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Well, of course you can chew gum and wear braces. But, should you chew gum and wear braces? That can be a sticky question.

For many years, the answer was a firm “No.” Not only did our favorite chewables literally gum up the (dental) works, but they were filled with loads of the sugar that cavity-causing bacteria love to feed on. The result? A much better chance of damage to your orthodontic work, and a higher risk of cavities near your brackets and wires.

But times, and gum recipes, change. Today’s sugar-free gum provides us with some new ideas to chew over.

• Sugarless gum is much less sticky than regular gum, so it is much less likely to stick to your appliance. If there is any chance that gum will damage your wires or brackets, we’ll let you know that it’s best to wait until your braces are off to indulge.
• Some orthodontic patients find that their jaws and ligaments are less sore if they chew gum for a few minutes after an adjustment.
• Most important, studies suggest that chewing sugarless gum might actually help prevent cavities from forming. How is that possible?

Because chewing gum increases our production of saliva! Okay, we don’t normally find saliva an exciting, exclamation-point-worthy topic, but let’s look at the dental benefits:

• Saliva washes away food particles and bacteria. And because braces can trap food when we eat, it’s great to have some help washing away any meal-time souvenirs.
• Saliva helps neutralize acids in the mouth. The acids found in foods and produced by oral bacteria lead to cavities, so diluting and neutralizing their effects provide important protection for our enamel.
• Saliva helps bathe the teeth in minerals that can actually rebuild weakened enamel. Acids in the mouth attack minerals in the enamel such as the calcium and phosphate that strengthen our teeth. Fortunately, saliva provides calcium, phosphate, and fluoride that can actually help rebuild weakened enamel.

So, should you chew gum and wear braces? The real question is, should you chew gum while you’re in braces? Drs. Jimmy Glenos and Craig Hadgis and our team are more than happy to provide the right answer for you! Talk to us at your next visit to our St. Johns or St. Augustine, FL office about the potential benefits and drawbacks of dentist-approved sugarless gum. Depending on the kind of gum you choose and the kind of orthodontic work you are having done, the answer just might surprise you.

Many patients ask Drs. Jimmy Glenos and Craig Hadgis and our team about the differences between Damon Smile braces and regular braces. Today we thought we'd share some information on Damon Smile.

A lot of our patients, especially adults, come to Drs. Jimmy Glenos and Craig Hadgis thinking traditional braces are the only answer to straight teeth. Here at Smiles by Glenos & Hadgis Orthodontists, we offer Damon Smile, a revolutionary new braces system that can give you better results in less time!

Am I right for Damon Smile?

Drs. Jimmy Glenos and Craig Hadgis will evaluate your eligibility for Damon Smile, as it can be used for children and adults alike!

What makes Damon Smile braces better?

Probably the biggest advantage to Damon braces versus traditional brackets is the amount of time and effort involved. Treatment with Damon Smile can often cut months off of the total treatment time and fewer visits to our office are necessary to make adjustments.

If you have any questions about Damon Smile or your treatment here at Smiles by Glenos & Hadgis Orthodontists, please post a comment here or give us a call!

After you complete your orthodontic treatment at our St. Johns or St. Augustine, FL office and have your Damon Smile braces removed, you will most likely be given a retainer to wear by Drs. Jimmy Glenos and Craig Hadgis. Retainers will help protect all of the time and money that you’ve invested into your newly aligned teeth, by keeping them in place for many years to come. You will have the self-confidence to smile proudly and know that you have had the best possible treatment.

Permanent Retainers

Many orthodontists prefer to place a permanent bonded retainer behind your front teeth, either on the top or bottom or sometimes both. These are preferred due to the fact that they can be placed on your teeth and forgot about. There is no need to keep track of it, or worry about losing or cleaning it. They are the simplest to deal with long term, and they last can last for many years.

Removable Retainers

Many people do prefer removable retainers but there is a bit more maintenance that you need to be aware of if you choose to go this route.

• You must remove your retainer while you eat and drink.
• You must remember to wear as your orthodontist advised; most patients wear them all night.
• Remove when brushing your teeth and also brush the retainer.
• Retainers can break, so be careful with them.

In order to know what is the best method of caring for your smile after your Damon Smile braces are removed you should speak to Drs. Jimmy Glenos and Craig Hadgis. You definitely want to protect your investment and smile!

Drs. Jimmy Glenos and Craig Hadgis and our team get this question a lot. The word lingual means tongue, and lingual braces work in a similar fashion to regular braces, but with one important difference: Lingual braces are attached to the inside surfaces of the teeth facing the tongue, so they are practically invisible. Plus, they can align your teeth just as effectively as traditional braces. Treatment time with lingual braces at Smiles by Glenos & Hadgis Orthodontists is similar, too. Of course, each patient’s treatment time depends on his or her unique case.

What are the advantages of lingual braces?

Besides being completely invisible while straightening your teeth, lingual braces are just as efficient as clear aligners when it comes to complex movements such as correcting rotations, closing extraction spaces, or changing the height of your teeth. Plus, any discoloration or white spots that occur from wearing braces will be on the inside of your teeth. Lingual braces are also custom fit to each patient, which ensures a higher level of comfort.

If you have been considering orthodontic treatment, or would like to learn more about how lingual braces work, we encourage you to give us a call at our convenient St. Johns or St. Augustine, FL office. Drs. Jimmy Glenos and Craig Hadgis and our team at Smiles by Glenos & Hadgis Orthodontists will be happy to answer all of your questions and help you determine if lingual braces are right for you.