3 Foods that Help Your Smile Shine

March is National Nutrition Month and this month we are sharing 3 foods that help your smile shine by keeping your teeth healthy and white. Nutrition plays a key role in the health of your smile, and often an easy adjustment to make that can have positive effects.

1. Dairy: 
Dairy can have health benefits for your teeth. Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy foods most often.

2. Fruits and Vegetables:
It's not secret these foods can keep you healthy overall, but fruits and vegetables can aid you in keeping your smile healthy. Your mouth, teeth, and gums are more than just tools for eating. They’re essential for chewing and swallowing—the first steps in the digestion process. Fruits and vegetables are good choices for a healthy smile since they are high in water and fiber, which balance the sugars they contain and help to clean the teeth.

3. Nuts: 
Foods containing calcium — such as cheese, almonds and leafy greens — and foods high in phosphorous — such as meat, eggs and fish — can help keep tooth enamel strong and healthy, according to the American Dental Association.

Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry devoted to creating beautiful smiles by bringing teeth, lips and jaws into proper alignment and is a wonderful investment with lifelong returns. At Hinesly Orthodontics, our mission is to provide you with orthodontic services of unmatched excellence, warmth and sincerity and to treat all of our patients as lifetime friends.

Holiday Treats that are not Braces Friendly

The holidays are here and whether you are cozying up with hot chocolate or baking cookies, you may be wondering if there are any types of treats you should steer clear from, especially if you have braces. The answer is yes! Here are a few holiday treats that are not braces-friendly.  

• Candy Canes
• Fudge
• Popcorn 
• Peanut Brittle 
• Anything with nuts or crunchy crusts
• Caramel - avoid this sticky treat that can easily get caught up in your braces

Avoid these sweet holiday treats that are not braces-friendly 🎄😄. pic.twitter.com/V1Cb5OQ62T

— Dr James A Hinesly (@smilefast) December 11, 2019

Find Band-it and Celebrating 25 Years

We have released all of our clue's on our website! Participate in finding Band-It all around town We have some incredible prizes to giveaway real soon. All of our clues for our scavenger hunt have been released. We are releasing 25 clues for 25 days, asking our Ann Arbor and Tecumseh communities to find Band-it.

You will receive 1 point for each correct location submitted to our office between September 2nd and September 26th.

First place winner will receive 4 football tickets to the U of M vs. Michigan State game on Nov. 16th.  2nd & 3rd place winners will also receive amazing prizes.

Contest begins Monday, September 2nd. Everyone is eligible to play. Winners will be announced Monday, September 30th.

The Importance of Retainers

Congratulations! You are near the end of your smile journey and your braces are about to be off! Nothing like that feeling. Even long after our braces are off, teeth shift and it is natural as we grow older. There is one thing you can do to ensure your smile remains the best it can be and that is wearing retainers.

No matter your situation, it’s almost a guarantee you will be wearing some form of a retainer after having your braces are removed. It might be removable retainer, which is removed for eating and cleaning or a bonded retainer, placed discreetly behind your teeth.

There might be a minor adjustment period when you first put your retainer on. Don’t worry, this is completely normal and will pass soon enough.

Retainers are essential for helping your teeth stay in place in their new positions after wearing braces.

Thank You for a Great 2018

At Hinesly Orthodontics, we are committed to delivering the most beautiful smiles and we are confident that you will receive orthodontic care that will truly make a difference in your life. Our mission is to provide you with orthodontic services of unmatched excellence, warmth and sincerity and to treat all of our patients as lifetime friends.

We have seen countless smiles this year through both of our offices in Ann Arbor and Tecumseh and look forward to a new year of new smiles transformed

Best of Elf on the Shelf

Who else is enjoying all these Elf on the Shelf photos as much as we are? At Hinesly Orthodontics, we are so thankful this holiday season. Our offices in Ann Arbor and Tecumseh have been loving all the photos from. Be sure to send us your photos by tagging us on Facebook or on Twitter. We will pick one winner each week to win 2 tickets to Emagine Saline.🎁 Perfect for a night out.

Summer BBQ and Braces - Hinesly Orthodontics

Summer just around the corner! Here at Hinesly Orthodontics, one of our favorite things about summer is a good BBQ with family and friends! Summer is of course, the defining moment for kids. Everyone is out of school and ready to relax. With relaxation and an abnormal routine, it is easy for kids (or anyone really) with braces to forget two important food categories they’re supposed to avoid: hard foods and sticky foods!

Here are some great and not so great classic summer foods that are great for kids (or anyone really) who has braces.

• Casseroles 
• Salads 
• Jell-O desserts 
• Chicken 
• Steak  
• Hamburgers 
• Soft fruit

Here are some not so great classic summer foods to stay away from. 

• Chips
• Nuts 
• Beef jerky 
• Hard pretzels 
• Rice Krispies treats 
• Hard/sticky candy (i.e., with caramel or nuts) 
• Soda 

Source: https://www.luvmysmile.com/blog/enjoy-classic-summer-foods-braces/

I Just Got Braces....Now What?

Hinesly Orthodontics

At Hinesly Orthodontics we believe you have taken the first step toward a healthier and more beautiful smile but you are probably wondering what comes next. 

The first week is the biggest period of adjustment, and there is a lot to learn in this short time. What to eat?  How to brush?  No worries, in a very short time your braces will feel completely natural. 

On the first day, your braces will probably feel sort of like a mouthful and it may take time to get used to them. By the second day, you may feel some soreness or discomfort. If you are going to experience any discomfort, the second and third days are when it will happen. If you do experience discomfort it can be dealt with by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as Tylenol. 

If you have any questions or concerns our team is here to help you! You can call us at our Ann Arbor office at (734) 769-7600 or our Tecumseh office at (517) 423-6300. We can also help with a few tips at your next appointment,  just ask! 

Loose Wires and Broken Brackets

Photo provided by oralb.com

We know even despite your best efforts, the wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, please contact Hinesly Orthodontics as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.

In an emergency, you can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain until your appointment.

Don't hesitate to reach out to us at in our Ann Arbor office at (734) 769-7600 or our Tecumseh office at (517) 423-6300 immediately if you experience any issue with your braces.