Our Blog

Need some gift ideas for family members and friends who seem to have absolutely everything? Who are impossible to shop for? Who tell you not to worry, it’s the thought that counts? Well, we have a few suggestions to show your loved ones that you’ve put a lot of thought into their gifts this holiday season. 

You love to see your friends and family smile, so we’ve come up with some smile-worthy ideas curated to their specific interests. And they’re braces-friendly, too!

Environmental Ally

The world is becoming a more eco-conscious place, and happily this transformation includes products designed for personal care. Put together a spa basket which is good for your friend’s dental health and the planet!

A recyclable gift box containing zero-waste, environmentally friendly bath products and organic cotton face cloths becomes even more mindful with the addition of bamboo or recycled plastic toothbrushes, bamboo interdental picks, and biodegradable floss. 

Don’t forget to include a colorful, insulated water bottle for sustainable hydration—and washing away food particles when there’s no handy place to brush after eating. Healthy planet/healthy smile.

Talented Techie

If your friend or relative is high-tech all the way, maybe it’s time for a dental upgrade. 

Water flossers are a great way to eliminate stubborn plaque around brackets and behind wires. Adjustable water pressure applies just the right amount of cleaning power. The flow can be directed to the gumline, between teeth, around brackets, or anywhere else needed. Some models even offer tapered heads with brushes designed specifically for cleaning braces. 

And for an extra thoughtful touch, include a packet of plaque disclosing tablets. Chewing one of these helpful little tablets will reveal any plaque that’s still on the teeth.

Adventure Seeker

How about a new backpack or carry-all for outdoor or travel adventures? A travel first aid kit is always a welcome addition for the person on the go.

Go the extra step and help a friend be prepared for anything with an emergency dental kit designed for braces. You can find these lightweight kits in stores or online, or you can assemble one yourself with a travel-size orthodontic toothbrush and toothpaste, floss threaders and floss, interproximal brushes, a travel mirror, and, of course, orthodontic wax in a handy kit bag. Include a pack of sugar-free gum—it helps with altitude changes and hydration. Ask Dr. Daniel Very or the team at Very Orthodontics for suggestions!

Film Buff

If your bestie likes nothing better than an evening spent in front of the home screen, consider a subscription or gift card for a streaming service tailored to his or her favorites, whether it’s classic films, sci-fi, action, rom-coms, or epic adventures. 

And don’t forget the binge-watch treats! Fill a basket with braces-friendly goodies like peanut butter cups, junior mints, soft chocolate truffles, and some sparkling water. Maybe add a gift card for healthy smoothies and ice cream. Who needs popcorn and sodas?

No matter who’s on your shopping list, tailoring your gifts to their interests and their well-being is a great way to share happy, healthy holiday smiles with family and friends in Boardman or Niles.

If it’s your first Thanksgiving dinner with braces, you might be a bit nervous. After all, broken brackets and wires can take the fun right out of feasting! 

Thankfully, we can help make your holiday meals more enjoyable with some menu tips for braces-friendly foods. 

#1 Be Choosy about Snacks

Thanksgiving is often more than one meal—it’s a whole day of nibbling. Just be sure to enjoy snacks which are safe for your brackets and wires while you wait for the turkey to make its appearance. Avoid foods like crunchy raw vegetables, nuts, popcorn, and chips, which can be hard on your braces. Instead, go for the softer selections on the appetizer tray:

• Sliced and cubed fruits
• Soft breads 
• Deviled eggs
• Spreadable or thinly sliced cheeses
• Meatballs
• Thinly sliced, soft deli meats

#2 Tweak Tradition as Needed

Some items on the traditional menu can be enjoyed as is, and some can be safely eaten with just a bit of tweaking. 

• Creamy mashed potatoes and gravy are good to go
• Soft-cooked vegetables are easy on braces and filled with nutrients
• Turkey and ham are safe if you cut the meat from the bone and into bite-size pieces
• Choose jellied cranberry sauce instead of crunchy versions
• Stick to the soft, non-crunchy parts of dressing or stuffing and add some gravy for moisture
• Enjoy rolls and bread without nuts or hard crusts

#3 Don’t Forget Dessert!

Luckily for us, many of our favorite Thanksgiving desserts are easy on braces. Delicious, braces-friendly choices include:

• Pumpkin pie
• Cheesecake
• Apple pie with ice cream 
• Soft cakes
• Puddings
• Soft truffles

Which desserts should wait until you’re finished with your orthodontic treatment? Nutty and chewy desserts and candies like pecan pie and caramels can cause loose or damaged braces, so it’s a “No, thank you” this year to the sticky, crunchy, and chewy items on the dessert buffet.

#4 Good Dental Hygiene Doesn’t Take Holidays Off

Holidays are busy, with shared meals and travelling and get-togethers in Boardman or Niles. But it’s still essential to make time for proactive dental care, especially now that you wear braces. 

Food which gets stuck in your brackets and wires isn’t just annoying, it’s also bad for your tooth enamel. When food sticks around, the bacteria in plaque use those sugars and carbs to create acids which erode teeth and lead to cavities. And since Thanksgiving day is often filled with nibbling on foods high in sugars and carbs, your teeth might need some extra TLC throughout the day.

• If you’re home, brush and floss as usual after eating. If you’re travelling, bring a kit with a travel-size toothbrush and toothpaste and some floss to keep your braces and teeth clean and your breath fresh throughout the day. 
• If you’ve been eating acidic foods, wait about 30-60 minutes to brush. Acids weaken enamel temporarily, and, until the enamel rehardens, brushing can be abrasive.
• Hydrate with water. Water helps wash away food particles from teeth and braces and helps neutralize enamel-damaging acids in foods like cranberry sauce and sodas.

The team at Very Orthodontics wants you to have a wonderful holiday with family and friends while you’re on your way to a beautiful, healthy smile. If you have any questions on just which foods should and shouldn’t be on your menu this Thanksgiving, talk to Dr. Daniel Very to discover the best ideas for stress-free holiday feasting.

A vital step in your oral health routine is flossing. We hope our patients at Very Orthodontics maintain good oral hygiene, including daily flossing between each visit to our Boardman or Niles office. A toothbrush is not always enough to get to the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth. When food remains between your teeth, bacteria starts to grow and will break down your enamel. This is where flossing comes in!

Should you floss before or after brushing?

Whatever your personal preference, you may floss before or after you brush your teeth. When you floss first, you can brush away any leftover dislodged food debris from your teeth. On the other hand, when you brush first, you will loosen the plaque between your teeth, which makes flossing more effective.

The essential aspect is that you floss thoroughly by using a fresh strand of floss and make sure to get between every tooth. Even if your teeth look and feel clean, don’t skip flossing or plaque will begin to build up on your teeth.

When is the best time to floss?

Although you should brush your teeth at least twice a day, Dr. Daniel Very and our team recommend flossing your teeth thoroughly once a day. Many people prefer to floss before bed, so that plaque doesn’t sit between their teeth all night.

What kind of floss should I use?

You may choose between interdental cleaning picks or flexible floss strands to perform your daily flossing routine. If you have permanent oral appliances or restorations, be sure to follow the flossing instructions provided to you.

Do you need help flossing?

If you’re having trouble flossing or have questions about which floss is best for your teeth, contact our Boardman or Niles office and we can provide you with support. Be sure to keep up with your daily flossing routine, and we will see you at your next appointment!

It's a habit many people have and not only can it be annoying to the people around you, it can be detrimental to your dental health. Chewing ice is so common that it even has its own name, pagophagia. We're not talking about a slushy or shaved ice (although those artificially sugary treats should be avoided too!) but more like the hunks of ice rattling around in the bottom of your glass.

Ice chewing can be a sign of emotional problems like stress or obsessive-compulsive disorder, but it can also be a marker for iron deficiency anemia and other physical problems. Then again, some people just like to have something to chew on. For whatever reason you find yourself chewing on it, it's a habit you need to break.

Chewing on ice can cause:

• Chipped and cracked teeth
• Damaged enamel
• Sore jaw muscles
• Damage to dental work such as crowns, fillings, or other appliances

If chewing on ice is becoming a problem in your life, don’t hesitate to speak with Dr. Daniel Very about it. But if you find yourself still wanting to chew on something, here are a few alternatives to ice:

• Baby carrots
• Celery sticks
• Sugar-free (xylitol) gum

We know you need to chill sometimes, but chomping down your entire glass of ice is not the way to do it. If you have any other questions on the topic, feel free to talk with a member of our Boardman or Niles team. It may be beneficial in solving the issue and helping to remediate any damage to your teeth.