Suffering from a poking wire?

As the teeth start to move, the wire that connects them (archwire) may begin poking near the back of the mouth or irritating the cheeks. You can try moving the wire into a better position with a pencil eraser or a Q-Tip. If the wire won't move, you may be able to cut the end off with a nail clipper sterilized in alcohol — but before doing so, please call our office for our guidance or instructions. Often, you can also use tweezers to gently move a misplaced wire or a tie that's causing problems.

When wires or brackets cause irritation, covering the metal parts with wax will often help ease the discomfort. As with any of these types of problems, call us at Rhode Island Orthodontics and we'll schedule a time to see you.

Heads Up From #RiOrtho

April is National Facial Protection Month, so #RiOrtho wants to give you a heads up on concussions in youth sports. As your orthodontic provider, we understand that head concussions are a little out of our area of expertise. However, we feel it is our duty to provide you with as much information for your overall health as we can, when we see fit. That being said, let’s talk about concussions.

Did you know…

• Most concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
• Athletes who have, at any point in their lives, had a concussion have an increased risk for another concussion.
• Young children and teens are more likely to get a concussion and take longer to recover than adults.

A concussion is a form of a traumatic brain injury that changes the way the brain normally works. Typically, a concussion is caused by a blow, bump, or jolt to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth. Even minor blows or bumps to the head can be serious.

Signs and symptoms can occur suddenly, or may not be noticed for days or weeks until after the injury. If one or more signs are noticed, it is advised to seek help from a health care professional. Check out some signs and symptoms of concussions observed by coaching staff and reported by athletes.

Remember, concussions affect people differently. While most athletes with a concussion recover quickly and fully, some will have symptoms that last for days, or even weeks. A more serious concussion can last for months or longer. Rest is the key to helping an athlete recover from a concussion.

Easter Bunny Cake Recipe

Easter is just around the corner, and as you gear up to host or attend a festive gathering, we know you’re all browsing for yummy treats for your events. Though Orthodontics is our area of expertise, we decided to change it up a little this week and provide you with a delicious and cute Easter Bunny Cake recipe.

This Easter Bunny Cake recipe is scrumptiously satisfying for every-bunny!

Remember old-fashioned cutout cakes? This cute bunny is easily made from carrot cake mix frosted and covered with mouthwatering coconut.

Ingredients

• 1boxSuperMoist carrot cake mix
• Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box
• Tray or cardboard covered with wrapping paper and plastic food wrap or foil
• 1 container Whipped fluffy white frosting 
• 1cup shredded coconut
• Construction paper
• Jelly beans or small gumdrops, as desired
• 1cup shredded coconut
• Green food color

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Make, bake and cool cake as directed on box for two 8-inch or 9-inch round pans.
2. Reserve 1 layer for another use or to make a second bunny. Cut 1 layer in half as shown in diagram. Put halves together with frosting to make body. Place cake upright on cut edge on tray.
3. Cut out a notch about one-third of the way up one end of body to form head (small end) as shown in diagram (template can be found under the Tips below). Attach half of cutout piece from tail with toothpicks. Frost with remaining frosting, rounding body on sides. Sprinkle with 1 cup coconut. Cut ears from construction paper; wrap ends that will be inserted into cake with plastic food wrap. Press into notch on top. Use jelly beans for eyes and nose.
4. Shake 1 cup coconut and 3 drops food color in tightly covered jar until evenly tinted. Surround bunny with tinted coconut. Add additional jelly beans if desired. Remove ears, plastic wrap and toothpicks before serving. Store loosely covered.

To make it a little easier for you, check out this template you can follow to cut the cake shapes properly.

Poking Archwire, Bracket, Or Tie?

The vast majority of orthodontic problems our patients face are very minor. Though they are minor, they may still cause discomfort or irritation. In general, it's best to try and soothe the immediate cause of the discomfort, and then call our office to schedule an appointment; that way, we can allot sufficient time to take care of you.

Here is one of the most common orthodontic problems our patients have, along with some tips on what you can do to relieve them this particular problem at home.

Misplaced or poking archwire, bracket or tie

As the teeth start to move, the wire that connects them (archwire) may begin poking near the back of the mouth or irritating the cheeks. You can try moving the wire into a better position with a pencil eraser or a Q-Tip. If the wire won't move, you may be able to cut the end off with a nail clipper sterilized in alcohol — but before doing so, please call our office for our guidance or instructions.

Often, you can also use tweezers to gently move a misplaced wire or a tie that's causing problems.When wires or brackets cause irritation, covering the metal parts with wax will often help ease the discomfort. As with any of these types of problems, call Rhode Island Orthodontics and we'll schedule a time to see you.

Mouth Burn: How to Help it Heal Correctly

Have you ever rushed into a hot meal too soon only to burn your mouth? If you answered yes, you're not alone.  Almost all of us have suffered from burning our mouths after biting into a hot slice of pizza, or from digging into hot soup before it was cool enough to eat.  Burns may be a little out of the orthodontists’ league, we wanted to take a second anyway and give you some helpful tips to get you through the mouth burn pain. When it comes to your mouth, Rhode Island Orthodontic Group has you covered.

Check out these important steps to take to soothe your mouth next time you have this accident, and help it heal correctly. 

• Applying or sucking on ice can relieve the stinging. Gargling cold water or eating ice cream are other options.
• An over-the-counter pain reliever can help, if the pain is really distracting.
• Squeezing Vitamin E from a capsule over the wound can speed up healing. It will regenerate new tissue and heal the wound.
• Resist touching the burned area. This may be difficult, but by touching the affected area, the lesion may become irritated further.
• Drinking milk can coat the scorched area.
• Avoid acidic, crunchy, and other hot foods, or even very salty and spicy dressings. This will stop the burn from getting irritated further.
• Maintain good oral hygiene while your mouth is burnt, keeping it as clean as possible to promote healing and prevent further infection.

Make sure you allow your burn to heal; it usually takes about a week for soreness and blistering to pass. Also, let us know if you have any home remedies that we didn’t list, or any interesting stories about a time you burned your mouth. Leave a comment or post it on our Facebook wall!

Don't forget to Hug A G.I. Today

Today is a day we can all embrace, every March 4th we recognize National Hug A G.I. Day. Around 1944 President Franklin Roosevelt signed a bill that became known as the G.I. Bill; Servicemen’s Readjustment Act. From there, there was no straying away from the initials as Hasbro trademarked their G.I. Joe action figure based off the comic strip in the 60’s.

History of the G.I. initials:

G.I. is a well know term referring to those serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. Sometime during World War 1, the initials G.I. referred to soldiers in short for “Government Issue” or “General Issue;” followed by the birth of the G.I. Joe comic strip issued in Yank magazine on June 17, 1942.

#RiOrtho encourages you to participate:

To recognize our brave soldiers, National Hug A G.I. Day was created to show thanks for their dedication and bravery. Do you know a G.I. ? If so, be sure to take a moment to give them a hug and say thank you today! Don’t forget to post a picture & tag us in it if you do! Won’t be able to see the G.I. you know in person? That’s ok! Send him or her a virtual hug via email or text!

Important Tips About Your Appliance

Removable appliances are designed to move or hold your teeth, so it is important to wear them as instructed to ensure you receive optimum results.  Rhode Island Orthodontic Group does understand that caring for your appliance can be a bit confusing at first, so we decided to make it a little easier for you. Below you will find some handy tips about your appliance.

Important Tips About Your Appliance

• Wear your appliance at all times, even when sleeping. The only time your appliance should be removed is while you're eating, brushing your teeth, swimming or playing vigorous activities.
• After you first receive your appliance, it will take a few days for you to adjust to speaking with it.
• You may also experience some soreness for the first few days, but this will also subside. If the discomfort continues or if you have a sore spot in your gums, contact our office.
• It is important to avoid flipping your appliance with your tongue as this can cause damage to not only your appliance, but your teeth as well.
• Clean your appliance daily with toothpaste or denture cleanser.
• Never wrap your appliance in a napkin or tissue and set it on the table.
• Don't store your appliance in your pocket.
• Your appliance should always be stored in its plastic container.
• Keep your appliance away from pets as they like to chew on them.
• Do not try to sterilize your appliance in boiling water. Just bring it to our office to be disinfected if needed.
• Do not soak your retainer in mouthwash.

Please bring your appliance to all of your appointments, and keep in mind that additional charges may be applied for broken appliances. If you have any questions, or need more help, contact us today!