Celebrate National Orthodontic Health Month This October With Us in Spook-tacular Style!

Posted .

Yearly, we celebrate Orthodontic Health Month in October, and this year doesn’t vary! We love helping our patients achieve straighter smiles and properly aligned bites. With proper orthodontic care, your smile can look great, your mouth can function well, and your daily oral hygiene routine can be more efficient!

Straight teeth are easier to maintain, and proper alignment not only enhances your smile but also ensures that your joints remain healthier by evenly distributing pressure across all teeth. Correcting crooked teeth, protruding teeth, or a misaligned bite helps prevent cavities, tooth loss, gum disease, and jaw problems. Appropriate orthodontic treatment harmonizes your smile for optimal dental health.

Orthodontic treatment has made significant progress since the early days of using materials like ivory, wood, copper, zinc, and later gold or silver to wrap teeth. Today’s braces use high-tech materials for maximum results and comfort, making it no surprise that the American Association of Orthodontists officially observes National Orthodontic Health Month.

Why Observe National Orthodontic Health Month

Straight teeth contribute to clearer speech. Common speech issues like lisping, whistling, word slurring, and mispronunciation can arise from improper tooth and jaw alignment. Misalignment can interfere with tongue placement, making it difficult to form words correctly, leading to stuttering or slurred speech. Mispronunciation happens when teeth are out of alignment, making it hard to enunciate sounds like “T,” “S,” or “CH,” which rely on tongue-to-tooth contact. Lisping and whistling often result from an overbite or gaps between teeth, preventing correct tongue placement and causing air to escape when speaking.

This month is a good reminder to check your kid’s growing smile for possible problems. Crowded or overlapping teeth, jaw growth issues, and poor tooth development can be treated and prevented. Cavities, early loss of baby teeth, mouth injuries, and long-term thumb-sucking can cause tooth and jaw issues in children.

Straight teeth also enhance self-esteem. A confident smile can make a big difference in how you feel about yourself, encouraging you to smile more often and speak with confidence. For children, a straighter smile can lead to better performance in school, as they feel more at ease and confident.

Observing National Orthodontic Health Month

Now is an ideal time to schedule an orthodontic appointment for an assessment. An appropriately aligned mouth helps your teeth function correctly and provides the beautiful smile you desire. It also makes biting, chewing, and speaking easier, and it improves the effectiveness of brushing and flossing. Straight teeth facilitate easier and more effective cleaning, which is vital to maintaining good oral health.

During October, with treats everywhere, it’s crucial to avoid harmful foods. Excessive sugary treats and candy can damage your teeth and gums. A diet high in sugar and low in nutritious foods can lead to gum disease.

Braces-Friendly Halloween Treats

  • Hershey Kisses
  • Chocolates
  • Malt balls
  • Jello and pudding
  • Ice cream and yogurt
  • Peeled and thinly-sliced apples
  • Peanut butter cups
  • Soft peppermint patties

National Orthodontic Health Month is an excellent time to practice a braces-friendly diet that protects gum health and avoids cavities. Limit Halloween treats, and ensure thorough brushing and flossing every day. Rinsing with a healthy mouthwash can also boost your oral care. Finally, keep all scheduled routine visits to ensure your orthodontic treatment stays on track. Celebrate October with us in spook-tacular style!