffy etc. will stick like glue!

If you/your child has just had their braces tightened, their mouth may be sore so providing pre-sliced fruit (thinly sliced), yogurt, pudding may be better options for these days.

Some other brace friendly suggestions:

• Banana slices, grape halves, and thinly cut (peeled) apples (dip them all in a bit of lemon juice to keep them from browning)
• Canned peaches or pears, fruit cocktail and Mandarin orange slices
• Applesauce or any of the mixed fruit “sauces” in individual servings
• Thin carrot-curls made with a scraper, plus a small container of grated cheese or hummus, with torn-up fresh pita bread for scooping
• Individual pudding and yogurt cups
• Avocadoes sliced or mashed

The goal is to be soft enough to chew, healthy and filling to keep their mind and teeth strong.  Happy School Days!

It’s that time of year and if you are new to the brace world or need a refresher here are some ideas and thoughts to keep in mind when packing lunch for someone with braces:

Soft foods are always easier and more comfortable to eat and are less likely to be caught in braces.  However choices like gummies, fruit roll ups, taffy etc. will stick like glue!

If you/your child has just had their braces tightened, their mouth may be sore so providing pre-sliced fruit (thinly sliced), yogurt, pudding may be better options for these days.

Some other brace friendly suggestions:

• Banana slices, grape halves, and thinly cut (peeled) apples (dip them all in a bit of lemon juice to keep them from browning)
• Canned peaches or pears, fruit cocktail and Mandarin orange slices
• Applesauce or any of the mixed fruit “sauces” in individual servings
• Thin carrot-curls made with a scraper, plus a small container of grated cheese or hummus, with torn-up fresh pita bread for scooping
• Individual pudding and yogurt cups
• Avocadoes sliced or mashed

The goal is to be soft enough to chew, healthy and filling to keep their mind and teeth strong.  Happy School Days!