Author: Southern Maine Team

You may take vitamins daily for energy or a better immune system. But, vitamins are good for more than keeping your energy up or gut health, they are integral to good oral health as well. Vitamins are a great and super easy preventative measure for common oral health issues. Improving your mouth’s health every day Read More

Diet is an important aspect of good oral health. Beyond brushing and flossing every night, it’s also good to understand which foods are doing the most damage to your teeth, and how to lessen or avoid that damage altogether. As you shop, it always pays off to check labels for high sugar content, high levels Read More

Traveling is already stressful, so we don’t want caring for your Invisalign to make it even worse. The good news is that there are a few small changes to your packing routine that can alleviate Invisalign- related stress taking away from your vacation. When you’re in a new place, far from your orthodontist’s office, it’s Read More

Every year, you visit your doctor for a check-up. These well visits are to ensure you are healthy for the year to come! You also should have visits like these with your dentist, you need to have a dental check at least once every six months to make sure your teeth and mouth are healthy. Read More

Invisalign is as common today as traditional braces. Usually, when you go to the orthodontist, you’ll be shown multiple treatment options, from Invisalign clear aligners to traditional bracket and wire braces. How does Invisalign work exactly? A completely invisible treatment that allows you to eat whatever you want is too good to be true, isn’t Read More

The week after your new braces go on is often tough. There’s a lot you have to adjust to from metal in your mouth to changes in diet, nightly routine, and oral hygiene. Transitions and changes are never easy, and to help make your journey to a beautiful smile smooth and painless, Dr. Christopher Murphy Read More

After months or even years of braces, patients are only too happy to finally be done with treatment. To make sure the smile you leave our office with stays with you forever, you’ll need to be fitted with and wear a retainer. Retainers prevent relapse and are a way to make sure the movements your Read More

Many of our patients are student athletes or have a sport they love. After getting braces, many of these sports-enthusiasts wonder if they’ll have to take a break from their games and practices. We’ve all heard horror stories of sports injuries, even worse witnessed one ourselves. Playing sports during orthodontic treatment is 100% possible! The Read More

Often when parents bring young children into our office for initial evaluation, they are missing several primary teeth. Parents are worried that starting treatment won’t be an option until all the permanent teeth have grown in, or until all baby teeth have fallen out. It’s common to wonder if your child is losing teeth at Read More

Choosing your orthodontist, and by extension, what your options are for years of orthodontic treatment and appointments, is no small feat. One of the deciding factors in this decision is which types of tooth movement your orthodontist has available. Traditional braces, self-ligating braces, or even Invisalign are all options. With so much innovation in the Read More

It’s scary to be at home, school, or sports practice and feel a part of your braces loosen or even fall completely off your tooth, but it’s a more common occurrence than you may think.. The good news is that most of these incidents are actually minor and easily fixed by your orthodontist. Here are Read More

“How long do braces take?” is the most common question we’re asked by patients. People want to know how long they’ll have to make room in their life for their braces – it’s understandable. Braces are hard to brush and floss around, they come with food restrictions, and they can be a source of embarrassment Read More

Young children often put anything and everything in their mouths. Unless it develops into bad habits that carry into later childhood, this curiosity is beneficial. Long-term oral health can be negatively affected by habits like nail-biting, thumb sucking, excessive use of pacifiers, and tongue thrusting as you swallow.    Nail Biting Biting your nails is Read More

Flossing can sometimes get forgotten or skipped in a nightly oral hygiene routine. But, flossing is actually essential to maintaining oral health, especially throughout orthodontic treatment. Before we get into how to become an expert braces flosser, here’s some more information about why flossing is so critical in the first place.    Flossing is just Read More

Often the first step of orthodontic treatment is an expander. Expanders, or palatal expanders, are orthodontic appliances that increase the space between the halves of the upper jaw. While that sounds scary and painful, expanders are very common! Many young and growing orthodontic patients have expanders, and they can help make sure you don’t have Read More

One of our most common questions from patients is “What can I eat with my braces?” or “What foods do I have to give up?” and we have a few simple guidelines to share. Getting braces is a big change, and on top of the wires, brackets, or Invisalign trays, there’s a whole new set Read More

Having to live, eat, and brush around braces is certainly a big task. Many teens and adults who have braces worry about braving the dating scene. Braces can make dating seem daunting and heightens nerves all around. Never fear! There’s no reason your orthodontic treatment should hamper your romantic life. Whether you’re a teen or Read More

Canker sores are flat white sores that appear in your mouth and can last for a week or more. What causes these small mouth ulcers is unknown. Canker sores aren’t a serious issue, but they aren’t the most comfortable.  However, they are quite easy to prevent, especially once you understand what triggers them.   In Read More

Oftentimes, older teens and adults who are referred to an orthodontist aren’t very excited to begin treatment. Rightfully so! Having a mouth full of metal to clean, eat, and live around can be daunting. The option that many may overlook when searching for orthodontic treatment is Invisalign, the nearly invisible alternative to braces. Some people Read More

According to the American Association of Orthodontists, one in four patients is an adult. With so many options available in modern orthodontics, there’s no reason to put off a beautiful smile. There are many treatment options available to reduce treatment time.  With all the effort put towards eating right, staying fit, and otherwise taking care Read More