Oral Health 6 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Short answer Do not do it. DIY braces, gap bands, rubber bands from a craft store, fishing line, paper clips, and filing your own teeth can cause permanent damage, and some of it cannot be undone. An elastic band slid… Continue reading DIY Braces: What Actually Happens When You Try It
Category: Oral Health
Best Electric Toothbrush of 2026
Oral Health 7 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Short answer: For 2026, the Oral-B iO series is our top pick, especially for anyone in braces, thanks to its round head, smart pressure sensor, and reliable two-minute timer. A Philips Sonicare is the strongest alternative. But the honest truth… Continue reading Best Electric Toothbrush of 2026
Mouth Breathing at Bedtime: Causes, Effects, and Solutions
Oral Health 6 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Quick answer Breathing through the mouth once in a while during a cold is normal. Doing it every night is not. Chronic nighttime mouth breathing dries the mouth, disrupts sleep, raises cavity risk, and in children can even shape how… Continue reading Mouth Breathing at Bedtime: Causes, Effects, and Solutions
Water Flossing: Is It Effective for Oral Care?
Oral Health 5 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Water flossers get a lot of hype, and if you wear braces you've probably wondered whether one is worth it. The honest take: water flossing genuinely works, especially for braces, bridges, and implants, but it's a teammate to string floss,… Continue reading Water Flossing: Is It Effective for Oral Care?
Swollen Gums with Braces: Causes, Solutions, and Prevention
Oral Health 6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Puffy, tender gums are one of the most common things patients notice a few weeks into braces, and the good news is they're almost always fixable. Most of the time it's a hygiene issue, not a sign of anything serious.… Continue reading Swollen Gums with Braces: Causes, Solutions, and Prevention
Can You Get Your Teeth Cleaned with Braces? A Complete Guide
Oral Health 6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Short version: not only can you get your teeth cleaned with braces, you absolutely should. Braces give food and plaque more places to hide, so regular cleanings matter more during treatment, not less. Skipping them is how people end up… Continue reading Can You Get Your Teeth Cleaned with Braces? A Complete Guide
White Spots on Teeth After Braces: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment
Oral Health 7 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics SHORT ANSWER Those chalky white marks are decalcification, the stage right before a cavity. Plaque sitting against enamel around a bracket produces acid, the enamel loses mineral, and what is left scatters light differently than healthy enamel. Early spots often… Continue reading White Spots on Teeth After Braces: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment