Living With Braces 5 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Gum is the classic braces question, and the classic answer, "absolutely not," deserves a little nuance. Sticky, sugary gum really is a bad idea with braces. But sugar-free gum is a different story, and if you wear clear aligners… Continue reading Can You Chew Gum with Braces? A Complete Guide
Tag: Braces
Learn everything about braces, from types and benefits to costs and care tips. Explore expert orthodontic advice to achieve a straighter, healthier smile!
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
Do Braces or Invisalign Hurt? Pain Comparison and Management
Living With Braces 6 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics · Living With Braces Short answer: Both braces and clear aligners cause mild soreness because both move teeth with steady pressure. Expect a couple of tender days after placement, an adjustment, or a new aligner tray, then it eases.… Continue reading Do Braces or Invisalign Hurt? Pain Comparison and Management
How Often Do You Get Braces Tightened? A Complete Guide
Living With Braces 6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics "How often do braces get tightened?" is one of the first things patients ask, usually right after "will it hurt?" Here's the plain version: you'll come in every few weeks for an adjustment, and while people call it a… Continue reading How Often Do You Get Braces Tightened? A Complete Guide
Braces and Playing Instruments or Singing: Everything You Need to Know
Living With Braces 6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics If you play in the band or sing, one worry comes up before anything else: will braces mess with my music? It's a fair question, and the honest answer is that there's a short adjustment, not a dead end.… Continue reading Braces and Playing Instruments or Singing: Everything You Need to Know
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
Filing Between Teeth (IPR): How Interproximal Reduction Creates a Better Smile
Treatments & Appliances 6 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Quick answer Interproximal reduction (IPR), sometimes called filing, slenderizing, or stripping, is a routine orthodontic technique that removes a tiny sliver of enamel between teeth to create space. It is painless, safe when done properly, and often lets us… Continue reading Filing Between Teeth (IPR): How Interproximal Reduction Creates a Better Smile
Prepaid Braces: Affordable Orthodontic Options for Every Smile
Costs & Insurance 6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics "Prepaid braces" sounds like a special product, but it really just means paying for your treatment upfront instead of month to month. Sometimes that comes with a discount, and there are a few smart ways to fund it. Let… Continue reading Prepaid Braces: Affordable Orthodontic Options for Every Smile
Braces Hurt and Common Emergencies: How to Cope and What to Do
Living With Braces 6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Let me be straight with you: braces can be a little uncomfortable, especially at the start and after each adjustment. But real, sharp pain is not normal, and most of the aches are easy to manage once you know… Continue reading Braces Hurt and Common Emergencies: How to Cope and What to Do